The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-07-09

iol suCJ oiO WCu euouSu huo"u " OvOty
one who has paid attention to my speech.
es and votes. For instance, Ispoke and
voted against the Resumption Act when
it passed the Senate. I have repeatedly
spoken against II since, upon the stump
and in the Senate; and only about one
month ago I voted In the Senate TO re.
peal it."
"Then as to the silver question:
Gas to the silver question, every one
knows that / have been the advocate of
unlimited silver coinage, and no one
worked harder to bring about the remon-
etization Of silver than / did. As to
contraction Of the currency, have stead.
lily opposed it during my entire service
in the Senate, now over nine years. As
to the gradual substitution of greenbacks
for National Bank notes, ] believe that II
wrote the first resolution that ever pass
ed Democratic State Convention In
Ohio favoring that substitution, and II ]
am not mistaken Mr.. Woolley so stated
in card published in Cincinnati paper
soon after the adjournment of the Con.
vention." 9 4tl fio7l seiii1 ea1
''When was that Senator2' & Il
II don't recollect what year 1t was, but
I think It was three or four years ago.
1t was the Convention at which he
(Woolley) was q member Of the Com
mittee on Resolutions. I see 20 good
reason why the people should pay the
banks more than 10000, 900 year for
the use OF bank.notes when their place
can be supplied by greenbacks and that
money be saved. The great objection
made to Q greenback paper currency is
that its volume will depend upon the ac-
ton Of Congress, and may be subject to
great fluctuations owing to improyident
legislation. But our platform insists
upon giving it stability, and if that can
be done the objection loses its force
Now, il Congress should be so disposed,
Il can produce the evil apprehended, no
matter whether We have greenbacks or
bank notes. For instance, it might re
peal the tax on bank notes, the effect OF
which would be that multitude Of banks
would spring up in every State and Ter
ritory, and great inAation would take
place. Or, on the other hand, it might
retire greenbacks and compel the nation
al banks to retire, in whole or in part,
their circulation, and thus produce great
contraction. So you zee that whatever
may be our paper money, tits In the
power Of Congress to contract or initiate
liz. In . word, If Congress has neither
sense nor honesty 1t may ruin the coun-
TRY, bat to assume that is to condemn
our form of government. Great care
and wisdom will undoubtedly be requir-
ed on the part of Congress in dealing
with this subject, but the task is not a
hopeless one. But while these are my
opinions, lam not for ostracising Dem
ocrats who entertain different opinions.
For instance, some of the very best
Democrats in the country disbelieve in
the constitutionality Of making green
backs legal tender. There are some
Democratic Senators from the east who
are OF that opinion. Well, am not for
ostracising them because upon one point
they may think one way and ] may think
another when In all other particulars that
concern the party We stand together
The Democratic party Of the Union
must be preserved, and to do 80 there
must be spirit Of mutual forbearance. -
"You made gallant fight on that Pa
Icidc Railroad bill, Senator, that ought to
make yourpopular In the west herei"
/ a"I did my. best, and had very labo-
rious task, but the result was 90 crafty
ling that j feel well repaid for my labor.
Those bills will, in my opinion, save the
Government more than 800, 900. 900,
and what is of more consequence than
even that great snm. they preserve the
control Of the Government over those
powerful corporations"
"You'll 60 in the fight this year, won't
you'll" m1s 6te
"Certainly; / always do that, do
not suppose that I will be required to
make many speeches. That is the duty
/ OF the younger men, but I will make as
many as / can" 10
.sWhat about the prospects. !"
81 think We will carry the State. The
party is perfectly harmonious, and We
haveaa splendid ticket; but it must not
be supposed that we Can succeed without
hard work. This is q yearsofI Congress
sional elections, and they always bring
out q pretty full vote. We. are mot then
likely to be aided as much as in some