The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-09-03
A Bewildered Democrat.
But One Out of a Great Many.

To the Editor Of the Press:
was brought up in the faith of the Demo-
cratic party; thought in my youth that Jack
son, Van Buren, Benton, Wright and Levi
Woodbury. were just right; swore by Bentons
mint drops; held National bank and Nick
Biddle in adherence; and read the Argus
every week. Indeed the Argus was really, with
the old Boston Statesman edited by Col.
Greene, my gospel. was taught that contrac-
tion was an abomnation. When the Supreme
Court decided that treasury notes were not
legal tender hailed its decision with delight,
and when Grant, as I believed, asked the
court to override that just decision I cursed the
court as anti-Democratic and as deciding
against the constitution which declares that
Congress has power to coin money. / thought
with other Democrats that Joining money did
not mean printing money or writing money,
but melting gold and silver into good, honest
standard dollars.
did not recognize Treasury notes as money,
but thought they were certificates of indebted
ness. believed they were issued because the
country could not pay cash and that they were
so many evidences of the country's inability to
pay them. During the war / took them, hop
ing that the country would some day pay them
and never dreaming for moment they were
money; but thinking them rather doubtful
notes to be paid if the Government succeeded
in putting down the rebellion, / read with de-
light Judge Clifford's able opinion, and the
Argus's endorsement of it. Judge of my sur
prise when 1 saw in that paper not long ago
the following:
L. We agree that the general government pos
sesses the power under the constitution to issue a
paper currency for the peopethat this is one OF Its
highest prerogatives.
3. We agree that it is the duty of the government
in the interests Of the people, to exercise this pre-
rogative and issue such currency and that our coun
try can rever attain its highest condition of solid
and enduring prosperity until the government does
g. We agree that banking institutions should not
be allowed to issue currency-but that their bills
public Indebtedness paid off with the greenbacks is
sued to take their place.
Upon reading this 1 asked myself am 1 q
Democrat or am 1 not? Was Judge Clifford
sound or is his opinion nonsense? Has the
Argus changed or what is the matter? If the
Argus is Democratic now, what has my whole
life been but Anti-Democratic? Are my past
professions going for nothing? Must follow
the Argus and vote for such centraliZing prin-
ciples as these? Is man compelled to follow
the Argus and feel that by so doing he is guilty
of the most shameful abandonment of all his
life long convictions? No! thousand times
no. said to myself. will not, at the behests
of Pilsbury Adams & Co., stultify myself. L
believe in Democracy, but not in rag money
Democracy. 1t would be as consisten. i'll me
as Democrat to support this fusion as IL
would for good Catholic to try to build up
the Protestant religion. The only thing for
me to do this year is to vote the straight Re,
publican ticket and save the organization OF
the party, for if the fusion succeeds it makes
Ewing the next Democratic leader, and that
brings ruin and death to true Democratic
principles in this country. If the Pillsbury
game fails this year it makes Mr. Tilden our
standard bearer and brings disgrace upon the
movers in this glaring abandonment CT Demo-
cratic principles
was going to vote on the quiet and say
nothing. But your extracts from the Argus
have riled me. 1 think that paper ought to be
rebuked for its shameful desertion of Demo-
cratic doctrines 1t is time for honest Demo-
Gratis to speak right out in meeting
ALWAYS A DEMOCRAT.