Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-02
MR., sHERMAN's PORTLAND SPEECH

1t is altogether foolish to underrate
our political opponents. The speech
made by Secretary Sherman. at Port
land. Maine, last week, was an able
effort. 1t presented. logically and clear
ly, the best side of the financial policy
of the republican party. 1t was smooth
ly and plausIbly done. and the speech.
unanswered. might accomp: ish some
good tor his party in the Pine Tree
state. But his arguments were based
on false premises. his statements OF al
legged facts %fallacious, and especially so
wherever he left my policy" to touch
upon democracy or the south. His con-
nection with Eliza Pinkston, Agnes
jerks (who is now in the employ OF his
Department. and the notorious Louis
lana returning board. casts suspicion
upon everything he a ever say regard
ing the south. His savings OF interest
have been by an unnecessary contrsc-
ton of the currency. demonstration OF
silver and conversion Of currency into
gold interest Tor years before resump-
ton. which have cost the people dollars
in their business where dimes have been
saved in taxes. His assault upon the
democratic record of economy in q n
gress is well answered by the New York
Herald, his champion SO tar as financial
views are concerned, in the following
language: 1.-The truth is that the demo-
Gratis began, as soon as they obtained
control of the house. a rigid. and as the
republicans perpetuslly complained. a
too rigid. system of economy. which they
have since then pushed increasingly. and
o~ftsnest against the vigorous criticisms
of their opponents; and one of the best
proofs of their zeal In this direction has
been the notable disappearance OF the
lobby from the capital since the demo-
Gratis took charge OF the appropriations"
Mr.. Sherman has the imprudence to say
in his very fervent peroration that his
party never robbed the ballot box"
He must certainly forget its records with
deputy marshsls in New York, Cinein.
natl and St. Louis. He must also have
a short memory regarding the presiden-
tial election OF 1876, when the ballot box
of the nation was overturned, and a man
defeated at the polls was inaugurated as
presidsnt-when. as Mr.. Adams said,
fraud was first triumphant in American
politics. He is also unfortunate when
he says. in the same s~uper-heated por-
ton of his speech. OF the republican par
ty. at has never deprived any class of
people. for any cause. of the elective
franchise" If Mr.. Sherman were to
make such q statement in Missouri,
where, for years, the intelligence aud
property OF the state were. by his party,
deprived of representation, we fear that
even his political friends would smile,
either at his Ignorance OF at his estimate
of the dense ignorance of his audience.
Again. hs says. ut protects American
labor" He should have said, cit pro-
tects wealthy manufacturers in the east,
without resultant benefit to their hardly
ground operatives, at the expense Of
the greatest laboring class in the coun-
try. the agricultural class" But this
might not have sounded we'll In q repub-
lican speech. 1t is nevertheless true, to
the tune of four or five hundred million
dollars every year. However. we did
not start out to discuss Mr.. Sherman's
speech. but only to allude to it. 1t was
q very able speech to those who believe
the premises from which he argued, or
who think him capable of telling any
thing which approaches the truth regard
ing the south. II Mr.. Thurman should
happen to fling his bandana to the Maine
zephyrs as he strolls through New Eng
land for his health. be might spoil the
effect OF that talk.