The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1883-07-11

the Constitution, and made the'aag
of our country symbolical the world
over, not only of nationality and
power, but also in an absolute sense
Of those great principles and truths
that are embodied in the Declaration
of independence. [Applause.
And now that we have this Demo
cratic platform before US for min
ute let US look at another declaration
that we find in it : "The great Dem
ocratic party of the State Of Ohio, in
Convention assembled, declares that
it reafirms its previous declarations
in favor of stable money" That, in
substance, is the declaration of the
Democratic platform made the day
before yesterday at Columbus. That
makes it proper that we should re-
mind them and recall 10 ourselves
that when the war was over the
struggles and the triumphs of the Re-
publican party did not cease. The
men who had unsuccessfully assailed
the national life, next turned and
made an assault on the national
honor. To carry on that war to its
end, to successfully prosecute it, cost
US tremendous expenditure of
treasure as well as of blood. So it
was that when we came to the days
of peace we not only found our re-
sources wasted, but we found that we
were burdened with a debt almost
beyond the power of man to compute
it. 1t was a national obligation, in
cured for the preservation of the
national life. One Of the most
pressing and one of the most dis
tressing questions of that hour, was
how we could provide for it and for
its ultimate payment and discharge.
You all remember how, under the
name and banner of the Democratic
party, especially here in Ohio,
all the disloyalty, faithlessness
and demagogy Of this country seemed
to clasp hands, and join in a common
effort to besmirch and disgrace and
dishonor that country and that Gov
vernment which the enemies Of the
Government on the field of battle
had failed to overthrow and destroy.
You all remember how it was through
long years of earnest argument and
effort that the country was finally led
back and placed on the firm rock Of
specie resumption, and the people
were brought to a settled determine
ton that all the obligations of the
Government should be faithfully paid
to the East dollar.
Who can forget those contests or
forget either where the Democratic
party that now declares, or rather re-
afirms, its previous declarations
stood in regard to them2 In the
years I873-75-77, and down to 1879,
even after specie resumption had be-
come an accomplished fact, they
were declaring for currency
that would be equal to the demands
of trade, and demanding that Gov
verment bonds should be paid off
with other paper promises to pay.
How in the light of such facts can
anybody be expected to read such
declarations with any kind of pa
tience
And yet it is possible that a view
of this matter may be taken that will
be consistent. A friend Of mine has
so suggested. They reafhrm their
former declarations in favor of stable
money. You will remember that in
1875 the standard bearer of the
Democratic party was William Allen.
He made some vigorous speeches in
which he announced some startling
financial doctrines. You well re-
member how he everywhere de
nounced specie resumption as "noth-
ing any how but a DID barren
Iideality," and how he reminded us
that even coon-skins had been used
as circulating medium in pioneer
times, and how at different times in
the worlds history iron, brass, cop
per and other of the baser metals,
and even leather, had been used to
serve the purpose of money, and
how he argued that these facts showed
that the worth of a circulating
medium did not depend upon its in
t. insic value but solely upon the
stamp the government might put on
lit, and how from these premises, thus
established, he defantly proclaimsi
apparently to the enthusiastic salts
p faction Of all Democrats, that even
cwn5ialks would make just as gooc
money as anything else if only SC
denominated and stamped by the
Government.
Now what my friend suggested was
that probably the framing of this las
e Democratic platform had reference
g to Governor Aliens cornStalks whel
3 they reafirmed their former declara
t tions in favor Of a stable money. Laugh
Y ter don't know but what he is righ
C for really that is the only kind o
70 stable money that / ever heard of tn
p Democrats Of Ohio being in favor o.
e [Renewed laughter But let US pas
d that for the present there are som
e other matters l want to talk abou
1 want TO say a word in genera
# way about the work that is before u
+ 1t is generally agreed that thi
] campaign is to be Of unusual impOl
Il ltapce. that the result in Ohio is [