The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-01-10
Senator 0glssby's Speech--His Views on tho
Silver Bill.

A great mass convention of the peo-
pie Of all parties met at Decatur, Illi-
nois, December 10th, TO hear Senator
Oglesby on finance and to express
their views ON the pending silver bin
and the resumption act. Senator
Oglosby said:
In the East / hear the West are
studying reputation; but | know not
man here that would take the ad-
vantage of law or teehnicalities to in
iure a public creditor. They pay all
they agreed to pay, and only demand
their lawful rights. For few months
| am permitted 10 vote for half of this
great State, and | mean to give no just
ground to any one to charge me with
being repudiator.
Hard times compel us to study all
about gold, silver and paper currency;
and people ask, what is money? 1t
isn't realty or personally, nor high
wines, nor hymn books. Some say il
is accumulated capital. Well, then,
how much does an average fellow
need of it. Some say $40, some 500,
and some say 500 head. The amount
differs in different countries, and
statesmen differ. One morning our
people woke up and found the silver
dollar had sliked out,not the Mexican
or the Spanish, or the Japanese, but
our dollar. Many believe there was
fraud and trick in this-a plan con-
cocted by capitalists to swindie us.
These fellows deny it, but they appear
mighty glad of it. Well, very few
knew of it; the people were not con-
suited, and they feel that they were
tricked by somebody. The people are
usually quite revengeful, when sharp
practices are played on them. You
all remember when the bred Scott de-
cision, and when the Nebraska bill
were sprung upon the people; well,
they did not rest until they took re-
venge upon those interests assisted by
these measures. Well, the people feel
the same way about. the silver bust
ness, and capitalists had better take it
back.
shall vote for the reconciliation
of silver as it was, at the first oppor-
tunity. Here comes q fellow and
says: Governor, don't you know sill
yer isn't worth as much as it was be-
fore ?" Why, yes; | know it; lots of
other things are in the same fix; but
we will give you just as many grains
of silver as we agreed to, and | mean |
to vote to coin as much of ii rs our
mints can make. Great applause
Now, | must be careful of my votes, |
you know. But silver and gold have |
been the coin of the world for all I
time, and both have an equal right to
stay as money; all creditors every
where understand they must take
these coins. When our debts were
created, gold and silver was what we
agreed to pay in. The silver dollar
then had 4121-2 grains. Now the
oddities claim there was no trick in
silver, aud it was done
ust when silver began to be plenty.
And we find all these fellows full of
books and tables and documents to
oppose its recoinage as money. There
IS something strange about this. They
Jay "silver is 10 heavy. Give us
yreenbacks then. [Great applause
But they answer, "They are unsub-
tantial-Great Britain has unfolded
he gold standard"
And we nnd many are just dying to
ollow Great Britain and British in
titutions. We don't want their ideas:
heir laws of entails we brushed off
ong ago, and we don't want them
,ack again. Now suppose we coin
fifty millions, and give employment to
million idle men; would that be
wrong? think not. Is it desirable
o cramp us all into bankruptcy, with
o much means to pay out, only wait
ne to be coined? 1t wouldn't be
Amcricail-no, nor good sense.
vant to make myself fully understood
Ito talk as | would IN the Senate. {
here are sixteen States and Terri
cries that produce silver: we get
hrec millions month from one hole.
low why demonetize it? don't see.
Inder our law gold is worth sixteen !
lines as much as silver; in France S
old is only fifteen and one-half times {
5 valuable as silver: but still capital
It's here are not satisfied. | think it J
ight to put it back as it was. If that |
mt right tell HE so before 90 back. l
Now, word about resumption. l {
ave always been for greenbacks. l |