The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-08-22
THE OHIO CAMPAIGN.
Extracts from Senator Thurman's
Speech.

have seen several statements in the
public press to the effect that the OBJ
ject Of my appointment to address you
to-day was that l should "sound the
keynote of the campaign" 1 wisB
in the very outset of my remarks, to
disclaim any such pretentions Un-
der free institutions, it is for the peo-
pie to give the keynote; and, so far
as the Democracy of Ohio are con
cerned, they have discharged their du-
ty in the platform adopted by our late
State Convention. l stand squarely
on that platform. l have advocated
its principles heretofore, and l shall
continue to advocate them. Perhaps
this is all should say about myself ;
but, inasmuch as in certain quarters,
am denounced as a man who has
surrendered his convictions to appease
a popular clamor, it may be pardona-
ble in me to occupy a few moments in
repelling this charge. The accusation
has reference to my support of the
financial plank in the platform.
THE OHIO PLATOON.
Now, what is the financial plank
It condemns contraction of the cur
rency; demands the repeal of the re-
sumption act advocates "the remOY-
al Of all restrictions to the coinage of
silver, and re-establishment of silver
as a money metal, the same as gold
the same as it was before its fraudu-
lent demonetization the gradual sub
/ stitution Of United States legal tender
paper money Of the country, made re-
/ ceivable for all dues to the Govern
ment, and Of equal tender with coin
| the amount of such issues to be SO reg
ulated by legislation or organic law as
to give the people assurance of stabili-
ty in the volume of currency, and the
consequent stability of the value; no
further increase in the bonded debt,
and no further sale of bonds for the
purchase Of coin for resumption pur-
. poses, but the gradual extinc ion Of the
public debt, rigid economy, the reduc-
ton of expenditures in all branches oi
the public service, and a tariff for rev
enue only" These are the financial
doctrines of the platform, and now, !
confidently defy my critics, one and
all, to name an vote that l have giy'
en- during the nine years that l have
sat in the Senate, that was inconsistent
with these principles. | have steadily
opposed contraction ever since 1t wa:
inaugurated. spoke and voted agains
the resumption act when it passed
and at the last session Of Congress vo
ted f3r its repeal. l worked hard tC
restore silver to the place it held be
fore the demonetiZatIOn. Several years
:, ago drew Il resolution for our State
convention favOring the gradual sub
stitutiOn of greenbacks for national
bank notes, and that resolution, judi
ciously amended, as l believe every
one now admits, was passed by the
convention. ! was one Of the first tC
propose in the Senate that greenback'
should bereceivable for custom duties
and at the last session | voted for the
bill making them thus receivable.
have been the advocate of stable
currency, aud your platform demandI
stability. | have contended that the
precious metals ought not to be demon
etized and the platform asserts the same
doctrine. | have spoken and vOteC
against an increase of our bonded
debt. ] have advocated, to the bes
Of my ability, strict economy, reduc
ton of expenditures, and a revenue
tariff. My course, therefore, has beer
perfectly consistent with the platform
Of our convention, as the journals anC
debates of the Senate will show. AnC
l beg leave to add that | have never
given a vote, III the nine years l have
sat in the Senate, to which exception
was taken by the Democracy of Ohio
as far as l know, or have ever heard
FeIlow-citizens, I trust that | have
not offended propriety or good taste by
making these few remarks about nay
self. You are a portion of my con
stituents and have a right to know
whether l have represented you cor
rectly or otherwise. IF l have q rep
utation worth preserving, it Is for youi
! interest as well as mine that 1t shall
not be uniustIy tarnished. But enough
upon this theme.
GREENBACKs OR NATIONAL BANF
NOTES?
When the currency part Of the plat
form is carefully scrutinized, 1t will bt
found that its principle feature Is the
proposed substitution of greenhack:
for national bank notos. | think tha
l do them no injustice when | say tina
the leaders of the Republican party
are in favor Of directly the opposite
cOurse-that IS to say, they would re
tire all the greenbacks in order tha-
their places might be filled with IA
tional bank notes. Let either course
be taken and the metalic money O
the country remains the same. UsC
either kind of paper and the amOun
of coin in circulation, apart from th'
small coin for change, will be cOmpar
atively small, so long as one and TIVE
and five dollar notes are freely issued
for such notes always drive coin out o
circulation. And whenever conversion
into coin is practicable and desirable
it will be just as easy to convert green
backs as to convert bank notes. Th
question then, is narrowed down t.
this, shall our paper money be nation
al bank notes or greenbaoks? Fo
several reasons, that I will brief,
state, l think the latter are preferable
THE NATIONAL DEBT A NATIONA