Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-02
Dailu kermebtr 3ournal.
SPEECH OF
HON. JOHN SHERMAN,
Secretary Of the Treasury,
Detirered at Cincinnati. Monday, august
30, 1850.

FELLowCIrIzENs The democratic party
desires 10 make a charge in the executive
branch OF the government of theU nited States,
and appeals to the American people to bring
about such a change this fall. The republi-
can party, recognizing the right of that party
to make the appeal, will hear patiently and
kindly all il has TO say, and no word of insult,
no act of violence will be offered BY any re-
publican in any part of the United States 10
deter the democrats from the exercise of their
right freely To discuss in their own way their
political convictions and opinions. We re-
publicans only regret that this privilege can
not be exercised by us also
| The last great change in the executive
branch of the general government occurred
| in 1850, by the election of Abraham Lincoln
as President of the United States. At that
time the open advocacy Of his election could
not be made safely 10 life or limb in thirteen
States of the Union, where the strength of the
democratic party lay. But, in spite of this,
the people of the Northern States. firmly i'm
pressed with the necessity for the change,
made it, and what man in this broad land
does not now feel that it happy change:
And yet the democratic party of that time re-
| sisted it. 1t not only resisted it during the
| canvass, but the controlling segment of that
party rebelled against it by force of arms,
and undertook to disrupt the government and
to destroy the Union.
The democratic party desired change in
1864, when, in the midst of war, the magni-
| tude of which even now in the distance stag
gers us with amaZement, it met in National
| convention and resolved that the war was a
failure and demanded peace on anv terms
That was when Grant was in the wilderness
and Sherman was on the road to Atlanta,
when our notes on demand were worth only
forty cents on dollar, and when it seemed
almost as if Providence had deserted US If
its desire for change had then been gratified,
we would have now no united country to
boast of, no land to love. The American
people, though weeping over their lost ones
and feeling heavily the burdens of war. said
there should be no change and there was
none: Abraham Lincoln was elected again.
The democratic party desired change in
1868. 1t was encouraged by the detection of
Andrew johnson and by many divisions in
the republican party. The rebels had been
restored to their lost citizenship, and had al
ready organized a system of terror in several
of the Southern States. Tweed was in the
ascendency in New York with his gigantic
frauds: he plnndered the city, filled the crav-
ings of the army of his dependents with the
plunder of rich contracts, issued tens of
vi liduutlbeIit tHdtuTdllLdlIUn papers.
stuffed the ballot-boxes, and thus reversed
the vote of the Empire STATE. Yet, after all,
the American people decided that there should
he no change; that the republican party
which saved the country, should still be
trusted with Its administration: and Grant,
| the great soldier of the war, was made Presi-
dent.
So, again, the democratic party desired
change in 1876. 1t had previously organized
solid South, according to the Mississippi
plan, with terror and violence. 1t fondly
thought it had made a good fulcrum of l3S
electors from States lately in rebellion, and
had carefully laid plans to secure enough
more to make the election sure. Tiden, who,
as governor of New York, had become popu-
lar with the business men of that State by his
aid in the overthrow of Tweed, and by his
opposition to corrupt canal rings, was nomi-
mated for President. He had barrel full of
money which was spent without stint, and
thus introduced for the first time in American
politics the most shameless corruption in
Presidential election. But, more than all
| the country was suffering under great finan-
| cial distress. The wave of misfortune, which
came in 1873 to the whole commercial world
| had scattered its wrecks over our great cities
Every man who had capital to lose or debts
to paw, OF wanted labor or bread, felt discon-
tent for evils that he could not explain. 1t
was natural but not just, that many of these
clamorcd for change, who had no sympathy
with the principles of the democratic party ;
but still the fraud and intimidation attempted
| in three of the States failed in ts object and
the republican party in the Northern States
stood by its principles, and Hayes was
elected.
| And now, fellow-ciiizens, let us pause for
awhile to see what has been the result during
the last four years by the election of the present
republican President Has he given any
cause for a change from republican to demo-
| cratic measures and men?
RESUMPTION
When President HAYES was inaugurated.
the resumption act of 1875 was an unex-
ecuted mandate of the republican party
| II had been voted for only bv republi-
cans. and had from its Introduction been
assaiIed, resisted and riJiculed by the demo-
cratic party. Many honest, sincere men of
both parties. who really wished resumption,
/ believed it impracticable for years to come.
But there was the law. | had aided in its
passage and | believed in it, and was
charged with its execution. I was supported
by the full faith of the President. Gold was
at premium of nearly six per cent. The
national revenues had been greatly impaired
as the result of the panic, there was, in
/ fact. no surplus revenue to aid IN the work of
resumption. The only means left was to in
crease the volume of coin before the day of
resumption, By the sale of bonds, TO do the
utmost to strengthen the public credit. and
to produce confidence in the ability TO resume.
This was done in the eighteen months that
followed the inauguration of President
Haves. and at the end Of that period the
credit of the country had been greatly ad-
vaneed: surplus coin had been accumulated
to the amount of $3.50. .oo0. .0oo and the pub
lie mind. relieved from imaginary terrors.
lad become not only reconciled to resump-
ton, but was anxiously and hopefully await
| ing the event. During all this time the
democratic party excelled itself in active
resistance to the successful execution of this
law They sought to repeal it; they sought
by investigations through committees of
Congress TO discredit all the proceedings had
under it; and it was boastfnlly said that
thousands of dollars would be given to stand
on the right of the line at the Public Treas
ury on the day of resumption The exami-
nations made of myself alone By the commit
tees of Congress upon this subject amounted
| 60 ora- ono bnn n1rad prinfed paoes- and fhp