The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-08-03
Absolute Rubbish.
Illinois State Register.

1t is deplOrable that so many DerIuciAiic
Conventions, State and loca..., continue to use
so much worn-out political rubbish in the con
structiog VI their platforms. The platforms Of
inc State Conventions of Ohio, Arkansas, and
Missouri abound in this dead matter" which
adds bulk, but neither symmetry nor strength,
to their handiwork, while many Congressional
and Senatorial District Conventions in this and
other States have initiated their pernicious eX
amp,es The rubbish that has heretofore sur
rounded the currency question is that which
SHE managers of some Democratic Conventions
find most difficulty in casting to the bats and
the owls, and, unhappily, while they have re-
tanned the rubbish, they have appropriated and
Endorsed theories that are radically unsound
and vicious, and still have vitality enough to be
dangerous We have before US now the pro-
ceedings of several of these Democratic Con
vcntlons and their platforms, that illustrate the
fondness with which men cling to dead as well
as dangerous tallacies.
| In one of the counties of this State, for cX.
ample, the Democracy lately assembled in con
vention, and, after adopting resolutions fully
Expressive of Democratic theories in regard to
standing armies, the subordnation Of the mill
tary to the civil authority, and the Limitation
of the authority of the Federal Government 10y
the Constitution, it proceeds to assert That the
! Federal Government has authority TO Issue
paper money and make it legal tender tor all
debts public and private which is more deS-
potc and dangerous power than was ever
| claimed for the Federal Government by any
party that ever existed in this country apow-
er that the British Government has not claimed
| for itself since the revolution of 1858, and is
actually inconsistent with the principles OF
constitutional republicanlsm.
| 1t NAV be well enough saiu that 1t Is the
duty of the Government OF the United States,
in the exercise of its power to levy and collect
taxes, to anticipate its revenues by the issue of
the notes Of its Treasury, payable in coin at
the will of the holder. Such Treasury notes
as were suggested by Mr. Jefferson would be
preferable as a currency for general use to the
bank issues, and that course would enable the
Treasury to divorce itself from the banks. Such
policy is in harmony with democratic ideas
of government, but the claim that the Federal
Government has power to make paper tokens,
whether in the form of promises to pay, or IN
the form Good for So" as some propose,
money, and then compel their use, is undemo-
cratic IN principle and infinitely absurd as a
plan of practical finance. Why will Demo
cratic Conventions continue to give their in
dorsement to such infinite nonsense:
There is now no apology IN the condition OF
the country for the continued assertion OF these
| falIaCleS by Democrats, even IL IL cNcl was
UNSUITABLE The paper issues of the Treasury
and of the banks are now practically convert
bic into coin, and for that reason, of equal val :
ne with the coin. Do Democrats desire to al
ter this condition of things? Do they desire
that the paper currency shall be made more
valuable, and therefore more difficult to be OBJ
tanned, than coin, or do they seek to cheaper
the paper currency, that it may be less valua-
bile than coin? Ii they desire only that the pa
per currency should he of equal value with
coin. do they not know that no law can equal
ize them, and is it not necessary to inform IN
telhgent men that the only mode by which
coin and paper issues can be made OF equal
value is that of making them convertible INTO
each other at the will of those who may hold
either? 1t is time that democrats should
cease to collect last years birds nests. FOR
wears to come the Democratic party is to be
the central commanding figure in American
politics Its real principles underlle the
American system of constitutional republican,
ism. The sooner it rids itself of entanglng
alliances and comes to the front, the sooner the
American people will give it their confidence,
Let the dead bury their dead"