Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-08-25
The areenback Convention.

The official report of the proceedings
of the Greenback Mass Convention held
III this city last Saturday, will be found
in another column. The meeting was re-
spectacle in point of numbers and COM
position. About $50 people were in the
Court room, one-third of whom were
probably not in sympathy with the ex-
pressed object of the gathering. We
doubt if many who participated were
clear in their own minds just what to do.
We noticed in conversation with them
that there were very decided differences
of opinion among them with regard to
financial theories. They freely acknowl-
edge that the true solution of the finance
question is not easy to find out, and that
they were not at all sure that their reme-
dy for financial ills is infallible. They
were-except few opinionatcd leaders
who have pinned their faith to a theory
that amounts to hobby-in receptive
frame of mind and not disposed to go off
on tangent The impression left with
the reflective observer was, that here was
a body of earnest, honest men, all feeling
severely in their own persons and families
the pressure of the times and all blindly
cropping for remedy. The effervescent
men among them were sure that if the re-
demption law of 1879 was repealed, the
whole scene would be changed and pros
perity and abundance would succeed de-
preston and hard times like pictures in a
magic lantern, but the majority were not
so sure, although willing to try the cx-
pertinent.
There seemed to be reluctance among
the prominent men of the organization to
express their views, which was singular
considering that the gathering had been
announced some weeks before and that
speaking is one of the indispensable fea-
lures of such gatherings. At last, how
ever, Mr.. S. T. Spangler arose and ad-
dressed the audience for about half an
hour. We noticed nothing practical in
the speech. 1t was simply an elaboration
of the speakers pet theories, but express
ed in good taste and appropriate language.
At its close, Judge Roszell, who happen
ed to be IN the audience, was called for
and responded in speech admirable for
its clear enunciation of the correct funda-
mental principles of finance. 1t was, of
course, in direct antagonism to the green
back theory and created quite sensation
among those present, eliciting warm APP
plause a: its close This bit of oppo-
sltion had the effect to open the mouths
of the speaking men, and Mr.. j. d. Rus
sell took the floor Immediately. He did
not attempt to answer or refute the po-
sition of the last speaker, but INDUCED in
a few characteristic denunciations of Re-
publican Legislation regarding the tinan
ces during and since the war The facts
were not always correctly given and the
temper of the speech not the best possible.
The next thing in order was the recep-
ton of the report of the committee on
resolutions. BY this time the audience
had thinned out considerably, and the &C
tual vote on the adoption of the report of
the committee, was too small to give it
much significance. We have no sort of
doubt that very many men who call them
selves greenback men, will hesitate before
subscribing to all that is contained in that
platform. 1t is not given to all men to
arrive al positive and dogmatic concep-
ton of their duty with regard to perplex-
ing questions, and people will generally
be willing to wait for more light, and
thorough discussion of the subject of the
currency before declaring positively what
political action is necessary.