Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-10-17
An ADDRESS,.
Of Hon. HOMAGE Rublee, Chairman Of
the Republican State Committee. to
the PEOPLE Of Wisconsin.


the People of Wisconsin.
10 the Electors Of the State.
The most important question now di-
viding parties IN this state relates to the
currency 1t is true that at the ap-
preaching election, only state and local
officers are chosen, and that thew will
have no direct voice in determining that
question. But the result will be claimed
either rs a triumph of the advocates of
honest money or of the advocates of a
system of irredeenlable and therefore,
deprecated, fiuctuating and dishonest
paper currency. The success of the
one or the other party will be proclaim
cd as the verdict of Wisconsin, on this
vital question, and will have its due
weight in influencing the action of con-
gress, and determining the policy Of
tAe government. Hence it is the duty
Of every voter to study carefully this
question, and to vote IN view of the mo-
mentous consequences which may fol-
low q mistaken judgment. No other
question has ever been presented to the
people of this country which concerns
more nearly their material prosperity
and well-being.
The subject Is one which, in order to
be properly understood, requires study
and thought 1t is one respecting which
persons who have not given due time
to its investigation are peculiarly liable
to be led into error by the misrepre-
sensations and sophistries of demagog-
ues Thus it happens that we'll meaning,
honest and intelligent men have come
to entertain views in regard to our finan-
cial system, which, if carried into prac-
tice, we regard as dangerously wrong,
pernicious to their own interests, and
ruinous to those of the country. The
views referred to are those promulgated
by what is termed the ''greenback par
ty," and which have been substantially
adopted by the party that in this state
now calls itself ''the peoples reform par
ty," but that is generally known as the
democrotic party.
The interests of the people and of
the country are Identical The great
mass of voters doubtless desire the
adoption of such financial policy as
will most promote these interests If
they vote for a pernicious policy it will
be because they are mistaken or misled.
In the hope therefore of correcting er-
roneous opinions, we submit the follow
ing exposition of some of the falacies
and Misrepresentation upon which the
SO called greenback party and its doc
trines are founded, and ask for it care
full and candid consideration.
Those doctrines demand a completes
revolution in our financial SYSTEM
Would such a revolution be wise ?.
Would 1t benefit the country? Would
it benefit the laboring classes? Could it
be accomplished without violation or
4 radical change of the constitution
Let us conduct our investigations with
candor, and, as the subject is one in
which every good citizen is interested,
let Us lay aside partisanship and preju-
dice, appealing only to undlsputed and
lndisputable facts In our arguments
As our present system must be over
thrown before a new one can be estab
lished logical order demands that we
first examine the objections urged to
that system, and the difficulties, we
shall necessarily meet in accomplishing
its destruction-for surely it is no light
matter to overthrow what is interviewer
with every material intesest of every
citizen. On the contrary, it is an affair
of the gravest Importance, to be done,
If done at all, after the most rigid in
vestigation and the most serious DELHI
Grafton.
THE ORIGIN OF OUR PRESENT FINANCIAL
SYSTEM
It IS charged that all our national leg
islation on financial subjects is directly
IN the interest of the rich and against
The poor, and that much of it was Sc
j cured by bribery and corruption.
Now our present financial system was
created during the war, as means of
supporting the armies of the United
States; for that purpose and nothing
else. 1t was as much a necessity as was
the army itself, for without it, the army
could neither have been armed, clothed
or fed. The best thought of our wisest
and purest statesmen was given to de-
yising a system by which the govern
ment might secure the financial means
essential to maintain its own existence
and, ct the same tt ne, to serve the peO-
pie. Every material part of our pres
ont system was created IN the early
years Of the war, was recommended by
President Lincoln and approved by
Chase, Seward, Stanton and the other
members of the cabinet; and was sane
titled by congress after close investiga-
ton and exhaustive debate And it is q
matter susceptible of the c]earest proof,
chat, N our later legislation, on the sub
ject, the suggestions made by Mr.. Lin
coin and his cabinet have been, though
slowly, faithfully carried out 1t is
strange that any man who supported
the administration Of Mr.. Lincoln
should be found denouncing the laws
he recommended and for the existence
Of which he is more responsible than
any other man. No! those laws were
not enacted in the interest of the rich
and against the poor, but they were en-
acted IN the great crisis of our national
history, to save the union and that gov
eminent of the people, by the people,
and for the people, might not perish
from the earth"
THE BONDHOLDERS
Nor * there i,1Stico IN. roacn,, ~, +1,o