The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-04-03

when we were in the minority in national
gether for common purpose, will those
that are outnumbered now, by the policy
spesk of, governed by the west and the south,
submit, and predict such movement of the
people under the policy of the democratic par
", from this time forward, as has not been
seen, my old friends, since Jackson made his
war ON the money power in the name of the
people. LApplause.l
democratic party. have shown the number
of states which we control. How have we OBJ
tanned this ascendency? 1t has been by an
tagonlz1og that party by whose policy. and
by whose policy alone, the country has been
brought TO its paralyzed and distressed
condition. Two years ago last December one
branch OF congress became democratic for the
nrSt time I'M fifteen years. Listen TO me, If
there is dissatisfied democrat here tonight.
10 was then for the first time that any serious
agitation of financial reform and financial re-
Lief commenced in high places of power. Says
duty, even then" When YOU consider that
the senate was overwhelmingly republican at
That time you could not expect one branch of
congress to bring you relief from the evils
which the republican party had piled up I'm
fifteen years. Speaker here referred at some
length TO the work of the democratic house in
reducing expenditures, and the opposition by
the republican senate.
But that was not all; for the first time IN the
history OF the government
a VOICE WAS RAISED
in congress against the financial legislation of
the republican party. IL came in this way: In
January, $50, the republican party met in
I
as they thought. as far as the Almighty. They
thought by January, 1873, you would be able to
pay all your debts in gold. They had already
stricken down the silver dollar and left only
the gold dollar as a legal tender, and they
looked into the bosom of the future and saw
down the stream of time to the first day of
January, 1879, and said that al of the Amer
lean people that were in debt upon that day
would be- ready with gold dollar TO pay every
dollar they owed. SO they drew up a bill
known as the act for the resumption OF specie
payments: The next day they brought that
U fFnr fan
far as the senate was concerned il
lay over one day under an objection
could do; and the next day the republican
majority took IL up and passed it.; so that
when the democratic congress met In the
following December that law was on the
statute book. But before that democratic
congress adjourned it passed bill to repeal
this resumption act, and sent the bill to the
republican senate, where il died, of course, the
senate adJourning without any action. That
was the first move in the right direction.
Silver had been demonetized, and a DEM
Ocratic member from Indiana, Franklin
Landers, of Indianapolis, to his honor be it
dollar. The truth is the subject not very
well understood then by anybody but those
who were interested. in striking il down. 1t
had been done in such
sURREPTITIoUs AND sNEAKING WAY
I that not one congressman in ten knew how
/ II was done; and even the congress in which
/ Mr.. Landers offered this bull didn't take it up
/ and act upon il, but they did upon the other
/ question Of the repeal of the resumption act.
/ The repeal of the resumption act Is really
more important measure than the restoration
/ of the silver dollar. The proposed resumption
/ OF specie payment was a threat to all the bust
/ ness OF the country, and provided for system
/ OF contraction that was destroying the money
I of the people. No greater crime can be COM
! mitted on earth than for government 10
abstract from its own people the currency that
/ is in their hands, and which is needed for the
| lives of tnelr wives and children and for the
prosperity of their homes. Murder is light in
comparison with it; for all the crimes follow
/ such state of affairs. This measure then
I the resumption act was so far as the demo-
cratic party could do it repealed two years ago
/ and sent to the republican, senate and had the
republican senate been inspired by the same
/ love OF right and justice apd by the same de-
votiOn TO the peoples rights and interests as
/ the democratic house, that bill would have
/ been wiped from the statute books two years
/ ago and business would have revived.
The speaker here referred TO the action of
THE PRESENT IoUST
| of representatives on the financial question,
/ and said that hardly two weeks had passed
after the meeting OF the house until again the
democratic party in the house or representa-
tives repealed the resumption act that was
/ cursing the country, and it was scarcely two
weeks u til the same democratic house passed
/ a bill saying that the people should again have
/ the old silver dollar.
The speaker here referred to the amendment
of the above bill in the senate. He said that
| he fought for free and unlimited coinage. L
don't believe we will get too much money.
| ever had To much. do not believe there was
ever any need OF contraction. / believe the
! people OF Ierre taute were happier, better Oil,
/ less oppressed with care and anxiety when the
currency was, as they say now, inflated.
\ SO, gentlemen, on the restoration OF the
SILVER dollar, was not alarmed as 10 the
danger OF there being too much OF 1t. Let
the democratic party get into power in both
! branches OF congress, and you will see bills
passed without limitations that will bring
substantial relief TO the country. The senate
Is a republican body. but on the fourth day of
next March, even though you should lose
democratic senator in Indiana lit does not de-
pend on that the senate will be democratic as
cast, the edict has gone forth, that on the
fourth of March the democratic party viii take
/ possession, without a contingency: Then 1
/ Will be willing for the party 10 De tested: then
| will be willing for the responsibility to come.
Thus far you can form only an imperfect judg-
democratic party where it has been trusted
has done the best it could. 1t could not bring
relief. for 1t has not had full power. When we
obtain both branches of congress then we will
be ready to
MEET THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY,
and am not afraid to meet the responsibility
am not afraid but that it viii be met with
| courage, wisdom and goodness; L am not
| afraid but that the policy OF the government
will be placed permanently on the side of the
| industrial interests of the land, on the side of
i the toiler and the producer; for the wealth of
this country arises from those who labor on
the land and on the sea, and government
that does not place its policy on their side and
/ in their interests IS accused of God and ought
not to stand. IGreat applausel And, gentle
men, We will succeed not only in obtaining
control of the legislative department of the
government on the SIN day of March next,
but do not be mistaken about
the signs OF the times; the steady march
of this old party, that has won a popular
majority over all other parties combined. that
survived defeat and won its way back to vic
tory and the confidence of the people, by its
sublime patience aud WISDOM which has won
not merely popular majority, but majori-
ty of the state government back from radical
ru.s. viii inaugurate the next president of the
I'm ted states. [Applausel We elected one
president, but failed TO inaugurafe him.
Next time we Will elect and inaugurate too
We will take western material next time, and
a western man goes in when he knows that he
has right TO go in. tApplause.l And then,
my friends, one and AL. you sore-hearted, OPP
pressed, distressed and honest. men of the
democratic party, of the national party. and
the republican party, believe will have rea-
son to thank God for a beneficent administra-
ton OF your government in the interests of
the people; not of the rings of the money
power, of banks and the money changers, but
of the people.
Gentlemen, let me dwell for few minutes
THE POSITION or INDIANA.