Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-09

IN Congress passed tie resumption act, there
was the end once and forever of the unredeem-
able paper money business in the Rel ubhcan
party. Those who remained repudiationists or
fiat money men did not remain Republicans, al
least not leaders Of the party. They tried their
luck for some time inside OF it; then they left il
and became Independent Greenba ckers an
finally most of them landed in the Democrati
party, as the Democratic Greenbackers, who
Tor time became independents, mostly went
oach there Gen. Weaver and his followers are
still In the intermediate state, but will no
doubt finally materiaize as sound Democrats
Indeed. not only in the traditions and good
sense OF the Republican party do we find tie
best security there is at present for the sanctty
OF our national faith as we'll as a successful
management of the financial policy you find
equal security in the known opinions and prin-
clples Of its candidate,
JAMES a. GARFIELD.
His convictions on these sui jects have not
found their first and best proclamation in the
platform of his party or in his letter of accept
ance. His record of nearly twenty years of
congressional service is not q blank on the
great questions Of the times, like that of his
opponent. There is not phase Of the Quest ton
OF CUR national obligations there is not point
OF financial policy, from the first day that the
SUBJECT was considered in Congress sill ce he
became member Ct that body to the present
hour, that he has not discussed with an ability
and strength, a lucidity OF argument, ampli-
tude of knowledge, and firmness of conviction.
placing him IN the first rank of the defenders
of sound principles.
If you want to study the reasons why the
public faith should be inviolably maintained
why an lrredeemable paper currency is. and al
ways has been, curse to al the economic in
terests of this and all other countries. why con-
tidence can be restored and maintained, ghv
business can obtain health DEVELOPMENT, WHY
on 0p0n H.,
Quoted only with money system of stable and
intrinsic value, you will find in the speech of
James A. Garfield upon this subject the most
instructive and convincing Information. You
will find there opinions not suddenly made I'D
to order to suit an opportunity and the neces-
sites OF candidate IN an election, but the
conviction OF lifetime, carefully matured by
conscientious research and large INQUIRY. and
maintained with powerful reason, before they
had become generally popular. You find there
a teacher, statesman and leader in a great
increment with pies so firmly grounded
in his mind, as well as his conscience, that be
would uphold them even were they not sup
ported by a powerful party at his back. There
is doubtful assurance, therefore, in the tradi.
tons and acts Of the party and in the character
Of the leader at the head.
WHERE WILL THE CONSERVATIVES GO?
And now I appeal to the conservative citizens
of the Republic, to you who desire the public
! faith sacredly main aimed, where will you go
Can you, in view the present circumstances
conscientiCusly go to the Democratic party
| You will indeed find there not few men who
think as you do; but with them you will fine
closely allied in party interests all these ele
ments to whom our national obligations are the
| football of momentary advantage. You will
| find or that side every State that has repudi
ated or speaks of repudiating It's publ debt
| you will find there also those who decl id the
| liz tN,-o 4ha,N
| no loyal tradition and impulse attaches to the
national honor. You will find there party
inside of which the public faith has still to fight
battle with its enemies, without any certainty
OF It's issue. Is that your place? Or will you
| go to the Republican side, where the LOYAL main
tenance of our public faith has become funda,
mental principle, universally adhered to with
answering fidelity, in spite of the gusts of adj
verse public sentiment in former days? AND
| you who desire to preserve the fruits of the
success gained in the abolition of the curse Of
an lrredeemable paper money and the e-estab
nshment OF specie payments, where will vol
| go? viii you go to the Democratic party
where again you will find some that think al
| you do and yet with them as powerful anG
! perhaps the most numerous component part OF
TIE organization, welding commanding influ.
| ence in a great many of the States subject tc
Its control, the great mass Of the
INFLATIoNIsTs AND FIAT MONEY MEN
who were gathered under the Democratic ban
ner by seemingly irresistible power of attrac-
ton, and furnished many OF the acknowledged
leaders of that organization, and who, even
now, when the prosperity of the country has
| been SO magnihcently aided by a sound finan-
clal policy, would be ready to subvertit all and
throw the country back into the wild confusion
of the tat money madness? Will you, business
men, farmers, manufacturers, merchants of the
country, find the safety of your interests there
| Will you help party to power, insi1e of which,
| between its component elements, the battle of a
sound money system and an irredeemable pa
per currency liz sall pending, and will YOU trust
the earnings of the poor as well as the fortunes
of the wealthy to the uncertainties of it's issue
Or will you go to the Republican side. where
| great victories for the cause of good money
have been achieved: where sound sense and
patriotism have won every fight so far decided
and where We may with certainty look for the
same sound sense and patriotism to solve the
! problems not Eet disposed of? And YOU who
| desire the administrative business Of the Gov
| eminent performed in q businees-like way by
honest and capable public servants where will
| you go? Will you go to the Democratic party,
! which has no other ref 3rm idea than an eager
| desire to take the whole administrative machin-
| cry of the Government suddenly to pieces, and
to I'LL it as rapidly as possible with politicians
demanding Cffices as spoils? Or will YOU go to
the Republican side, where you have the assur-
ance of civil service, which, in spite of short
comlngs and mistakes, has already on the whole
proved itself capable to transact Your business
honestly and efficiently, and where you find all
those clements that are faithfully and energet-
1caliy working for more thorough and per
manent reform?
might go on with the catalogue to show
you where the path of safety hes but it is
enough.
In few months you will have to make your
choice. know that when party has been so
lorg in power as the Republican party many
citizens may be moved by a desire for change.
In not few cases it may be desire for the
sake of Change. While the impulse is
natural, it should not lie followed without calm
dis elimination. Prudent men will never fail
to consider whether the only charge possible
bids fair to be charge for the better. 1t is
true that parties are apt to degenerate By the
long possession of power. The Repubi lean
Parry can not expect to escape the common
lot OF humanity but no candid observer will
deny that within late period the Repub-
Hcan party has shown signs rather of improve
ment than deterioration, and that it possesses
the best share of the intelligence, virtue and
patriotism Of the country. In matters of most
essential moment TO the public welfare it can
be Safely better counted upon for efficient and
faithful service, while its opponent opens only
prospect of uncertainty and confusln n.
The Democracy may IN the course of time
gain the confidence Of the people but that
should be only when the repudiatlonists and
the advocates of unsound money have ceased
to be in its ranks so powerful and influential
an element as seriously to threaten the great
economical interests of the country when by
energetic and successful action in protecting
the rights of the voter, whether white or
black. whether Republican or Democratic, in all
parts of the country, and by the suppression of
fpoJ1 81 hall hoe Inn1 4