The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14
The Antl-Monopolist.

gold. and something must be done "
make it such or equal to it! Wel,no
how will you do it! / answer, it this
is so desirable. or if this is a sine qua
non, (of which [ may say more mere
after ,)you can never do it by any mere
statutory edict. When we have that
prosperity in trade which all should
labor for: when we so work IN our own
borders as to restore that humbug IN
the estimate of the chairman OF the
committee, Mr.. Sherman, the bal
ance of trade, permanently, or for
time. in our favor, then the grand tact
las our friends esteem it, is accomplish
ed, by laws natural enough, by all well
understood, and more eHectually than
all the laws we could pass on the SUB
ject, if we made one every day Ior
| years. You cannot add to the volume
of gold except by discoveries, and TO
attempt to force specie payments ana
give us gold currency you would not
have, as has been said, sufficient to run
respectable peanut stand IN each
state in the Union
But. you ask, am opposed to specie
payments! O, no. Far from it. |
would be glad if we could reach this
end to-day or tO-morrOW-juSta as soon
as you please. But / beg you not to
force it by law. The terms OF the
bond'' do not require it. A declara-
ton of the statute to this effect will
avail but little without the ability to
keep it up. You cannot do this, even
if you start. in my humble judgement,
with the balance of trade against us.
For however much it may be decrled
as humbug, there is nothing truer
than the language of the president IN
his last annual message. when he said:
"A specie basis cannot be reached
and maintained until our exports, ex-
elusive Of gold, pay for our imports,
interest due abroad, and other specie
obligations.
Without this, national as we'll as in
dividual bankruptcy must ensue.
And repeat that this balance in our
favor. if once we get it. must be kept
up if we would maintain such payment.
| II not. the experiment will be most
miserable failure-yea worse than q
failure.
Mr.. President, a word more and
have done. We are told that every
where the cry is coming up for return
to specie payments, and protesting
against an increase OF the currency
This may be true as to hoarders o.
money. those upon whom fortune has
smiled. and who would gladly welcome
the addition probably to come to thell
laughing exchequers. 1t may be sc
for the east; but | beg our friends no
to mistake the sentiment of the grow
ing and now burdened west. | bes
. them also to remember that on Thu
as on all questions we must do justice
to all sections as far as possible.
would not knowingly do an act to haZ
ard the development OF prosperity
of this fair land. And this | must be
lieve, is the sentiment Of every sena
tor on this floor. But let us pause be
fore we act-befOre we infict a blow
which may prove disastrous to any
To our friends from the states Ions
settled. with their institutions fixed
not surrounded by all the vicissitudes
, trials. and uncertainties of new land
, may [ not appeal to carefully conside1
before they SO legiSlate as to make thu
rich richer and the poor poorer! Fo
,, I say to them in no sectional spirit
! and certainly with no thought of max
, ing comparison in the least invidl
> Gus, referring to the empire STRETCHING
E to the golden shores of the peaceful
: sea on the west. that. in the languag
: of Mr. Webster. NO one can apprt
:: ciate his responsibility as legislator
nor the magnitude of his country, III
:. til he leaves his New England HON
and sees something of this grand Ell
= pire." And may be pardoned fo
! adding, in the language Of another, an
. in the same spirit. that truly lit is
y majestic region. Its people belong
. the nobility of mankind. Its destin
9 is to rule the world. It's triumph
- when it comes, will be complete. II
opportunity is not far in the future
q The west is to be the dictator of tn
= republic" It's sway shall be as ben
g ficent and just as its people are mob
, and their possibilities infinite.