Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-08-08
THE "OHIO IDEA"
Senator Thurman and Represen.
fafive Sayler Stand Up.

| Dayton Journal
Gentlemen, you have been selected
by the party managers to sound the
key note of this campaign, to elucidate
the ohio Idea, AS it were, at Hamil-
toR on the. 18th day OF August. You
are expected to make no discord, and
to give forth mo uncertain sounds.
The Enquirer declares that the CAM
paign is TO be turned to the Ohio Idea,
but does not clearly indicate what these
mysterious and high sounding words
mean in the connection in which they
are used. The people look to you as
lights Of the party, to clear up this
mystery. The Enquirer intimstes that
the Ohio Idea, has reference to finance.
Ifsuch is the case, il Is well TO inquire
III is the same doctrine which Is
Iaiti down in the National
platform of your party OF
1876, and the letter OF acceptance Of
yanr candidate for the Presidency.
That platform contained the following
wards:
tWe denounce the failure for all these
eleven years OF peace, to make good the
promise of the legal tenders, which are
q Thanging standard OF value In the
hands OF the people, and the non-pay-
nlsut of which Is disregard OF the
pIighted faith OF the Nation
Here the greenback Is declared a
chsas ing standard of value, by which
the ptopie are swindled and the Re-
publican party charged with disregard
ing, the plighted faith OF the Nation,
in not Withdrawing them from cifcula-
ton and destroying the:n. Gen tlemen,
Is this the ohio Idea'2 Again:
we denounee the financial imbeciliiy
OF that party which, during eleven
years of peace, has made no advance
toward resumption, no preparation ior
resumption; and while annually pro-
tessing to intend speedy return to
specie payments, has annually enacted
fresh hindrances thereto. As such
hindrsnce we denounce the resumption
clause OF the act OF 1S75.'
There is no Inistaking the meaning
of this resolution. You denOunce the
Republican party-nOt because 1t has
approached resumption too rapidly,
but because, rs you say, 1t has made no
advance in that direction, thus declar-
ing in the most positive terms that
you desire more speedy return to
specie payment. Is this the Ohio
idea?
And again: j..
We demand a judicious system OF
preparation by public economies, by
official retrenchments and by wise
finance, which shall enable the Nation
soon to assure the whole world of its
perfect ability, and its perfect reads
ness to meet any of its promises at the
cali of the creditor entitled to pay
ment.'
II this resolution means anything, 1t
means that the Government should be
prepared at the earliest possible mo-
ment TO redeem the greenback, which
your platform says is promise to pay,
and 1: a:changing standard of value in
the hands of the people. In this you
clearly indicate your purpose TO retire
the greenback. Is this the 'Ohio
Idea?
In bis letter OF acceptance, Mr.. Til
den says:
'Of the public debt, nine hundred
aud eighty>five millions bear interest
at six per cent. In gold, and seven
hundred and twelve millions at five
per cent. in gold. The average Is .. 5S
per cent. A financial policy which
should secure the highest credit, wisely
availed of, ought graduallyito obtain
reduction OF one per cent. in the In
lerr,t on most of the loans. A saving
regularly invested at iour and half
per cent. would, in less than thirty
eight years, extinguish the principal.
The whole seventeen hundred millions
of funded debt might be paid by this
saving alone without cost to the
peopi,..
Phis is precisely what Secretary
Sherman has Deen doing, only he is
going half per cent. better tlreu Til
den hoped for. lin plain English, he Is
borrowing ploney ut 1 per cent, and
paying off the 6 per cent. bonds, saw
ing of per cent.
Gentlemen, the Democracy OF Ohio,
including yourselves, supported this
platform and candidate. The DeInn
Gratis of Ohio not only worked hard and
voted early for Tilden, but some of
them voted often. Is this the Ohio
Idea?