The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-08-22
TI{URll1N'.y SPEECH.

Senator Thurman's great speech st
Hamilton Ohio, rs such a one as would
naturally be expected from him,-cool,
penetrating, analytic and convincing.
Thurman is not eloquent, but he is a
close reasoner and a sincere man. He
makes no effort at display of language,
but gives hard facts which furnish food
for reflection. 1t IS unfortunate that
Thurman should ally himself with those
who are opposed to the resumption of
specie payments on the first of January
next. But one thing is certain, Thurman's
views on the currency question are the
result of research, investigation and ex-
perience. He does not espouse certain
opinions for the purpose of curying favor.
lie believes sincerely, that resumption at
Che time fixed, is impracticable and its at
tempt will prove disastrous It's extreme
ly difficult for one with strong hard money
proclivities, to understand why the mere
conversion of paper dollar at par with
gold. into gold would produce drain of
coin from the treasury, or prove III any
way detrimental to the interests of the
country. But such views are honestly
entertained and we can only wonder at
the course of reasoning which makes
their adoption possible.
The speech is largely devoted to dis
cassion of the currency question. 1t is
particularly hostile to the national banks,
and demands that all currency be issued
10y the government. This is a plank
which may be found in an honest money
platform. 1t IS by no means of a piece
with the doctrine that il is the duty of
the government to issue irredeemable
paper money. AL hard money demo
Gratis may also rejoice with Thurman,
that contraction was discontinued. After
resumption the volume of circulating
currency required by the country may
be much more accurately ascertained.
The comparison of the expenditures
Of the government during the last year
The democrats were in power, 1850, with
the last year the republicans were in
power, 1870, excluding pensions and
interest on public debt, successfully re-
flutes the republicans claim that under
their administration, the government has
been managed more economically than
under the administration of the demo
Gratis. While the expenses in 1850 were
Sl.S7! per capita, in 1876 they were 1886 !
per capita. Feeling that it might be
urged that special circumstances so mod !
fled the expenses of those typical years,
that the comparison did not fairly pre-
sent the usual state.of affairs, Mr.. Thur
man compares the expenditures of the |
government for seven consecutive years, |
during the administration of each party, |
excluding the extraordinary expenses
resulting from the debts and obligations |
contracted during the war. The average /
yearly expenditure during the democratic I
rule Is SCI, 554. 400. Under republican
rule SSl, sol, 7l0. These statements show
the absurdity of the arguments used by
republicans of the extravagant eNpendi-
lures of democrats in managing the gov
eminent.
Thurman grows animated when dis
cussing the great Drama of Fraud"
Indeed 1t is impossible to touch upon
this question without being fred by all
the INDICATION of which q person is capa-
bic at contemplating the success of the
most outrageous swindle to which peo-
pie were ever subjected.