, 1880-04-19

tended a Democratic State Convention al
Albany, Oregon. At that time we had
served the Democrntic party for 80 years,
through triumph and defeat, through
good report and evil report, with all that
we had and all that we could command :;
had borne the old flag through the peril
Gus period of the war and fallen with 1t
upon many we'll fought field and never
sought safety in surrender or compromise
to the disunionists on one side or the
Centralzationists on the other. 1t was
the old flag of the Union and Cunsttu-
ton, which had never led hostile forces
against the reserved rights OF States;
never been dishonored by broken pledges
or violated faith; never used to shield
the evasion of Il public obligation; the
flag OF the Democratic party which had
been borne by Jefferson and jackson,
the object of our hoyish enthusiasm and
almost sacred reverence in mature man.
hood, in defence of which we had passed
through many perils. been subjected to
great personal sacrifices and been hunt
ed by insensate mobs like wild beast
When We deem that our trials and
perils were nearly over; that reason was
about to resume its sway IN the land, and
the old Democratic flag once more wave
over Il free Reunited people, with its
iustre undimmed and its guarantees un-
impaired, what was onr horror to he con-
fronted in a State council of representa-
tive Democrats, delegated to lay down
the law to the party. by IA dominant senti
ment az hostile to Democratic tradition s
and character for unsullied public laith
as the widest dreams of the most revo-
lutinnary radical or fanatic socialist
That sentiment was led by d then young
lawyer by the name of Near, hur, a man
of brilliant parts, enthusiastic. eloquent,
with wealth of animal magnetism with
which to win the sympathles and sway
the judgments OF the young and impetus
cus In strain of impassioned eloquence
he arraigned the exrravagance, the job
berry and the vast pecula,ions of the par
" in power. and succeeded by The en-
dorsement of majority of the Conven-
tiol, in smirchng the old Democratic
escutcheon with the foul stigma of " RE-
PUDIATI"N" Ten years have since elaps
cd, and the same man, now distinguish>
ed judge, appears in the same place, and
makes braye and manly recantation as
follows:
1t is true that ten years ago, in this
very courthouse, I urged the adoption
of the eighth resolution. and it is with
sorIOw that say it, made Il speech in
favor of repudiatinn. For many years
nave deeply regretted the words uttered
upon that occasion. anl thank God
that have long ago abandoned all such
rernicious doctrines. At that time | was
IN ardent admirer OF Senator Perdleton.
End was thoroughly imbued with his
IDEAS of finance. | was captivated with
his brill ncy and audaciiy. and was his
devout follower. In the years that have
rolled by have studied che question of
finance more deeply. The Debates upon
the Constitution. the Fedrralist, and the
most philosophical works upan that
question and upon political economy
have been my hand books l would blush
with shame if Thought that belonged
20 that class oi men who learn nothing
by experience. observation and close stu
dy. l have, hope, turned by back upon
all financial heresies. | can conceive OF
no greater calamity that could befal the
country than the adoption of Reputation
"a any form. 1t would be disastrous and
destructive beyond all computation.
trust that my friends will believe me
when say that am Il nard m"rey man,
and hope that this Convention will have
the courage to adopt hard money plat>
tUrni.
The views now so vigorously presented
by Judge Macarthur are identically. tho Sc
held ny US in common with nearly every
experienced Democrat in that Conven
ton ten years ago, which he and his
Jealous associates secuted, dcrided and
rejected as old fogyish. timid and COM
promising They called themselves Bed
Rock Democrats" and had no tolerat:on
Tor those who did not come up to their
standard and endorse all the vagaries of
Brick Pomeroy," who was regarded by
them as :Ie prophet OF a new political
dlspensation which was to supercede the
cffete systems of the old Jeffersonian De>
mocracy, and upon that foundation they
&c constructed the Democratic party of
Oregon, which has since drifted hither
and th;ther upon every wind OF doctrine,