The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-22
Gmqntdligems1.
E~,.Secretary BrIstow's Speech ut
Huston Friday Night.

expression oil Hhht l lee'' S"We W
Boston to fulfll a promise Of long stand
Ing. Ny engagement was OF a private
nature, and this expression Of your con.
6iencs and friendly feeling is quite ua-
expected to me. But this is not the frat
d my Indebtedness to the people OF Bos.
ION and OF this ancient commonwealth.
once before, and In a different and more
public manner, they gave me 4 proof oil
their confidence which / can never hope
IN merit. The indebtedness ia absolute.
II cannot make payment in full, l will
never willingly suffer any drafts they
NAV make on me to be dishonored by non
acceptance, nor will 1 attempt TO scAle 1t
by any Of the new.fangled methods OF re-
ducipg the amount Of public obligations.
But / am not vain enough 10 suppose
that these manifestations on the part oil
The people OF this commonwealth have
arisen from mere personal regard for me.
know very we'll that they come from
our approval Of the cause with which
YOU have done me the honor to associate
nv name, and to which you and l have
given our support. l am glad 10 know
that the people OF Massachusetts, are
practically united in favor OF an honest
currency. / have great satisfaction in the
firm belief that the masses oil the people
Of this country are patriotic and honest,
and that, however they may be deluded
and deceived for n time on any question
affecting the preservation Of free institu'
tions. or the maintenance OF national faith
and honor, a majority at last will be found
on the side OF right. The work OF false
leaders may have It's effect upon local
communities for a time, but, under the
full light Of free and open discussion, and
with courageous leadership, the people
will take their stand for sound currency
and honest dealing. a..
tn an elementary principle oil politi'
cal econOmy that a stable currency is es.
sential to substantial prosperity. The
observance OF this principle is impor'
tant to all sections Of the country and to
all classes Of people. 1t is Of even great
er Importance TO the producing and labor
ing classes than TO the owners OF accu'
INFLATED capital. The most mischieyous
and dangerous idea that has been advan,
ced in this country in the discussion Of
what is called the currency question is
the one which attempts 10 delude the
people into the belief that there is antag'
onIsm between labor and capital, that the
accumulated wealth OF the older States II
the enemy Of the laborer and producer o
the newer and growing States. In poinI
OF fact, they arc mutually %dependent
lpon each other. Capital requires EN-
pioyment, which will be found most read
ily in the West and South, where there
remains so much to be developed by tn
combined power Of labor and capital
These sections require the aid Of theac
cumulated capital Of the East To opel
mines, plant and gather crops. bulk
cities. and in n thousand ways to develop
The latent wealth OF n vast and fertil,
part Of our country. He who attempt
10 ALLEVIATE the sections by appeals to pas
sion or fallacious arguments on the cur
rency question ia the enemy oil both sec
tions, and should be trusted by neither
Scarcely less mischieyous, and c%ertainl..
not less unsound, il the notion tina
A uniform standard OF values i
a device Of capital, adverse to the inter
ests Of the laborer and producer. Thu
nearest possible approach 10 absolut
stability Ia a standard OF value is bes
for the interests OF all. Departure from
such a standard and resort to q currency
Of varying and unsteady value works
general injury to all sections and all in
Ierests. But the greatest loss at last fall
upon the producer, for in that case CAPT
tai will be diverted from its legitimat
employment in aid Of production an'
used in speculatiug on the margins an
fluctuations which such currency inevi
tably creates.
Nor is anything 10 be gained for an,
interest or section, or to the government
ipeIf, by the introduction OF two stand
ards, one 10 be made the measure Of yalu
for the holder Of the nations bonds, an
the other for the holder Of unredeeme'
treasury notes and for the people at large
Logically this seems 10 be the least deiensi
bic Of the many propositions and sug
gestions that have been advanced, and
il put into practice, would work evil l.
every section Of the country and TO ever.
interest OF tho people. Tho use Of cur
rency Of unequal value affects more inju
riousIy the laborer and producer Of ra'
material, He has neither the time no
the onportunily 10 receive telegraph
information from the money centert
when payments are received by him, I
aAcertain the value Of what he has take
for a dollar. II the paper he currency
ragged and mutilated bills and the issue
Of doubtful banks 20 into the hands OF th
labOrer and producer, while "~gilt.edged
paper lies Snugly away in the vaults Q
bankers and capitalists. II the currenc
be coin Of two kinds and Of unequS
value, the cheaper will always find II
way into the pockets Of the laborer. !
either case, he who produces wealth b
his labor il subject TO constant clippin
Of his earnings, and the loss falls directl
upon him. Not only the best interests {
all clas.es Of citizens, but a patriotic re
gard for the preservation and ~prosperit
Of our common country, .,require that th
nation shall keep faith with all Of il
creditors. Having promised dollars,
must pay dollars. But the promise dot
not attach alone TO the interest.bearln
obligations Of the government. II az
plies equally and alike to treasury mote
issued In times Of great public exigenc.
To fail Of full and complete perform
ance in either case would bring diScred
and dishonor on the government, and di
grace upon us rs u people. Every deyiC
or scheme whereby 1t is sought to dis
charge the public promise 10 pay ado
lar by the delivery Of anything less tha
a dollar Is practical reputation, az
merits, and, a. | believe, will eventual
receive, the condemnation Of the majoril
Of the people.
Another matter which has attraett
public attention in this country, At
about which much remains TO be sal
and more TO DO done, is the elevation at
reform Of our civil service. 0nthis suI
Jet the Republican party Of Massachl
sets has taken a high and unmistakab
position. The declaration Of principl,
Of your last State Convention ~ Worce
ter met the earnest approval otthe since
A1d earnest friends Of reform ererywhel