Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-05-16

Kerr, that the HERALD ever denounced
greenbacks as cabbage leaves" On the
contrary, we always maintained, and up
on a hundred occasions said, that the
greenbacks and the National bank sys-
TEN had furnished the country with the
best paper currency we have ever had, as
it was perfectly safe, having the whole
resources of the United States pledged
for its redemption. We used the same
language in reference to its utility and
safety to the bill-holder, from the issue of
the first bill till to-day; and we have also
always been in favor of the pledges made
by the Government, on the question of |
the amount of these issues. During the |
war there was, necessarily, an enormous |
expenditure (made SO by the perverse-
ness of the Democratic party) Of money |
greenbacks-which greatly deprecated |
the value of these issues below the coin |
standard, until it required $285 to buy one
hundred dollars in gold. Money was
abundant, and although it was safe to the |
bill holder, it was the occasion of inflated
and unhealthy prices for every article of
property; to increase the issue of green
backs was to increase the indebtedness of
the Government, and to render their pur-
chasing value, as compared with coin,
| still less. To check this depreciation and
inspire confidence, and to restore value
equal with coin to this paper medium, the
Government wisely gave its solemn pledge
that the amount to be issned should not
exceed the sum of $4OO, ,OOO, 900, and at the
earliest practical period it should be paid
in coin-premising that the holder might
prefer the exchange.
To this policy we have always adhered;
and, to-day, instead of it requiring $2S5
in greenbacks to pay 500 in coin, the
coin is worth but fifty cents more on the
hundred dollars than greenbacks; and, as
means, as we thought, necessary to
bring about this triumphant result, we
have, ever since the demonetization of
silver coin, advocated its reissue and res
toration to our legal-tender circulation.
Why brother Kerr chooses to misrepre-
sent us upon this currency and money
question, we are at loss to devine, un-
less it be upon the hypothesis of mate
perverseness.
But now, brother Kerr, as you have
taken the liberty, in very gross man
ner, to misrepresent our position on this
question, suppose we take a retrospective
view of your own and your party's posi-
ton on this popular greenback question.
You cannot deny, we think, unless you
have become desperate enough to deny
your own identity, that when the first is
sue of greenbacks was made, as necessa-
ry means for prosecuting the war against
5 the rebels, and paid out by the Govern
ment, they were met by the opponents OF
: the war with bitter denunciations; the
: Democrats declared they were unconsti-
tutional, and would be as worthless as
brown paper in a short time; and, as some
Il leading Democrats asserted, would, aftel
this nigger war was over, be as worth
q less as Continental money was after tn
/ Revolution. And right here, in our owl
II county, prominent and wealthy Demo
II crat paid an installment of his taxes seV
l. eral months before they were required tt
be paid, because, as he said, he was afrai(
the id stuff would be worthless befOr
i the time expired for the payment of tax
-, es. If brother Kerr does not remembe
~ with what a storm of denunciations an
- declarations of unconstitutional curren
cy these greenbacks were met by hi
=, party, he certainly must be the victim {
= a remarkable treacherous memory.
Had the editor of the Register, or an
other Democrat, said in 1852 that tn
~ whole resources of the Government wer
s. pledged for the redemption of thes
j. greenbacks, and that it had the best st
ic curity any promises to pay ever had, h
+ would have been egged out of town by hi
ne own party not as repudiator, but as
IS, - Abolitionist; an advocate of tn
a war to free the id niger" Don't yo
y remember how it was, dear brother?
ie- How times do change! and the principle
he of Democratic editors change also. Will
ny in a few brief years, Mr.. Kerr and h
M brother Democrats have turned complet
ly and suddenly around and, as if
h ''steal the livery of Heaven to serve tt
tic Devil in, suddenly become the advocat
h and professed champions of the greer
back financial system, squarely in tt
face of their former violent opposite
for and denunciations of it; and, in order
te, make showing of their sudden conve
for tion to the soundness and utility of Il
IRE Republican idea of a greenback curren'
he they covered themselves all over wi
for greenback placards and staIked off wi
nd this regalia to their Presidential electio
ate But, so far as they were concerned, in Il
yas language of VIM. Allen, Esq, it was
in 'sd-d barren ideality." They denounc
lie National banks, National bond-holder
ay and advocated the initiation of the cure
not cy by issuing hundreds of millions of ne
sh- greenbacks, and thus initiating the Gu
ave rency and increasing our National de
and many hundreds of millions of dollar
'tes without regard to the pledges of the Go
Tor ernment, that the greenback issue shOu
leir never exceed $40O, 900 900. This infati
for was their ideal of what was called the
ing rag baby, and this idea of brushi,
the away all other currency, and subs
as tuting the greenback alone for currenc
is the rag-baby idea that was buried
Fall the Republican party in 1875.
AL In view of the many ridiculous attituG
eat on the war and currency question,
but which the Democratic party has appear
nty before the people of the world, it see
her to US that policy and wisdom should d
,ted tate to brother Kerr the propriety of f,
His ever holding his tongue on the subject
vote Inconsistency on the part of his neig
Ls9; bors; branded all over with inconsiste
hen cies and vascillations, as he and his pal
are, be ought, instead Of criticising