Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-03-01


they may be pardoned by the excite
mcnt of the time, and wo therefore le
thom pass; let us learn from that tim
the lesson not to repeat the errors, bu
simply to forgive our brother if he ha
differed from us, and ask of him tina
the same measure OF kindness shall b
accorded to us. [Applause.] Blu
what do we find? We have had al
inheritance of confusion in the last tel
years, which was granted by the wa
and which has been fostercd by II sys
tenn continued since tho war, and tina
system of government in the hands o
those who are politically opposed to II
has been found in disregard Of thu
theory, the meaning, and the philoso
ply OF our framework of government
There has been confusion between
State and Federal powers that must b.
cleared away before troubles that sur
rounded us can properly be met ant
be overcome. We find in many state
OF this Union that there is no govern
mont worthy Of the namo Of a respect
able Republican government. That il
part, not of the war, but of the misgov
ernmcnt since the war. [Applausc.
These blunders in government which
are worse than crimcs--and do moi
care now to impute evil intentions u
those to whose hands the armies of th,
government have in my opinion beer
so unfortunately committed in these
last few years--will be found TO have
arisen in a disregard of the true func
tions, the restrained functions, of the
Federal power and the invasion OF the
largest powers of the States. Take
for instance one, tho importance OF
which can scarcely be exaggerated,
the condition of our currency, the
money of the people which in every
State of this Union, save two, Caliior-
mia and Tcxas-if not wholly in Texas
at least in great part-has brought
Distress confusion, and loss n state
of affairs which we must end before
anything like prosperity can come
upon us again. How did that arise
Why is IL that the currency OF the
country, the money OF the people, is in
the state in which il now is? And
lot me say here that the money of the
people. may largely affect the morals
Of people. Dishonest money will
make dishonest stmen. [Greatapplause. ]
If the ordinary transactions of bust.
ness, which require precision and good
faith, connot be measured by the cur
rcncy of country, then do not look
for honesty and good faith, for you
cannot find them. d.
What brought this trouble upon us ?
Blundering finance you will say, and |
will agree with you; but it was a clear
assumption of powers by the Federal
government, never intended TO be
granted to them by the men who
framed that government, which made
that laundering finance possible
What had Congress to do with the
currency of the countryP Ask any
gentleman OF tho Republican party to
show you one line, or one word OF con-
stitutional warrant for the assumption
OF banking powers by the Congress Of
the United States. What were their
powers2 Few and simple. They
were to coin money and to regulate its
value, and they were to punish those
who counterfoited the coin. If there
be any other power in that instrument
given to them in regard TO money |
have yet failed to find it. [Applause. ]
Where comes the power, then, in Con-
grcss, to assume the control over the
whole banking business of this country,
not simply to set aaoat national banks
by the thousand, but absolutely to de-
clare that but one species of capital,
under single law of Congress, shall
be used in the business of banking all
over the United States. Is there any
other nation in the world that has
been so foolish as TO exercise such a
power as this, even If it lawfully pos
scssed it? Can any man find you,
anywhere in our Constitution, this
charter of our delegated powers, any
authority from which to assume such
a power, even if il were wise 10 exer-
else it ? Where was this powerp 1t
was from the foundation of this gov.
crnmcnt in the States. They had it
and they alone. The government was
to coin the precious metals that you
and took TO them, and when Il had
certified the weight and fineness of
those metals, its functions in regard to
money were at an end, This is the
history OF this country. | have heard
men lately speaking of this money say
"Oh il is 80 convenient. This cur
rcncy is so well secured that We do
not like to give it up 1 know that,
but | do not care how convenient II
may be that is not the question:
The question is. Is it American Is
il constitutional? Is ii in accordance
with the American doctrine Of local
sclfgovernment, which we pust main.
tain or lose the whole theory of the
government under which we were
born2 Imperialism has its convcn.
fences. Dcspotism is immensely con.
venient. The ruler who will save you
and me the trouble of thinking at all
about money or anything else, and
who may SO regulate our private bust.
ness as to relieve us from thought re.
gardhg it, may bc very convenient
ruler dhd he may maxi uspoor men or he
may make us rich slaves. [Grcat ap
plausc.l The trouble of this country
arose from the assumption and the
taking Of power by the Federal govern.
ment never intended for it, taking il