Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-07
DEMOCRATS AND eREENBAcKERs.

of the Democracy.
To the Editor of the Globe.
In the Pioneer Press of yesterday I was
much surprised at the character of its
leader headed, 'tThe Key to the Green
hackers" It starts off as follows: ssIt is
not always easy to tell just why this man is a
Republican or that man Democrat, and it
is still more difficult to comprehend why any
honest and intelligent Democrat who is q
Democrat from principle should continue to
| act with his party when it has fallen under
the control of elements and influences
which has placed it into direct and fragrant
opposition to every recognized principle of
Democratic creed.''
| 1t seems to me the editor of the Press is
very ignorant of the principles and creeds of
the Democratic party for the past ten years,
or else he is trying to mislead the Democracy
of this region.
Ordinarily, I would suppose the leading
Republican journal of the State would have
its hands full to look after the loyalty of its
own members, thousands OF whom have
lately left the party to join the Greenbackers
without having time to watch and look after
the interests of the Democracy. What in
finite concern and fear the Pioneer Press
has that these Greenback wolves will come
down from the mountains and devour the
wandering Democratic lambs. And
now these hard money Democrats
which the Press man thinks he sees way out
of the Democratic party proper are to be led
by this political Moses out of the Greenback
wilderness into the pleasant meadows and
green pastures of Republicanism.
am Democrat of many years standing,
and propose to remain loyal to the party,
and l claim in supporting the principles ad-
vocated in the Toledo National Greenback
platform, surrender nothing Democratic,
and only advocate what has for years been
portion of its creed Let us examine.
The Toledo platform asks for tie repeal of
the resumption act. The Democrats in Con-
gress have continually and almost solidly
voted to repeal this measure, and every Dem
ocratic State convention held within year
have passed resolutions denouncing forced
resumption.
The Toledo platform asks that ';the issue
of all the paper money be by the general gov
ernm> Mt on y" On the 18TH day Feb
ruary, 1868, vote was taken in the House
of Representatives on the national bank bill
-42 Democrats voted against it and only 3
in favor of it. On the 18th OF April, 1874,
"a fol 10
tional banks, the Democrats voted solidly
against it, only one Republican voting with
them. In July, 1870, on bill to increase
the national bank circulation 1854 100000,
only 4 Democrats voted in its favor and "A
voted against it, but Republican major
ity passed the bill. While this bill
was pending, Mr.. Randall, a Demo-
crat, offered substitute to issue $500, 100000
Of greenbacks and take up the national bank
notes. The Democrats voted Al ayes to
noes and the Republicans 105 noes to 10
ayes. On the 18th day of January, 1870, Mr..
Randall also offered a resolution to Withdraw
the national bank notes and issue greenbacks
in their stead, SO Democrats voted ave and
voted no and voted aye. So it will be seen
that for many years our representative Dem
ocrats have been in favor of greenbacks for
paper money instead of any other kind.
Pardon me for introducing right here few
planks from the National Democratic plat
form of 1868, on which our party put Sey-
mour and Blair, which was accepted as a
creed, and on which the campaign of 1868
was conducted:
Payment of the public debt of the United
States as rapidly practicable; all moneys
drawn from the people by taxation, except SO
much is requisite for the necessities of the
government, economically administered, being
honestly applied to such payments; and where
pressly state upon their face, or the law under
which they were issued does not provide that
they shall be in coin, they ought in right and
in justice be paid in the lawful money of the
United States.
Equal taxation of every species of property,
according to it's real value. including govern
ment bonds and other public securities.
On, currency for the government and the
people, the lab .rer and the officeholder, the
pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the
bondhoider.
The above are the essential principles of
the Greenback party of this country to-day,
and if a Democrat could conscientiously
support such principles in 1868, why
cannot he do the same in 1878,
say he can - he can sustain
them wherever he can find them, either in
the Greenback party or in his own. I am
aware that there are many Democrats who
for a few years have invested quite heavily
in United States bonds ard national banks
would now like to have the Democratic
party directed in the advancement of their
private interests, butt it is a fact, wherever
they have succeeded in ENGRAVING their ideas
in platforms and resolutions, it has been
promptly repudiated by the masses, and such
leaders will have to take hereafter back
seat in party management.
The Democratic party claims to be re-
form party. In its ranks can be found the
larger portion O. the working classes of the
country. It cannot favor the unwise and
exclusive legislation which is fast sending the
Republican party out of favor with all classes
of honest and respectable people. A party
which legislates for corrupt rings and the
great monied interests of the land and
against the welfare of the laborer and men
of small means must fall in a republic like
ours. The capitalists of the United States
only compose per cent. of it's population.
The national banks have capital of more
than $500,O00,O00, and hitherto have
been granted all they asked
for from Republican administra-
ton. In connection with the national
bondholders they have carried matters with
high hand for many years. More than one
half of the members of Congress for many
years have been of this class, and whenever
any of their interests were being jeopardized
by bill which would give business man, a
laborer, or farmer any sort of chance in
the race of life, we hear of long trains of
Pullman cars going to Washington with these
oInoR OF oil ~