Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-10-06
WHAT IS MONEY /?
Speech of Robert G. Ingersoll at
Rockford, Ill.

Rockford, Ill.
Facts for the People---Promises Will
Never Pay Debts or Coin
Money.
It is no exaggeration to say that Col.
Ingersoll is the most consummate popu-
lar orator in this broad land. In discus
sing public questions he exhibits the
fortunate tact of making his illustrations
so clear and SO forciblc that the most
ordinary intellect can realize their full
weight. His speech to the people of
Rockford, on Tuesday last, was one of the
most mastery ever delivered by this ex-
traordinary man.
His review of the financial and cur
rency questions, and the advantages
which people of all classes will gain by
retaining the Republican policy in
preference to what the Democrats offer,
could not be excelled. His illustration
Of the meanness and dishonor of de-
based or irredeemable currency issued
every mans understanding when he re-
marked, that, when our currency was
twenty per cent. below par in gold, an
American himself felt, at least in foreign
lands, twenty per cent. below par; and
when that currency was at par with gold,
he felt himself to be at par in any part of
the world. And when our four per cent.
bonds are selling at a premium Of ten it
gives moral exaltation to the true man,
a just pride that he belongs to nation
whose credit is so transcendant that it's
low interest bonds are bearing premium
in countries thousands of miles from his
own.
Ingerson's scathing denunciation of
the debased silver dollar, which polite
ians foistedupon the country is so grand,
SO heroic, and so statesmanlike that we
feel JOY in publishing the following
memorable words:
I am in favor of having that as money which
| no human being can create. I believe in gold
and silver. believe in silver, because that is
one of the great productions of our country,
and when you add a use to a thing you add a
value to that thing, and want silver money
but I want silver dollar big enough to be
worth gold dollar, if youhave TO make it three
feet in diameter.
Col. Lngersoll, in the following graphic
sketch, shows SO clearly the distinction
between promises and money that every
voter should cut it out, paste it in his
hat near his brains, and he will never be
misled by any financial dclusion at
tc1apted to be imposed upon him by the
leaders Of the Democratic CT Greenback
parties:
Now then, my friends, If you want free
speech, if you want an honest ballot, if you
want the revenues of the country collected, vote
the Republican ticket. Then there is another
thing we want: we want good money, we want
honest money. know there have been great
many theories on money, and ! never knew q
man that had not dollar himself who had not
! q scheme to make somebody else rich. [LauSh'
| teri These theories were produced, of course
by the circumstances VIC vent throuSh--thc wal
We had, as they say, plenty of money; that is tx
| say, VIC had no money; plenty of promises, but
while we were sailing on a credit we sailed well
and as long as J. can buy all want on credit
my family shall not suffer. [Laughtcr] We
were going into debt, and as rule it is an OK
ccedingly prosperous time III mans life wher
he is getting into debt. Laughter. As a rule
this debt. [Laughtcr.I Millions and millions
| of promises were Issued. The result was that
prices went up just in proportion as the value
Of the promises went down, and that
was at the txpen:c Of the creditor class
Expansion is always at the expense oil
creditors, aud when the wheel Of fortune takes
! a turn, and contraction comes, that is always al
the expense Of the debtor. At the same time
! people claimed absolute justice would be done
but the trouble is, creditors do not mean the
same. The very man who was creditor, and
at whose expense the initiation came, when con.
|
| both ways. We had vast and splendid schemes
/ for the future. We began to buy lots twenty
miles from Chicago lots that the frogs had
held undisputed sway OVER since the morning
stars sang together. On paper welaid this land
out into squares, avenues and bOulevards, ano
We're selling what cost $40 an acre for 10 :
foot and $50 foot, and all at once IN 1878 the
cash came, and all these lots resumed. [Great
| laughter.] A fellow who had bought on credit
paving two-thirds down, found that the lots
would not pay the other third. daughter.
Hundreds of thousands Of men were ruined
and they said, "What we want is another in
hation; We want more money" and I neyel
heard one that was caught speaking on thesub
jcct who did not say, ''if there ever come
another Initiation you may shoot me-" Laugh.
| teri When contraction came certain men were
left with the bags to hold, and they were the
men who got up new financial theories, and
do not blame them. [Laughter.] It is precise
men have been playing poker all night. I dc
not believe there is man here that will under
stand this campaign. [Laughtcr.] Along to
wards morning the fellow who is ahead has go
to go home, his wife is not very well. Th'
other fellow, who is behind, says y No; nobod,
but coward will jump the game; let us &C
another candle, and we will have another deal;
and SO it was that the greenback theory started
We want another deal. We have been lief
high and dry in the brush, miles from tn
channels. If water can only come once more
if we do not float oft will be our fault
No man can imagine. all the languages of tn
world cannot express; what the people of tn
who considered themselves millionaires fount
that they were beggars; men living in palaces
supposing they had enough to give sunshine t.
the winter Of their age,- surprising they hat
enough to have all they loved in afauence am
comfort, suddenly found that they were mendi
to ashes in their aged, trembling hands. Th
chimneys grew cold, the fires in furnaces wen
out, the poor families we're turned adrift, an
the highways of the United States were crowd
ed with tramps. Into the home of tn
poor crept the serpent of temptation, and whis
''repudation." want to tell you that you ca
not conceive OF what the American people sui
, fered as they staggered over the desert of bank
ruptcy from 1878 to 1879. We are too near no,
. to know how grand we were. The poor me
chanic said ''No;" the ruined manufacture
said No." the once millionaire said :'No," W
will settle fair, we will agree to pay whether "
ever pay or not, and We will never soil til
American name with the Infamous word "repr
diat,on." Are you not glad? What hat i; is tn
talk? Are you not glad that our flag IS COY
cred all over with financial honors? The stal
! shine and CLEAN now because they represent a
!; honest nation. They said during that time
: eve must have more paper" and the Repul
' lican party said: "Let us pay what we have"
! Nothing is ever made by rascaity. l do nc
want it understood that we are q nation of col
clippers. I want honest dollars; honest dollar
will make honest people: that is to say, honc
people will make an honest dollar every time.
only want money that is a product of mature
I Now listen: No civilized nation, no barbaror
, nation, no tribe, however ignorant, ever use
anything as money that man could make The
had always used for money production of n;
: ture. Some may say, Have.not some unciv1
\ lied tribes used beads for money, somethir
: that civilized people could maker" Yes; but
y savage tribe could not make the beads. II
savage tribe supposed them to be produ
off or of nat11ro or of something else tl