The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-16

aged from coming to the front with their
views on currency reform, by the cir
oumstauce that BLAINE has secured
the plain, aud has not left much
for other cleaners The truth is the
question is capable OF much greater ex-
ploitation within the limits OF reason
able and sensible debate than 1t has
yet had. Mr.. TILDEN showed this in his
last annual message, and, though he ran
wild on one point, he displayed grasp OF
the subject and n subtlety OF thought
which disclosed what II is capable Of In
the hands OF an original thinker. We
shall forbear drawing any comparison be-
tween the expositions Of these two gentle
men; but no appreciative reader can ex-
| anime them without perceiviug how broad
the topic is, md how IL may be made yet
further to widen under the touch of genius.
We call attention 10 this fact to show in
quiring minds among the candidates that
there is still ample room for persons in
clined TO the Investigation and study OF this
theme, to make excellent speeches upon IL
without trenching upon ground already
| occupied. Indeed, we know OF no subject
upon which "A man of genuine oratorical
power could make a more successful effort
or display better calculated to olectrify
| the country than upon this; for IL Is now
| the one public matter of universal i'm
portance, that comes home to the business
aud bosom OF every man. Ii Is not neces-
| sarily in the least au abstract question,
but one of deep present concern, on the
decision of which depend the future of
the country and the future OF individual
enterprise and fortune.
The wheels of our great mechanical in
dustries have come to standstill. and
what is so important rs TO set them in mo-
| ton? Survey the country through, and
tell us what man could so awaken public
attention and enlist such an eager and ear
nest auditory as he who should be able
to tell us what is the precise thing in
our present glut of money and stagnation
| of tade, to put us all at once on the
| high road 10 prosperity. People would de-
sert MOODY and SANKEY IN n body 20 hear
the voice of such one crying in the 1nan-
cial wilderness. All that is wanting 10 take
the wind completely ont Of the sails Of the
evangelists would be WHITFIELD on
| trade and finance.
Our candidates for Pre- fdent ought 10 be
| thankful that such "A way of marvellous
| distinction is open to them. The currency
question of this genera ton has already
made one great financial reputation, and
| ii never was in more fruitful condition
10 create another than NJ this moment.
! The hour has come and the occasion is
| present. All that is wanting Is the man.
| THIS great public demand ought 10 stimu-
late the candidates, If anything on earth
could. TO superhuman eXertions in an effort
TO secure the position and the reward.
The question has been for years in
the hands of potterers. Only see what
n set we have had since the war closed.
| First there was boutwell, in the Treasury.
| The idea of the country looking to a man
| like boutwell, for its financial guidel
Think Of it. lie never opened his mouth
on finance that he didn't put his foot in
| ii. He went in with a little reputation,
based chiefly on public hope, but he
came out without Il shred. Then RICHARD
son. Poor RICHARDSON He only recalls
SANBoRN, and BASFIELD, and SAWYER.
such mess. Such imbecility and such
wickedness. And it was called admins
| tering the finances. And so well satisfied
was GRANT. that he wouldn't remove this
| county Judge of Probate, though every
| Massachusetts man from SUMMER down.
| looked red IN the face whenever alusiOn
was made to the representatives i'm the
| Cabinet of the financial genius of Massa-
chusetts. We suppose we ought to be
thankful that we got lid of RICHARDSON as
we did All we can say is, blessed be vacan-
cies in the Court of Claimsl A little while
and we might have had SAWYER or AVERY
| in, L..
| people ought to sing Old Hundred"
every morning from now till the eXpira-
ZION of GRANTS term, in view of this de-
| liyerance.
1t has been hardly any better Outside the
| Department. The oracle has been sought
| without ceasing which would speak the
word. Our public men have answered,
and what have we got from them? To be
sure MI. SUMHER responded with some
excellent ana honorable sentiments. But
finance was never in the line of Mr.. SUM
NER's genius or studies. He could say
what, but he couldn't say how, on n flnan-
| cinl problem; and his great authority,
| SAM HOOPER, was always too uncertain
| aud slippery. Mr.. SUMMERS adult nuYvetG
contmsted strangely with the cunning re-
serve of his mentor. We might have gone
on to all eternity under such lead, with
the best possible intentions on Mr.. SUM
| NER's part.
Then we had Senator MORTON, stimulat-
ed by an active brain. lie has tried his
hand several times; first, Us an outright
inhationist, next us rs an inhationist, like
an English joint-stock company, limited.
Backed by CAMERON aud that fly in amber,
FERRY OF Michigan, with that prodigy of
statesmanship, the Hon. JOHN A. LOGAN Of
Illinois, and some other equally wonderful
| Republican Senators, an imitation bill of
his was passed by Congress which GRANT