The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-01-17
Is PENBLET0N A GREENBACKER.
His Record ON Finance 0yerhauled by
Democratic Paper.

'teubenville Gazette.
Recently Hon. George H. Pendleton had
,imself interviewed by an Enquirer report
,r, and during the interview threw out the
dea that for many years he has been. and
now Is, in favor of the Ohio Democratic
greenback doctrine. In truth, he planted
himself squarely upon such platform as
would meet the views of nearly every cnr-
rency reformer in the State, and his views
as expressed are certainly such as would |
naturally serve to popularize him among |
the people and largely help him in the
Senatorial race. But when Mr.. Pendleton |
the greenback and objected to the National
bank note, do his words tally with his past
record? Let Us see. During the famous
of 1875, Mr.. Pendletou made a
speech at Gallipolis, tina. was subsequently
widely published. 1t was an exceedingly
brilliant effort. 1t was probably the finest
of his life. But it was decidedly unsatss-
factory to large majority of the Democrats
Of Ohio, from the fact that its tone indicat-
ed that Mr.. Pendleton had finally forsaken
the cause for which he had formerly SEEM
ed SO actively to labor. That speech. it
will be remembered, was made when the
Democrats were conducting the fight upon
a greenb back platform extremely radical in
expression, and it was naturally to be sup.
posed that were the speakers really honest
and devoted to the cause, they would have
had no hesitation in defending and endors-
ing the sentiments uttered in that platform.
Then, when it is remembered that Mr.. Pen
dleton has but recently said that be has
always favored the greenback legal tender
currency and opposed the Nrtional bank
issues; and that all intelligent men know
that paper money Of some kind is abso.
lutely necessary in this country to fulfill
the requirements of trade, the following
quotation from his Gallipolis speech is Ger
tainly astounding:
"And if I may say it without ego.ism,
let me say was in Congress when the le-
gal tender act was passed." voted against
IT, / believed the law unconstitutional
and the policy unwise. have never chang
ed that opinion.
Now isn't this beautiful expression to
emanate from the lips Of one calling him
self greenbacker? Would Generals Ew
ing or Morgan have made such declara
tion either in 1872 or at any time since!
| Would Mr.. Pendleton use those last six
words in such connection today? AND
yet all these years he has been faithful
advocate of the "Ohio doctrine!'
But this is not all. Not satisfied with
declaring that from 1862 to 1865 he wa
! unalterable opposed to the greenback mon
ey; that his opinion had never changed, h
further said in that same Gallipolis speech
"I cannot foresee what truths investiga
tions may evolve in the future. For tn
present, repeat, am hard money man.
| Here we find reiterated with emphasis
for fear he might be mistaken for a green
hacker in disguise, the declaration that b
was fhen 80 hard mnney man." And sucl
he was at that time and such he has bee
ever since until his recent extraordinar
conversion. And what is he now?
With these facts of history brought (
light can our Greenback Legislature consi
stently elect George H. Pendleton to th
Senate ofthe United States? Can Ohio
which is known to be overpoweringl
greenback in sentiment, afford to elevate I
the highest position within the gift of he
people, man who SO recently expresse
his Interchangeable hostility to the green
back currency? Is the Democratic part
of Ohio so strong in itself that when it SO
cures a victory upon platform demanc
ing currency reform, that being the onl
real issue OF the campain, it can with in
punity turn the fruits of that victory owe
, to an enemy of the principle that had bee
, battled for and won? Can any man be tru
r ted by the friends Of the greenback, aft
} they have ascertained by his own publ
f utterances, that he is not only hard mo
r his opposition to the greenback, and th
d upon constitutional grounds. Were be
i the United States Senate would he be lik
> ly to vote for the substitution of the gree
II backs for.. National Bank notes, partieula
after he has sworn to support the constit
i tion? And as some kind of money is ne
, essary for the business of the country, wb
n guarantee dose his record give that he W
r. not vote to substitute National Bank moi
!. for greenbaoks? And indeed, is any m,
a fit to be trusted who believes the greenab
:. money unconstitutional, and yet for I
Is sake of election to high Office will decla
l. in favor of it? Does he seem any nc
d honest either, when it is recollected Il
y but two and a half years ago, just sht
: time before Presidential nomination, I
r. same man declared himself positively
Dr. posed at all times to greenback curren
D. and announced himself a"hard mon
,e man?" Is it possible that our greenba
Iy Legislature can elect man of such gu
tionable antecedents to the honorable a
r. responsible position of United States s.
10 ator?
be
D. Mixing Politics With Religion.
it
Some men are alarmed lest religion sh
:, get mixed with politics, and pretend &
= temperance is part of religion and the
q
). tion. Such talk is sophistry. One mi