The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1878-09-20

9hs epeektD9,
The Court House was crowded, Monday night, to
hear Col. ST. John make his opening speech of the
campaign. Among the sudienee wore . large num-
Der Of ladies' Mayor Boder occupied the Chair.
Col. St. John, although suffering from . severe
cold, spoke at some length Alter comparing the
Democratic and Republican parties, in the manage
ment Of the sars Of the country he took up the D.
nancial question, to which he devoted mast Of his
speech He compared the grcenback, the creature of
the Republican party in the fsce Of the bitterest
position Of the Democratic party, with the Wild the
ories of the socalled Greenback party. The Repub-
lican greenbaek to-day viii buy - much - . gold
dollar. Tho money in circulation to-day amounts to
more in its purchasing power. than ii did in 1864,
when the currency ut its greatest imitation The
laboring man, with the amount of days wages, can
buy more with It to-day than he could with the
amount of days wages in 1854, when wages were
higher. The laboring receives double the wages
for q days work now that he did in the good old
Democratic days before the war and the neccssaries
of life are NO higher-many Of them lower. Every
farmer and mechanic has moro co mforts and luxu-
ries than he had twenty-6v years ago. The reason
is that the Republican greenback IL worth dollar,
the country over, and worth just rs much in one
State rs another; whereas, in the Democratic days
OF w1lQ-cot Danks, inc N8lue u moucy CunuScu a.
the possessor went from neighborhoOd to anoth-
ers and money that was current in one State, was
worthless in an adjoining one. This fiat money
that the Greenbackers were bowling for, would
become more worthless than the wildcat money.
He referred to the Continental money Of the Revolu
ton, and to the Confederate money, as examples
After the collapse Of the Coufederacy, confederate
ten dollar bill was not worth the paper it was print
ed on while Confederate ten dollar gold piece was
still worth ten dollars. The value Of paper money
is the security behind it, and tie promise to redeem
it some day. in something that is recognized by the
nations of the earth money. He read from the
history of France, showing how the fat money Of
that country grew. Even then, it was better than
the proposed fiat money Of this country, for it had
small amount of property back Of it. But 1t grew,
and grew, until 5000 francs of it would not buy
loaf of bread. Laws passed to compel the peo-
pie to receive it money but it could not be enforc
ed. Finally, it was gathered together in heap, and
burned-and the FIAT money in France wound up
with the most bloody and horrible revolution record
ed in history Such would be the result of fat mon
ey this country. They talk about people suffering
for bread but when . laboring man could not buy
a loaf of bread for his starving family with cart
load of fiat money, the average Democrat could
not buy glass of bad whiskey with basketfui OF
it. then the people would raise in revolution against
it. Yet there men, calling themselves Reformers,
who propose to pay of the national debt with such
stuff Most of the bonds arc now owned In this
country. Some of them were bought with gold; but
all that are bought with greenbacks, were bought
money that promised to pay gold or silver; yet these
Reformers coolly proposed that Government should
swindle its own subjects, BY paying OF these obiga
tons in something that was never intended to be
redeemed.
Col St. John referred to the atrocious charge that
he was n temperance man, and he did not deny it.
He proposed to continue q temperance man, and II
ne was elected Governor, the people should know
that they had q sober man. But while he practiced
temperance himself, he did not propose taking
charge of other mems consciences dictateto them
what sentiments they should hold on the temper
ance or any other question. But he thought 1t
strange that the same Democrats who, four years
ago, opposed the election OF Tom. Osborn because
they said he was not temperance man, should now
oppose him as violently because he was temperance
man. Col. St. John did himself and his party good.
Judge Hanback,, of Topeka, next spoke His
speech was mainly devoted to the efforts Of the Dem
ocratic leaders to destroy the union. 1t was what
the Democracy are wont to call waving the bloody
shirt" But he told many solid truths, and his ad-
dress aboundsd in eloquent passages.
Judge Price was called out. He cut his remarks
very brief on account Of the lateness of the hour
but in what he did say, he made number of solid
arguments. Judge Price is one of the abest speak
ers Kansas and is to be regretted that he was left
off the ticket, he would have been power in the
canvass.
We see, by bills posted about town. that Col John
ston will reply to Col. St. JOHN Wednesday night.
St. John is not large man. but it is safe to say that
there will be enough left of him for nestegg, after
Col. Johnston has got through with him.