The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-30
Voorhees, Speech.


One of the most mastery efforts in I
behalf of the democratic party is the
speech Of Hon. Dan w. Voorhees,, at
South Bend, Ind, on Saturday last. The
senator was in his best mood, as the dis
patches say" brilliantly eloquent in bis
appeal.
Reviewing the history Of the republican
party he says:
In whatever direction you view the po-
htical field you fud absolutely nothing
effected by the leaders of the republican
party calculated to promote the public well
fare. In period of great corruption and
debasement of the public service, in the
midst of official scandals and debaucheries |
connected both with the last and present
administrations, and bowed down as the
people are by the most appalling business
distress ever known in a civilized common |
wealth. l challenge the production of
single measure by those who now lead and
control the republican party which has in
it the elements Of popular relief"
This is the most concise resume of the
republican party that has yet been given.
It tells the story as it is 1t tells what is
we'll established fact, that the republican
party has been, is now and always will be
the party of certain classes and not of the
whole people.
The republican party. loaded down with
its credit mobiliers, Pacific Mail subsidies,
and enormous land grants, with its whisky
rings, revenue robbers, government de-
fauters, and general misrule is not and
cannot be the party of the people The
democratic party on the other hand has
always Iegislated in the interests Of the
masses, its aims and objects have been di-
rected towards the alienation Of oppres-
sive legislation and in favor of all meas
ures looking to permanent relief.
The demonstration of silver by the re
publican party, 10 1878, aided largely il
producing the terrible panic of that year
nor was the pernicious measure remedies
until the democracy secured the lowe
house, aud theH by persistent agitation Sc
cured the repeal of the law and the enact
mept Of the present act of RECOMMENDATION
- And so we might enumerate hundreds {
instances to prove that the democrat
party has always been consistent frien
Of the people and opposed to class legisl'
ton.
Referring to the financial issues M
Voorhees, said:
The financial legislation of the republ
party has precipitated the country in'
condition of disaster general bankruptc
and of threatened disorder on the part
a large class of destitute people which I'll
every thoughtful mind with the grave
anxiety This issue embraces the actu
wants and the hard necessities of me
women, and children, and hence it is pre-
nant with the deepest Importance. III
responsibility for the issue is clear and u
questioned 1t is an issue presented
the leaders of the republican party in Il
interest of capital withdrawn from bus
ness, and by them alone. We are som
times reminded that the law creating Il
United States legal tender note. the gree
back dollar, is OF republican origin. III
is true. and yet il is melancholy fact III;
after the greenback dollar had been us
ut 80 or 60 cents on the dollar by capit
lists TO load themselves up with COVER
ment bonds, then, as soon as 1t was tou
tbatlegal-tender notes constituted che
and safe money for the people, and cou
no longer serve the purpose of retired,
active. interest-drawing capital, they
came an object of denunciation and pl
scription at the hands Of those who broug
them into existence. The democrats,
the other hand. who were in congress
1862, and l amongst them, doubted 1
success of the new financial policy th
proclaimed When, however, its be-
fetal features became manifest, aud it v
discovered that some progress had b'
made in the financial world, when we {
covered that the system OF Y nlted Sta
legal-tender notes was especially adap
to the business wants and interests OF
American people, we became their ad
Gates and supporters. sag
Mr.. Voorhees, continued at great len
to review the acts of the republican pa
scathiugly criticising It's course IN congr
and charging it openly with KNOWN
legisiatiDg against the people. OF cou
our republican friends will say. this
demogoguery," but such assertion Can
be substautiated for the brilliant speal
produces proof for each and every as
ton he makes, proof SO overwhelmir
conclusive that the most skeptical u
pause and consider,
Referring again to the financial qr
tion Mr. Voorhees, states as follows:
If there are any here to-day who
been in the habit of asserting that the TIVE
parties occupy the same ground upon
financial question, j beg them to look
didly at the history of events. What
ton did the republican senate tax
these two measures of relief rendered
the house? It is true that after a
tracted struggle and memorable del
the bill for the restoration of the b
dollar was carried through that body
distinct majority. | am not dispose
latj.aatl e.a.. Fl. aat a-a 'a