Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-07-08
THE two PLATFORMS--THE FINAN-
CIAL PLANK.

THE two PLATFORMS--THE FINAN-
CIAL PLANK.
The two great conventions which
have now finished their work have de-
termined a programme for us which
preseribes the subjects of discussion
fer some months. They take much
too wide a range to admit of discuss
ing the whole field opened for us in
one article, but we propose to take up
the topics enc by one and from time to
time examine the position of both
parties in reference to each, with the
purpose of rendering it as clear as may
be what is the question at issue in each
case.
In the present paper we propose to
examine the position of the two parties
on financial and monetary questions,
but we will venture few preliminaryre-
marks on the general characteristics OF
the two manifestos. There is inquest
ionably a physiognomy stamped on
eachWhich brings out striking con-
trast between the two. The Democratic
platform is the work of men who are
bent on great changes,-they know
we'll what they want and are terribly
in earnest about it f; they practice no
reserve, but say precisely and incisive-
ly what they mean, and make no secret
of their purpose to sink or swim as
they may succeed or fail in carrying it
out. The Republican platform, on the
other hand is evidently constructed by
men who do not desire change, they
are evidently very well satisfied with
things as they are. They are anxious
to have as little to defend as possible,
and refrain as far as practicable from
all categorical statements. The Dem
oerats lay down specialties clearly de-
fined, the Republicans take refuge in
generalities the Democratic document
is aggressive, the Republican defen-
sive.
This contrast does not at first APP
pear between the two manifestos as re-
CARDS their financial position, and yet,
here too we shall find them as wide as
the poles asunder.
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Reform is necessary to establish sound
currency and restore the pubic credit aud
maintain the national honor. We de-
nounce the failure for all these eleven years
TO make good the promise of the legal
tender notes, ~nicn are chahglhs stand-
and the non-payment of which is a disre-
gard OF the plighted faith OF the nation.
We denounce the improyidence which, in
eleven years of peace, has taken from the
people in Federal taxes thirteen times the
whole amount of the legal-tender notes,
and squandered four times this sum In use
less expense, without accommodating any
revenue for their redemption. We de-
mounce the financial imbecility of that
party which, during eleven years of peace,
has made no advance toward resumption,
and no preparation for resumption, but in
stead has obstructed resumption by vast
ing all our surplus income, and while an
nually protesting to intend aspeedy return
to specie payments, has annually enacted
fresh hindrances thereto. As such hind
rance we denounce the resumption clause
of the act of 1875, and we here demand its
repeal. We demand judicious system OF
preparation by public economy, by official
Entertainments, and by wise financial man
agement, which shall enable the nation
soon TO assure the whole world OF Its per-
feet ability and its perfect readiness TO meet
any Of Its promises at the call of the credit
or entitled TO payment. We believe that
such a system, well devised, and above all,
entrusted to competent hands for execn,
ton, creating at no time an artificial
scarcity of currency, and at no time alarm
ing the public mind into withdrawal OF
that vast machinery of credit by which 70
all Inns Inc ri
performed, n system open, public, and in
Spring general confidence, would, from the
day of its adoption, bring healing on us
wings to all our harassed Industries, set in
motion the wheels of commerce, manu-"
features and the mechanical arts, restore
employment to labor and renew in ali us
national sources the prosperity OF the
people.
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
4 In the frst act OF Congress- signed by
President Grant the National Government
assumed TO remove any doubts OF It's pur-
pose to discharge its just obligation to pub
fic creditors. and solemnly pledged its faith
to make provision, at the earliest practical
BILE moment, for the redemption OF united
states notes in coin. Commercial prosper
ity public morals and the national credit
demanded that this promise be fulfilled by
a continuous ana steady progress 10 specie
payment.
Both, it is seen, maintain the neces-
sity of rendering the national currency
redeemable in precious metals at as
early stage as possible, and though
the Democratic platform demands the
repeal of the resumption clause of the
act of 1875, while the Republican docu-
ment is silent about it, yet we know
that even the Republican Senators are
even now trying to get rid of their i'm
practicable and unstatesmanlike mea-
sure which stands a chance of being
shortly recognized as nobody's child.
Aud it is curious that though dele
CATION went from this State, and that
ofOhio, bent upon forcing extreme
doctrines of initiation upon the con-
vention, yet when they make their is
sue in the debate on this clause of the
platform, they do not attempt to dis
mute the necessity Of ultimate redemp-
ton. but only urge that the ichOIe of
the act of 1875 instead Of merely its re-
sumption clause should be repealed.
To show this we subjoin the minority
report made by Gen. Ewing and seven
others ofthe committee on resolutions
which was voted down by a large
majority.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
cen Tom. Ewing, OF Ohio-Af-hAr eouest 4
- several members OF the Commune on I
aaSoIutlons. present a minority report as 1
tt~one phrase Ofthg platform
Szsl,s ind erSigned, members Of tho oon,-
4,1ea recon- mend that tho friIoyvinsy
ii ,s,se in the resolutions rerortai ~ tIs 1
cia-.,,,fftee be stricken out .!as 49,, S;,,.i
conn. ,re denounce the rs>,r1,t;-,,,' - = tt.u
IithSSes at OF 1875. and We here ds,s ~
al t.YS frhaersl, and they recon, ~ t -, ~
repeA substituted for that cIs,S ~ ' M
loving: 60 the ra.,-
L...,s.,,,fs on the LIST OF January lS5p PaIl5
pay iNe,, enacted by The Repu6lira, ',aS,-
ing oe,t deliberation In Congress or 'Ji:s
without hafore the people. and hsi,Cs, ,, us
ctIsslon q secure its objects and Si ,'tII'
inenect 20 the business OF the cortsS,I9 .
dnJ IIiI ~ he Forthwith repealed Cheer
On the face oft this substitute seems /
so harmless that we are inclined n 4
think it was voted down rather on ac- /
count of doctrines which its authors