The Portland daily press., 1878-05-04
Senator Voorhees's Speech.

Senator VO0rhees's Speech.
Senator Voorhees, made characteristic
speech in the Senate Thursday, is, the
speech of demagogue. In form it bears a
striking resemblance to the incendiary har-
angues he delivered during the war. Then
in rounded periods he declaimed against the
greenbacks as great and unnecessary evil, de
nounced the Government for making forced
loan upon the people, told them that ire
deemable paper currency would make the
rich richer and the poor poorer, predicted
that the grass would grow in the streets of
our marts of trade in consequence of the
wicked policy of the Administration in pro-
scouting the war, and called upon the people
TO reject the unwise rulers who were bring
ing them to poverty and destruction. The
speech he delivered fifteen years ago he is de-
livering this year-with variation. He
still tells the people that the policy of the
Government is making the rich richer and
the poor poorer, that it is bringing poverty
upon us, that it is destroying industry and
trade; but he now assures his listeners that
greenbacks are great and necessary good,
that contraction, not imitation, is running the
country, and that the Government should
make another forced loan upon the people.
When we were forced to borrow money to
preserve our national existence this blatant
demagogue denounced the borrowing as a
crime; but now in time Of profound peace
when we have not the slightest excuse for
running in debt he insists upon another
great loan. Now, as then, he pretends to
speak for the people, and calls them to revolt.
Had his advice been followed fifteen years
ago the Union would never have been re-
stored. Should his advice be followed now
we would become a bankrupt nation in as
bad plight as the dishonored republics Of
South America. This man, who was one oi
the vilest of Northern traitors, has the as.
surance to say that our refusal to pay our
debts would be the signal for a rejoicing like
that over the surrender at Appomatox thir-
teen years ago. There is probably not man
in the land who regretted that surrender
more bitterly than did Daniel w. Voorhees,.
The arguments advanced by Senator Voor-
hees are the old and stale arguments that
have been refuted again and again. He has
the brazen impudence to say that ten bill
lion dollars worth of property have been con-
fiscated since the passage of the resump.
tion act. This statement is made in face of
the fact that the country is far richer in
everything that goes to make wealth than 1t
was at that time. He makes the statement
In view of the indisputable fact that since
1870 the number of acres of land under cult
vation in this country has increased one.
third, the livestock nearly one-half, the
wheat crop by more than one-half, the corn
crop one-fifth, the tobacco crop nearly one.
hall, other staple products in equal propor-
ton, and the number of buildings by a large
figure. These are the things that constitute
wealth. What is the great loss that can be
Offset against them? There has been a great
destruction of debts; but certainly that is not
a matter to be regretted. Vast amounts of
debt have been discharged at an average of
ten cents on dollar. That certainly is not
hardship to the debtor class for whom
he assumes to speak.
Yet with great and constantly increasing
addition to the wealth of the country Mr..
Voorhees, would have US return to the bad
old times of deprecated and fuctuating cur
rency, to the times when trade was merely
gambling, when the adventurer and the spec
ulator made great fortunes at the expense of
the frugal farmer and the industrious laborer.
He who denounces the gold room of New
York as mob of gamblers, demands legisla-
lation that will lead to the reopening of that
gold room. He who pretends to speak for
the laboring man would have us return to
condition of affairs in which the working
man was robbed on every hand. What
farmer or what laborer grew rich during the
flush" times Of paper expansion? The stock
speculator and the gold gambler made grea
fortunes and the bills were paid by the labor
er and the farmer: when Senator Voorhees,
asks us to return to the days Of inflated cur
rency and varying prices he invites the fru-
gal and industrious to return to the trap
where they were plucked by those who lived
idly and extravagantly on the proceeds Of
their toll
Why. Mr.. Voorhees, In his own speech
furnishes one of the strongest arguments for
resumption. He says the greenback, on
account of the confidence Of the people In
it, has forced itself upon an equality with
gold, that the notes of the Government have
advanced to their face value because the peo-
pie have forced the Government to treat its
notes with respect. That is true. But green
backs did not rise until the Government an
nounced its intention to redeem them; then
it was that the confidence of the people in
them was felt. When the Government began
to treat with respect the notes 1t had so long
dishonored, when it began to make prepara-
tions to pay, their value went up to near an
equality with gold. Mr.. VOORHEES, would
have this sort of thing reversed, would have
the Government again dishonor its paper, aud
as consequence would have the greenbacks
tumble down once more. But the people
will prefer a dollar worth hundred cents
and give the go-by to the Indiana Senator
and his wild projects.
The Republicans took hand in the House
debate Wednesday over the legislative appro-
priation bill. In answer to the constant as
sertions of the Democrats III at thAv ,voro lao;.