The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-08-15

money. Such was the Interpretation O
| Thaddeus Stevens, one of ablest mel
Pennsylvania has produced. Such wa.
| the declaration Of John Sherman, VIII,
with deliberation said In writing tina
any other Interpretation of the Law
amounted to reputation. Such wa.
the declaration OF the Chicago conven
ton, which put that eminent sOldiel
Gen. Grant in nomination for thePresi
dency. That convention pledged the
faith of its candidate aud Of its party
that the 5-2Os should be paid in green.
backs, according to the spirit Of the
law under which their were issued, and
upon that pledge, accepted by thepe6ple
despite all these pledges despite the let
ter and spirit of the law, the very first
act passed after Grants Inauguration,
the very first signed by him, was that
most infamous act, paid for by the
bOndholders' gold, declaring that the
bonds should be paid in coin. But an
act to be law must be constitutional,
and the constructive act of March lS,
1869, was and is both unconstitutional
and void. Unconstitutional because
that Congress usurped the functions of
a court of law, and undertook to con-
strue the meaning OF law passed by a
previous Congress. The business of the
Legislature IL to enact laws, as it is the
exclusive province of the courts to con-
strue them, and one Congress has no
an act passed by another Congress
than u court has the right to enact a
law. This is too well settled to re-
quire argument. Then the act of 1859
is void, as are all contracts which have
been made under it. But the 5-2Os
have been exchanged for coinbearing
bonds. Granted. The holders were
and are the same parties, and the pre-
tense that the present holders are in
nOcent will deceive no one. In this
country the people are supreme, they
WELD the ballot; and if they do not
drive their plunderers from power the
fault will be their own.
The destr0yers of your prosperity
did not stop here. BY the act of March,
1869, requiring the bonds to be paid in
coin they made gift to the bondhold-
ers of six hundred millions to be paid
by the people, that amount being the
difference between the value of green
backs and coin. They were not satis-
fed with this audacious robbery. By
trick of legislation they provided that
silver coin should no longer be legal
tender for any sum over five dollars
and as silver was no longer money, the
bonds must be paid in gold, and as
gold was and is scarce, it became dear
er than before, and again millions were
legislated from the pockets of the peO-
pie into the pockets of the bondhOld-
ers, without one dollar of considera-
ton in return. Silver was demone-
~ H.,
scarce, and its restoration as
legal tender money is due to the able
and fearless action of the Democratic
party. 1t is true it was demanded by
the people, but their will was champ
iOned by the Democracy, the old par
ty which in calm and in storm has un-
stood by the industrial
classes of our country; by those who
in time of war fight its battles, and in
time of peace are its most industrious
citizens.
This, then, is the policy and the
purpose of the great Democratic party.
1t is in the interest of the whole peO-
pie, and I appeal to them as to my
TO come to the rescue of
their rights, and to aid in the grand
cause of financial reform. Adopt this
policy, and there will be sufficient
1922 ON, eAuu oAA
men - .h 0i 1o so.l, lnsteau % Delng torced IN
highway, will once more become in
1ustrious citizens, and half-starved,
half-clad women and children will be
restored to comfort.
/ have been shocked and amazed to
hear Intelligent men ascribe the gem
sral paralysis of the industries of the
to the extravaganza of the
peoPie. 10 Ine Aen VINO scarcely eet
heaG once a week Cney say, Eat less
And 10 naiI-starved
women anu cnllulen ,tney say, ear
ever : ciothes-e -eeononi1e! Ihey say,
Starving men, eat less anu econ0-
ME! halI-nakeu women anu cniiu,
Ien, wear IeWer clotnes ano ec0nomlze!
cconomlae Dy eaCng less anu wearing
ess, ana tnereny restore prosperlty
.APPlause1. was anytning more 40
'uro ever thrown IN bne Iaces OF an IN,
a ,elage91 ana M t Wtongea .; anu Pnonaeleo ..
peOPe 10 r1stOrg prosperity, wear
ever clOCnee w nat tnen Is 10 De-
come OF the mercnant, the manuIac.
'urer, the tailor. the shoemaker ana
me uressmakerf Eat less anu re-
'tofe prosperity Wnat tnen Is 10
become OF tne Dutcher. the DaKer anu
ne farmer! lAPplause.) oucn tWaN-
ne. my ifiends, Is unWorshy OF reIuta-
Ion, y nn, T.. ana , oniy SHOWS ene despear.e
,t.alGs 10 which The wrong ooers are
irnven.
!, me country requires more circuia-
ION IN lts arteries, more oiood IN lts
,elns, more money IN the Pockets OF
me people. Inc cry Ior feilet comes
rom every quarter, for the strengtn OF
me people Ii unequal 10 the burden
ney nave 10 carry. Ihe most clviilz-
"a States have been forced into avow-
"a bankruptcy, ana were they not the
7lctims OF blind ana lnsatlate aravice,l
would seem as tnougn the men VINO
lave brought All tnese woes upon the
and desired to force the people to
hrOW OF the burden which they have |