The daily gazette., 1878-09-06
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Thurman's Speech
PAIGN BY ADVOCATING THE SUB
sTITUTIoN OF GREENBACKS
FOR NATIONAL BANK NOTES
AND THE REPEAL OF
THE BEsUMP
TIoN LAW.
HAMILTON, o., August 13

HAMILTON, o., August 13
Senator Thurman was met at the de-
pot this morning by large concourse.-
Many persons had come twenty miles by
wagon and there were present people from
Indiana, one hundred miles distant.
With him were distinguished men from
all parts of the State, including candi-
dates for State offices and the nominees
for Congress from the First, Second and
third Ohio districts. The town was
decked with the national coors and pa
triotic devices. Guns were fired and he
was cheered heartily from the depot to
his resting place at Judge Hume's house.
The speaking was in the Court House
Park, and not less than 5000 were there.
His argument on the finances was listen
ed to with close attention and command
ed the consideration of Republicans.
Evidently an impression was made, for
the evening meeting, addressed in chief
by John A. MacMahon, candidate for
Congress from this district, was attended
nearly as largely as that in the day time.
Bonfires and fireworks made the night
light as day, and the enthusiasm was at
fever heat. 1t was midnight before many
Senator Thurman spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and FetlOW citizens -
| have seen several statements in the pub
lie press to the effect that the object of
my appointment TO address you to-day
was that l should s'sound the keynote of
the campaign" wish, in the very out
set of my remarks, to disclaim any such
pretension. Under free institutions it is
for the people to give the keynote, and,s
far as the Democracy of Ohio are con-
cerned, they have discharged that duty in
the platform adopted by our late State
Convention. / stand squarely on that
platform. have adopted its principles
heretofore and shall continue to advo-
cate them. Perhaps this is all | should
say about myself, but, inasmuch as in
certain quarters.
] am denounced as man who has sur
rendered his convictions to appease a
popular clamor, it may be pardonable in
me to occupy few moments in repe-
| ling this charge. The accusation has re.
ference to my support OF the financial
plank in the platform. Now, what is this
| financial plank? 1t condemns contrac
ton of the currency demands the repeal
| of the resumption act advocates "tht
4 ItmOfdl VI all ItSJElCblODS w Lut COlIihkt
of silver, and the establishment of sill
yer as a money metal, the same as gold
the same as it was before its fraudulent
demonetization the gradual substitution
| of United States legal-tender paper fol
national bank notes, and its permanent
establishment as the sole pape. money oi
the country, made receivable for all dues
to the Government, and of equal tender
with coin-the amount of such issues tc
be so regulated by legislation or organic
law as to give the people assurance Of
stability in the volume of currency, and
the consequent stability of the value nc
further increase in the bonded debt, and
no further sale of bonds fol the purchase
of coin for resumption purposes, but the
gradual extinction of the public debt
ligid economy the reduction of eXpendi
lures in all branches of the public service
and taritffor revenue only" These are
the financial doctrines of the platform
and now | confidently defy my critics
one and all, to name any vote that hav'
given, during the nine years that / have
sat in the Senate, that was inconsistent
with these principles.
] have steadily opposed contract.
ever since it was inaugurated. ] spok,
andvoted against the resumption actwheI
lit passed, and at the last session of Con
gress voted for it's repeal. ] worked hare
to restore silver to the place it held before
its decentralization. Several years ago
drew resolution for our State Conven
ton favoring the gradual substitution o
greenbacks for national bank notes, anc
that resolution injudiciOusly amended, a
| [ believe every one now admits, wa
passed by the Convention, was one o
the first to propose in the Senate tha
greenbaeks should be receivable for Gus
foms duties, and at the last session l yot
ed for the bill making them thus rec-lv
able have been the advocate of stab
currency, and your platform demand
stability. | have contended that th
} pre- cous metals ought not TO be demone
, tized, and the platform asserts the sam
doctrine. have spoken and voted agains
an increase of our bonded debt. L hav
advocated, to the best ofmy ability ,stric
leconomy, reduction of expenditures an
7 n revenue tariff. My course, therefore
. has been perfectly consistent with tn
) platform of our Convention, as the joul
+ nails and debates of the Senate will show
AMI beg leave to add that have neve
given a vote, In the nine years l have sa
In the Senate, to which exception wa
:. taken by the Democracy of OHIO, so ia
: as know or have ever heard.
Fellow izens, / trust that have nc
g offended propriety or good taste by max
q | ing these few remarks about myself. 1o
n are a portion of my constituents an
Il have a right to know whether have rel
Z resented you correctly or otherwise. Ii
It have a reputation worth preserving, It
o for your interest as well as for mine ina h
lii shall not be unjustly tarnished. Bt
enough upon this theme.
IAWhen tle currency part of the platfol
is carefully scrutinlzed it will be 1oa1
that its principal feature is that propose
substitution of greenhacks for nationi
hank notes. I think that l do thei
70 Injustice when | say that tn
% leaders of the Republican party are l
q favor of directly the opposite course
,ee that is to say, they would retire all I'll u
10 oreenbacks in order that their place
ar might be filled with national bank note
n J,e1 either course be taken and the meta
"a lie money of the country remains u
10 same, Use either kind of paper and I'll
. amount of coin in actual circulation,a ,apa
from the small coins used for change,wl
he comparatively small, so long as OF
;, and two and five-dollar notes are Tree
IL issued for such notes always drive co co
at ont of circulation. And whenever co co
ar | ;,to onip Ia practiC able ana u6s