Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-05-06
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twhat he said to newspaper man about Free Vote
and Fair Count the Tariff, and the Currenoy.1
Before the war was, as l still claim to be,
q Democrat in the original and true meaning
of that word, although, of course, tho events
of the last twenty years have materially mod
fled my views on some questions. In the
first place, as a Democrat always believed
and still believe that every man should have
a right to vote and TO have that vote honestly
counted. That was good Democratic doc
trine before the war. The Democrats then
were in favor of the speedy naturalization
and enfranchisement of foreigners who came
to this country 10 make it their home. I still
adhere to that doctrine in regard to foreign
ers, and believe just as firmly that the black
man should have the right to vote and should
freely exercise it. This is one of the prima.
ry grounds Of difference between me and my
party associates and the Bourbons They
want to save enough from the wreck of slav-
cry to enable them to reduce the oolored peo-
pie OF to-day to the same servile condition as
that which was imposed upon free negroes in
the South before the abolition of slavery and
the Acknowledgement of the freedmen. want
the coIored man and the poor white man to
enjoy the same political rights that the rich
white man enjoys in the South"
"What are your views in regard to pro.
tective tariff p
Gas an American, and especially as Vir-
gilman, l am in favor of a judicious tariff sys-
TEN. 1 think every intelligent man in Vir-
ginia, who is, not blinded by prejudice and
doomed to run amuck politically oil his life,
realizes that the Northern states owe great
share Of their amazing prosperity and wealth
to the projection which tariff laws have af-
forded. 1 have no envious feelings toward
the North on account of her prosperity, but
I 10 30 40 how, phall
be equally prosperous. That time will not
come until all her people, white and black,
enjoy equal political rights, and until our
people realize that no state can be prosper
Gus where one class of its people is oppressed
to crafty the prejudices of another class.
We must get rid of the race question in pol
tiles"
"How is it in regard to currency ques-
tions ?" asked the correspondent.
"Well, again must reply that am an old.
fashioned Democratic on that subject Mod
ern Bourbon Democracy cannot afford 10
have any settled principles in regard to that
question. In some states it processes to be
in favor of honest money, while in other
states it yearns for fiat money to be shed
knee-deep over the land. Like Benton,
have always been in favor of Indian money
that is, gold and silver. Sometimes Of late
| years l have thought that possibly the gov.
| eminent should issue all currency, but then
have reflected that a time might come wher
crazy theorists would be in the majority il
| Congress, and, If they possessed the power
might issue fat money enough TO swamp us
1 do not want politicians to control such 4
power as that. The present system of bank
ing is the best one we ever had, so far as the
security of the customers and noteholders il
concerned, and 1 am emphatically in favor o.
letting well enough alone. 1t would be
backward step, and long one, to return tC
the old state banks or banks chartered by
states, and 1 claim to be a progressive man
Under the present system the country is mor'
prosperous than it ever was before, and ther'
is nothing to be gained by meddling with it
Let well enough alone say l."