The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-11
Mr.. Hendricks and Hard Money.


Ii there is any fact in the history OF Mr..
HESDRlcKs's life which indicates that he be-
longs to the "rag-money party we do not
know what it is. Day after day the Repub-
lican Journals Of New York-and notably
the iImes-speak Of him rs an s'intlation-
ist,s and characterize his financial theories
in such terms Ms they deem best calculated
to drive off from his support the people
of New York, New jersey, and Con-
necticu,. This is not only unfair and
unjust, but dishonorable. We have
always regarded Mr. HENDRICKS as one
OF the old Democrats who still believe
in q Bentonian currency. It is true, he is
in favor Of repeal Of the resumption act,
or that part OF it which essays to compel
return TO specie-payments in January, 1879;
but SO are thousands OF the soundest hard
money men in tho Union. That act has pa
rylized trade and commerce, ruined thou
sands OF manufacturing establishments, and
destroyed the public confidence in the cur
rency. 1t was not necessary for it to
have any such effect; yet such it did
have. And it is not at all wonderful that
such should have been the effects resulting
from such 3 cause. II the intelligent lead
ers OF the Republican party-its law-mak-
ers-honestly believed that they could by
an act OF Congress compel return to spc-
Gle payments in 1879 it is not surprising
that the ignorant masses OF the party-those
who know nothing OF politico-economical
qnestions-Should believe not only that
such resumption would take place, but that
they could make more money By al
lowing their bank notes and greenbacks
to come to par whilst in their
own hands than by investing them in mills,
or houses, or lands. The Republican lead
crs have deliberately taught their deluded
followers that all act OF Congress can domi-
nate the laws of trade, which are, so to
speak, the laws Of God. They affect to be-
iieye, and have induced their followers tn be-
lieve. that to repeal this unwise and impo-
litic measure Of theirs would bo to take a
backward step. They read the declarations OF
the Democratic platform upon this subject as
il those declarations were against return to
specie-payments instead OF being in favor
OF it. That platform denounces the re-
sumption act rs ga hndrance to resump-
tion.'' We believe the sum and substance
OF Governor HENDRICKs's offence against
the hard-money men consists in his advo-
cacy of the repeal OF this foolish act OF Con-
srcss. If he has ever declared himself IN
favor OF any imitation OF the currency, or OF
any scheme OF any sort which might seem
to have tendency towards initiation, we
have never heard OF it.
We trust and believe that Governor TIL
Den and Governor HENDRICKS occupy the
same position on the currency question. We
have no desire to have candidates on both
sides OF this or any other question. 1t would
do neither the party nor the country any good
for the Democrats to attempt to please both
sides. Governor TILDEN and Governor
HENDRICKS were both placed upon the same
platform. That platform denounces ono
part Of tho act OF 1876 as Il hindrancc to re-
sumption, but it also speaks the views OF
the hard-moncy men OF the country. Cali
rornia, Oregon, Nevada, Wisconsin, Colo
RADIO, and even Illinois, may he classcd
amongst the hardest OF llard-money States.
They hold the same theories on this subject
rs New York and New England. All these
States cast their votes for Governor HEN
bricks in the Democratic National Conycn-
ton. They were not dcccievd as to his opin-
ions, we Judge; and the Republican Jour-
nails OF the East may as well let their readers
know now, rs we trust they will soon know
from Governor HENDRICKS himself, that our
candidate for Vice-presidcnt, like our can
didatc for President, is a hard-money men.