The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-01-29

ence
The gentleman from Iowa charges
, the democratic party with having
abandoned the platform of 1868. Yet
his own speeches show he has himself
tabandoned that platform. He gave
as an excuse at the last session of fCon-
gress why he abandoned it, that the
law of 1859 had changed the contract,
and the funded bonds of 1870 were
coin bonds. If he had looked at the
record of that legislation he would
have found that a democratic Senator
in he Senate of the Unitid States
endeavored to incorporate into that
law the power to tax these bonds,
and his proposition was voted down
| by n republican Senate. And yet the
| gentleman charges the Democratic
party as not in favor of taxing these
| bonds. That proposition was voted
down by the Republicans, and the
| bonds were issued under the law,
exempt from taxation and payable in
coin. The gentleman ackno Wedges
the binding obligation OF these laws
and his proposition was to pay these
bonds in silver; proposition support
ed by Democrats in this house.
And now how does the gentleman
stand? Why is it he has not word
to say concerning the Republican par
ty except now and then to throw in
something by way of parenthesis to
laugh at? And | think the gentle
man will remember he was an office
holder under General Grant from 1867
to 1873 that he was II candidate for
Congress before Republican conven-
tions in 1872 and 1874, and was defeat
ed that again he was a candidate for
governor of Iowa and was defeated;
that think in 1878 he was a candi-
date for State Senator on the repub l.
can ticket and was defeated by the
people. Aud when the Republican
party had tired of him he found an
excuse to leave that party and join
the Greenback party. Hence his
change of heart.
He never changed heart until it
was too late to remedy this legislation.
Why did he not in 1869, when the
party for which he voted and to which
he held up To that time, changed the
law and made these bonds payable in
coin--why did he not change heart
in 1870, when his party passed the law
refundng this debt into IA coin debt?
Sir, he never found time to change his
heart until the republican party re-
fused him office, refused to divide with
him its steal of $50, ,000, 900. Laughter.
| say the Democratic party has a
clear record on this subject. 1t is a
party that has stood with the people
on this qu. stion. 1t is n party through
the influence of which silver was re-
monetized, which had been demone-
tiZed by his party.
Mr.. Fort. viii the gentlepan tell
me how many dollars in 81 er the
Democrat party coined in forty ears?
The Republican party coineN'more |
silver in one year under Lincoln than |
the Democratic party did in forty |
years.
MIR. Bland. When my Republican
friend from Illinois Mr.. Fortl tries to
defend his Greenback friends on this
floor it all sounds very well. He and
his friend from Iowa Mr.. Weaver] |
have always slept in the same bed,
and | am willing to place them there
to-day. [Laughter.]
| say that there never was "A piece
of legislation in the interest of the peo-
pie until the Democrats got poses
sion of the House of Representatives,
| say that the remonetiZation of silver
never was talked of until you got
Democratic House of Representatives.
There never was reduction of appro-
until the Democratic House
of Representatives wrung it from an
Senate and an unwilling
Mr.. Conger. Nor then, either.
Mr.. Bland. The surplus revenue
was wasted by extravagant appropri-
ations. BY the economy forced upon
a Republican administration we have
to-day a surplus revenue sufficient, II
applied, to wipe out the ma
tional debt at the rate of from S2,OO0,-
900 to s., 100000 per month.
Mr.. Warner. More than 5000, 900.
Mr.. Bland. More than 5000, 900.
| say that all the reforms that have
come TO the people of this country
have come from the Democratic party.
While belonging to his pretended
Greendack organization, the gentle
man from Iowa Mr.. Weayer,l seems
10 be more hostile to the Democratic
party to-day than he was when bold
ng to his faith. That seems to be the
whole purpose and object of these new
parties, to supplant and cut down the
Democratic party. [Applause.]
The gentleman talks about the
party being dead. Sir,
you may by your assessments on your
and by your system of
public plunder, by expending the pub
ic money for purposes of corruption,
md Will, Greeiiback tails to Republi-
AN kites. succeed for the moment In !
lefeating this grand old party that
tands by the liberties and rights of {
he country. But sooner or later that
,arty VIII rise and be the governing
,owervof this Government. Reform
will come through that organization,
md not through his little GrRnback
,arty, that had one platform two years
go, and that has another platform to- l
lay.
I would like 10 allude to the plat {
orm of that party two years ago and
o the platform Of to-day. Two years !
go Ii was a platform that promised
ne money to the bondholder and the ,
The platform Of the
ireenback party In Missouri proposed
hat fat money should be issued and {
Daned out 20 States and counties and G
chool districts to pay of their debts,
nd should be made a legal tender.
The gentleman in his speech to-day
oes not claim that he proposes the
anne money for the plow-holder and {
he same money for the bondholder }
OF much. announced In the last 4
ession of congress and he announces q
ere to-day that he is in favor Of pay a
ng these bonds In coin. Then, IL he e
,sues flat money, who " 20 take IL? 4
he bond-holder No SIR. h
believe the gentleman made a Z
peech In indianapolis Ia which he 3
IA 10 the bond-hoIder, "Back up your 4
Art and take sway your coin.n sup 2
o<e he would say 10 The plow-holder, :
Roll up vour wheelbarrow and take q
way y.ur fat -asoney.p Laughter.l ,
haf i the logical conclusion Of his i
IatfDrm and all his principles. His o
lssform and his speech to-day l. In Q
Ivx Of paying the bonds Of the Gov y
rnment' principal aud interest. In a
IN. What then, IL he 70 do with e
4 fat money! Who 10 to take IL 2
be pensioner aud ths plow- holder.
Here. . system Of finance that the '
epuhltcan pxrty has adhered % antil q
resumes Epesis psymsnts. He wants n
70 back and take that same old
-ss<.su that he sppported and main
s-~-a - - - Ds..sx1.fsnau and I n