Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-31

characteristics; one is high sense of honor, and
me other IS strong common sense. Applause.
lhey DO not propose to repudiate any obligation.
They do not believe with their strong common
sense, that simple piece of paper creates value.
Aud they remember, Mr.. Chairman, a less IN
winch can never be forgotten, a single instarc e
when covers In its scope and meaning the entire
greenbsck disc lssio1.
When had the honor to enter Congress from
an adj lining district, there was one hundred aud
nifty millions Of dollars IN legal tender in this
country, and they were worth one hundred and
forty-seven millions in gold dollars. | remained
there myself voting for legal tender bills until we
had four hundred and fifty millions of legal tender
paper, ard they were worth one hundred and forty
five millions in gold We had three times IS
many paper dollars, and the aggregate was wot tn
two millions less than when we began. And If we
had doubled the amount they would not have been
worth ANYTHING at all.
do not, however. with all respect to my hon =
ored, valued and eloquent friend. have the slight
est apprehension of the Reputation of the green
back dollar OF this country, not the slightest
and | beg to historically that there
il not in the situation of to day if he will pardon
me for differing from him, ANYTHING to create the
apprehension that we are to travel the road with
the national legal tender note that was trave led
nv the continental currency OF the revolution.
Why, Mr.. Chairman, our forefsthers issued two
hundred and forty millions of legal tender
raper. and they didn't have over five hundred and
hfy m lions Of property in the entire thirteen
we would have to float out six thousand millions
of legal tender paper before had got to the
point where they reached. Suppose the Cont
mental currency had only reached the aggregate
Of thntv millions Of of dollars is there snv man
here who believes that there would have been a
solitary dollar OF il left behind discredted
not one particle. So that while | agree,
and am sure the great mass OF the people of
Maine agree, that an enlarged and inflated issue
OF paper money in time of peace - not only I'M
constitutional, but is Wild and visionary and would
end in the destruction of the whole mass, | do
n believe that with a property running up TO
fifty thousand millions of dollars. the United States
i in the slightest danger of repudiating SOLITARY
penny of the three hundred and forty six million
that is sta Dped With their honor and goes upon
their credit TODAY.
When in 1864 we had reached the point Of four
hundred millions of legal tender in Circulat on
and fifty millions of reserve. and the danger of
depreciation was such tina, we were then on the
road towards the Continental result of the Reso-
luton, the Congress of the United States, speak
ing for you and in your name, speaking To its
creditors of both Continents and all nations, said
and put on vOur sia'ute book that the amount of
legal tender notes issued and to he issued should
not exceed four hundred million dollars Never
And charge the greenbsck agitator not only with
standing upon an absurd and visionary theory,
not only with dying in the face of the experience
Of all nations in all centuries. but | charge him
with more serious and still more pernicious
course of action: | charge him with inviting YOU
and me to violate solemn add emphatic pledge
given bv this nation; given a. sacredly as a man
would who was sinking to destruction beneath
the curlirg wave, save me and | will keep this
pledge" The United States in its hour OF peril
said to the whole world, Eve want your treasure.
We are in a struggle for national existence. We
will give onr bonds and pledge you the
honor of this great nation, '-speaking with una.
nimitv through both branches of Congress- by
parties aud by sects and all sections-"we pledge
you that we will 80 entirely protect the currency
in which our obligations shall he paid that we
will never permit the amount of legal tender cur
rencv issued or TO be issued to exceed
four hundred millions of dollars And
| charge the greenback sgi,stor stsndio z
forth the sol of the country and beneath it, flag
saved by an honorable pledge, that he to-day a. Ks
you and me TO join with him in violating that
pledge A voice, 1--WE shall GOT do it."l The
people of Maine will never do it. Never never
never!
Calls were made for the Ion. Wn. p. FRYE
who came forward and asked to be excused from
making a .peech
The Hon. Eugene Hale was called for and came
forward
He said Maine had proved time and again thai
she was sound politically. She gave freely OF
men and money to pu, down rebellion. This yesi
she is to prove whether or not she is in favor OF
sound, good money. She is to settle whether she
will give encouragement to a movement hitherto
unknown In neF pOlNHs, tnSt
en-. to disturb what is practically settled to-day
For the despatch that came the wires from
New York announced resumption, practically al
thon Oh there might be temporary fluctuations
Maine is to settle whether the proposition of an
rredeemable currency is to have force and
strength with her population and become part
of her politics; whether we are again 10 be in
vited to the DEVILS dance of initiation, for infa
ton is inseparably connected with the idea of an
rredeemable currency. The proposition is to pu,
upon the people paper currency unlimited in ex-
tent, with nothing whatever behind it. Pros,ra
ton and ruin follow initiation. We have almost
reached the end OF the evils of the issuing OF
greenbacks. We now invited to commence
over and go through with it again. 1t rests with
u.s. my friends, to see that ne doubtful result i.
given by our ballots.
On motion of c. A. Boutelle of Bangor, tina
gentleman and Alden Sprague of Augusta and
Rufus Prince of Turner, were appointed com
mittee to wait on the Hon Selden Con1or and
inform him that hs ha been renonin ,ted bv til
republican party as candidate for governor
Adjourned sine die.