Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-09-26
#isetllantous. &
Prom the Speech Of Gen. Garfield in
FAneuil Hall, Boston.

Now. fellow citizens. we go back to the
primary question In this hght. I affirm
against all opposers on this subject that
the highest and foremost present duty OF
the American people is TO complete the re-
sumption OF specie payments (applsuse.)
and first OF all because the solemn and sa-
cred faith Of this republic is pledged to the
resumption (applause,) and IL 1t were new
er SO hard TO do it. IL the burdens were ten
lines greater than they are. this nation
dare not look In the face OF God and men
And break its plighted word. (Applause.)
II Is fearful thing for one man TO stand
up In the face OF his brother man and re-
fuse 10 keep his pledge; but Ii Is . forty
five million times worse thing for q nation
TO do IT, lApplause.) 1t breaks the main
consideration of faith. Il unscttles all Sc
curity, Ii disturbs all values. and II makes
the liie Of the nation . peril In all time
together. II We should break our faith
now. who would trust the republic again In
the hour Of dangerf II We break our faith
now, we should not deserve to be saved
when we are again In peril. (Applause.)
| am almost ashamed TO give any other
reason for resumption than this one have
given. II Is so complete that no other is
needed; bat there Is another almost as
strong. II there were no moral obllg alton
on the nation, II there were no public faith
pledged TO ii, affirm that the resumption
OF specie payments is demanded by every
interest of business ia this country. Gap
plause.) And so imperatively demanded
that II can be demonstr ated that every hon
est interest In America will be strength
ened and bet,ered by the resumption OF
specie payment. (Applause.)
Fellow citizens, those who oppose II un-
dertake to divert US by saying that the re-
sumption Of specie payment will help the
rich, but hurt the poor. ! deny the allie.
CATION. The resumption of specie pay
ments will help all, but l affirm that II
will especially, and In great measure, far
greater measure than any other, help the
! iaboring people Of the United States. (Ap-
plause.) How? Let Us see how. In ris-
Ing frolI the old coin standasd-or falling
from ii rs,her-as We did, until our dollars
were worth thirty-eight cents, all prices
we're increased, but they were not all in
creased alike. First, the commodities Of
quick trade went up 10 price. one BY one,
then articles OF necessity went up 10 price,
and. according TO the universal law, the
price Of labor went up last. il was the last
TO rise a voice: 1T WAS the first TO fall
laughter.) and when il did rise. It did not
rise SO high As the cost OF living rose. and
| in the widest days OF imitation we knew,
when the increase Of wages was 50 per
4
IS per cent. SO that Imitation Increased the
nominal price Of the laborers' wages. 1t in.
creased the cost OF living still more. II
} gave him more to do, bot in fact gave him
| less. That WAS what imitation did. And
now some one In the audience anticipated
me wisely. When labor comes down il
comes down first. That is true. An un-
certain currency that goes up and down
hits the laborer and hits him hard (pro-
longed applause.) 1t hits him last and it
hits him first. (Applause.) Therefore Of
oil men in America the man who should de-
mand the resumption of specie payment
and the fixing and making certain the
standard OF value Is the lab0riDg man who
can only suffer when that standard is de-
parted from. (ApplaUee.) The capital
ist can take advantage Of the market; II
he has anything TO buy he is not compelled
to buy it to-day; be can wait until the
market price is low, and buy at advantage.
II he has anything to sell he is not COM
PEELED " sell it to-day, but can wait until
the price Is up. and sell 1t at the best Not
SO with the laboring man who goes to
market with just one thing to sell. and that
is this days work. and that work the work
| Of his own muscles which he can do to-
day. He must sell it to-day At the price
to-day, and 1t is q final loss. (Applsuse.)
What he needs to buy he must buy now.
When necessity cOmpels him he cannot,
like the capitalist. dodge the call Of inha-
tion or contraction. bot pays the days
standard Of value; and SO it strikes him
both ways. and strikes him hard. ZAP
plause.) Whist. therefore, the labOring
man needs, Is this, that when he has earn
ed his money, he shall get It In currency
that will keep over night. prolonged sp-
plause and cheers.)
| what DosaDDssoa Noans.
Resumption means, therefore, that your
currency shall be made better and better
and better until your dollar is as good ss
the best dollar 10 this world, and there We
stop. We fought this great war to make
all men equal before the law; We nght
this battle Of finance to make all our dol
lars equal before the law (great appIsuse.)
whether they be silver, or gold, or paper.
We believe in . foot that measures just
twelve inches. no less, no more In pound
that weighs just sixteen ounces av0irdo-
pois, no less, no more; and in Q dollar. OF
whatever it Is made, that is worth, either
rs an evidence Of debt or rs reality, just
one hundred cents, no less. no more. (Ap-
plause.) We have el, 100 ,OOO,0 900 Of Il ade
with the old world, and every dollar OF
that trade Is measured BY the standard Of
coin. We want . dollar 90 good that II
will measure all that, and will be - good
| Is the dollar across the water. Gen. But
Ter (applause and hisses) says 10 the paper
] have read they want . dollar thas shall
| he NON xpoFtahle "A vOice-s.Rood n. ~