The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-06


elsewhere. (Cheers)
What next? What is the trouble? Why
are we not strong? Why is there any doubt
about what the American people will do with
the party that has made such achievements?
The maxim is as true now as ever that eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty.
Over eleven billions of money were expend-
ed in the last sixten years by the American
people in maintaining the liberty inaugurated
on this spot; spot sacred to the memory OF
the Revolutionary fathers. 1t cost you that
enormous sum to maintain the liberty they left
u.s. 1t cost blood and treasure, but it is worth
all it cost (Cheers) To acquire is one thing
to maintain is another.
The expenditures of the government have
been fifteen billions since liberty was inaugur-
ated here, and yet we spent eleven of them in
ten years. We have something, however, to
show for it-a nationality redeemed and regen-
Grated, and made in harmony with iberty-its
emblem meaning protection to all, high and
low. and it's credit re-established abroad
(Cheers.)
If any one desires to investigate how that
money was spent he had better dig up the
bones of our soldiers
But what is the matter with the solid South?
The Democrats have the solid South as they al
ways had. 1t meant rebellion before the war
and it means the same now. This is what is
the matter. This is the skeleton in the house.
The solid South is what there is and all there
is, and its significance is incpient rebellion.
1t tends to disorder aud does disturb the South
and compels the President to send an army
there to keep peace.
Let me tell you, my friends, the solid South
is the Trojan horse of American politics,
Cheers and cries of good.l The solid South has
precisely the same significance as before the
war. But the rebellion accomplished much
for us-the extinguishment of slavery, the en-
reimbursement of slaves, and equal rights eX-
tended to all (cheers.) Then our credit was re.
established at home and abroad: Without pub
lie credit there is no nationality, or national
life. 1t is the life blood of nation.
The Democrats have said in their platform
that reform is necessary to restore sound cur
rency, the public credit and national honor.
That is rich We have restored the public
credit. The Republicans have collected and
expended in 16 years eleven billions and have
two billions of obligations to meet. The goven-
ments duty is to provide for the payment of in
terest and for its redemption: and that we
have been doing since the war closed, SO that
the debt which was two billions
eight hundred millions is now
fraction over $4,000 900, 900. In addition
we have paid the ordinary expenditures of the
country year by year, and from sos million
these expenditures have been reduced. so that
the amount of the last fiscal year was, in round
during that period, lIghtened the peoples bur-
den by 300 millions of taxation. If anybody
complains of the tax on whisky and tobacco,
just don't taste 1t, and you will get rid OF our
oppression.
Now has there been any improvident admin.
lstraton by this party? The most rigid exam
ination of its expenditures for the ten years has
been permitted, and its losses are less for eight
years than for any other eight years of any ad.
minstratiOn.
platform about paying the public debt, but we
are honest debtors, and say we will pay every
obligation of the United States in currency Of
the standard value, dollar ior dollar. (Cheers)
Ask Democrat what he thinks of paying the
public debt in co in. That is what we pledged
ourselves to do, and immed ately your bonds
went to par in the world. Leading Democrats
in Ohio have singled out the act passed in 1869
to strengthen the public credit and denounced
1t as the crime of the age for Republican Con-
gress to pledge the faith of the nation to pay its
debts in coin. Payment in deprecated curren-
cy is what you have to fear if Democrts get in
to power, and then what becomes of your pub
lie credit abroad?
Why is our currency unsound? Because we
have irredeemable paper money; but Demo.
Gratis say nothing in their conventions about
that whereas the Republican party passed an
act that they would resume specie payment in
1879 absolutely (cheers) l do not believe the
Democrats will give you sound currency by
resumption OF specie payment, which is the
only way under heaven to restore it.
DO not want to have this personal canvass
at all, and do not mean to refer to Mr.. Tilden
IN any personal sense. When Tilden and Hen
bricks were nominated, the first thing they did
was to get an act passed in Congress TO repeal
the act to resume specie payment
Voice-How will you do it?
Mr. Morrill-If you will have patience / will
tell you. know how it will be done.
Coincidence is now restored, the balance of
credit is 10 your favor, aud my skeptical friend
below will awake some fine morning this side
OF 1879 and find we have returned Cheers, and
the victory we register in the early part of next
week Will enable us to do it (cheers). We
mean to do it and redeem our pledges, and if
any man votes on that assurance 1 will make
IT good or never see him again Qaughter).
Everything favors resumption of specie pay
ment in 1879 if this party does its whole duty
Men who have made finance a study will tell
you everything favors resumption. A Demo-
crat has said that in 1861 the credit of the Gov
eminent was nearly what 1t is in 1876 and
Will read from his speech delivered in this city
He says in 1860 a Democratic administration
placed its loan of five per cent. bond at IL
per cent. didn't question the honorable gen.
tlemau's integrity, but be was mistaken. The
government offered that year $10,000,000 of
loans, and it was bid for, aud 81 600 taken
by bidders, and they allowed the rest to be for
feted. They backed out from that loan and
forfeited s3,000000. The Govern nent was in
debt and wanted to pay out 500, 100000 more of
an authorized loan, but it was impossible.
The next proposition is that on the following
year loan of $26, C0O.000 was authorized, and
mat $o,OO0,0 0O was put on the market at from
W Ia to Vt, SO that the government was able
to morrow at 1 2 per cent. The fact was, ths
government discounted that S., 900, 900 at IL
per cent, and borrowed 100000 at dis
court, SO that as far as the credit of the Gov
was concerned, in 1861 it was selling
at " the same securities which are selling to-
day at 100 per cent. gold, making difference |
OF II per cent. in gold between then and now
have called your attention to one of the is
sues before the people, On one side the policy |
is definite, clear and certain, and will be |
Ga the other all is uncertainty, hes |
tation and doubt. 1t is said the head of the |
ticket is hard money man, but will he stick, |
will he adhere? That depends upon tue bands |
INTO which he falls. Look on the other end of |
.he ticket; is he hard or soft? Decidedly soft. |
[n which end of that ticket is strength?
Voice-In the tail
Very well; he will wag it. On the great f.
1ancial questions, financial men, Wall street |
men and laboripg men, be sure how you vote
next Tuesday.
1t is said the Republicans did something
ireadful to the South They put down the re,
,ellion at the point of a bayonet, and then they
lid insist that slaves should be citizens Anv-
hing very dreadful in that? (Cries of ''no")
andrew johnson undertook to reconstruct the
south on the idea that slaves were not citizens
md might be turned over to the state to be |
made slaves again, but we said no, and passed
In act giving civil rights, protecting the negro
md you will find the Democratic party solid
lganst thatin both branches of Congress Hence
rou understand why they will not allow the
negro to vote. The South rebelled SO strong
Y against that reconstruction that the enforce
nent act had 10 be passed. The Democrats
'oted in body against it and endeavored to
ret its repeal 10 an appropriation act, so as to
lave the people deprived of their right. If
ou mean that these people shall be free, will
Iou see to it that through all the South the ne
,ro shall be free to deposit his vote for whom
lie pleases.
The Democrats say this is all talk, but the
Hamburg massacre and other facts of the
sind are matters of history. They have rifle
,lubs in the South and march up and down to
menace negroes. They go to Republican meet
ngs armed, and say ''You shall not speak un
ii you divide the time" All this has elements
If inciDient rebellion in it, and if the Democrats
get into power there W II be no enforcement,
md there will be conspiracy and murder, and
al that which arises where portion of the
people is oppressed. That is the significance