The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-01-28
a FEW WORDS WITH GREEN
BACKgHs-wHRH AnE yOU
LANDINGt

LANDsNssi
With the resumption of specie pay
ments on the first day Of January, 1879,
the National party died a natural death.
Ii died peacefully aud calmly, an or
thodox fiat" death; not exactly like
the Irishman's father, from want of
breath. but from too much wind, COM
pressed within the sensitive circumfer-
ence OF too feeble a stomach. We
speak not in lightness, nor yet in deri-
sion, but state the simple solemn fact
a. a fact. with bated breath, and care
fully adjusting, the meanwhile, to its
proper place, the conventional three
inch Grape above our beavers rim.
The plain alternative is now present
ed the late National party, of continu-
ing in its putrid capacity OF mere po-
litical "reminiscences, or. by reuniting
itself to the Democracy, to become a
most useful and potent member OF An
existing, conquering organization.
The speakers and press Of that la
mented party, have, from the first,
aside from socialistic. agrarian aud
Utopian demands, ask for what? For
precisely the same things called for by
all representative Democrats, for de-
cade before National party was ever
thought Of; much less conceived. ges-
tated. delivered. aud had being. death,
and decent burial.
The question OF finance, however,
all rational, we'll meaning members OF
both parties will agree in leaving en-
tirely in the background. That ques-
tion has had full and fair discussion,
and been practically settled for at least
some time. The great Questions now
looming up in the horizon are ques-
tions Of reform. The reform is imper-
atiyely demanded in every branch Of
the civil service and OF governmental
affairs.
1t is a radical party and that policy
which Nationals and Democrats alike
have been fighting all along. and must
continue to fight in the future. The
National party, in itself, il preserved
intact during the coming fight of 1880.
will do precisely in the nation what il
did last year in Michigan, and other
single States and no more. IL will poll
a large vote in certain circumscribed
localities, but in total accomplish sim
ply the defeat OF its only natural ally,
the Democracy. Acting with the De-
mocracy it can compass its every legiti-
mate end and wish. Shall we stand to-
gether or fall separately?-that is the
question which must be answered, and
within the present twelve months. -
[Grand Rapids Democrat, Jan. IL
The above is ably reviewed by the
Allegan Journal as follows:
"This, Greenback- Republican and
honest Greenbackers generally is the
entertainment you are invited TO by
the leading Democratic organ of west
ern Michigan the Grand Rapids Dem
ocrat, whose editor, now that the Dem
ocratic party has been disastriously de-
feated at the late election, proposes n
pooling OF issues" by the Greenback-
ers and the Democracy on the basis of
anything to beat the Republicans.
What think you OF such a PROPOSE
tion, real, honest, Greenbackers? Is il
not exceedingly impudent to say the
least? Have you forgotten that when
the greenbacks were first suggested as
a circulation medium that every Demo
crat in Congress, except the lamented
Judge Douglas aud few Of his frien Is
opposed the institution Of such a sys-
tenn Of finance as unconstitutional
null and void" aud termed the green
backs themselves in derision as Lin
coin skins and rags? These recollec.
tions are fresh in the minds Of all ON
people.
The greenback system Of currency is
OF Republican origin and one of the re-
suits Of the Democratic war Of the re-
bellion. When the American Nero.
Buchanan, turned over the national
government to his immortal successor,
Abraham Lincoln, it was with an emp
" treasury aud with no military OF
financial preparation 30 circumvent one
OF the wickedest conspiracies that was
ever formed to overthrow any govern
ment in the world.
Republican Congress composed OF
such sterling patriots and stalwart
champions OF the Union cause as Zach
ariah Chandler, Ben Wade, Thaddeus
Stevens, and their illustrious compeers
in view Of the country's dire distress
and imminent danger from foes from
without and within its bounds and OF
the utter failure to negotiate n loan
from the Democratic capitalists Of the
chief commercial and financial
center Of the Union-New York city
voted To issue treasury notes or green
backs TO carry on the war TO preserve
the Union aud 10 pay for munitions oi
war, and supplies and TO pay OF the
noble boys in blue who bravely exposed
their lives that the nation might live.
We hnd but one poiut OF agreement
with Col. Messmore, the editor OF the
Democrat, in the article we quote above
and that is the successful Inauguration
OF resumption by Secretary Sherman
on the lst Of January the National oi
Greenback party Is etfectualiy extin'
guishcd as political organization.
In fact this virtual annihilation ot
the Greenback party ia universally ac
cepted aud acknowledged at all politi
cal centers-from Washington 10 Ian
sing Except it may be by few charac
terless demagogues like Brick Pome
roy.) In our own State OF the disin
tegration Of the Greenback party il
constituent elements are rapidly being
absorbed by the two permanent parties
Of the nation-the Republican an(
Democratic parties. Mr.. Laubach, {
prominent member OF the Legislature
In view Of this state of things politi
cally, signed the call for q Republican
legislative caucus and has returned I,
the party Of his first love being con
vinced that any firther cooperation or
his part was simply playing into th,
/ hands of the Democratic party. As /
is in the Legislature 80 il is will
Greenback- Republicans throughou
Michigan and especially in Allegan an'
throughout the whole OF the 5th con
gressional district.
Failing % destroy the value Of Ga,
greenbacks and 10 render them worth
less as a substitute for money, sucl
uncrupulous partisans az the edito
Of the Grand Rapids Democrat lahore,
10 do last fall-indirectly 90 elect Com
stock, the fiat money nominee for Con
gress. This same slippery Grand Rap
ids editor now tells the Greenbac
party. which he labored 40 persistentl
to Join, that it's missiof is fulfilled, an
calls upon them 20 join the Democrat