The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-30
JUDGE ROBERT 5. TAYLOR.
Speech at Ridgeville-StrOng Presentation
of the Republican Partys Good Points.


thusiastic meeting at this place to-day. Follow
ing is portion of Judge Taylor's address;
You sometimes hear it said that the Republicans
have had the government long enough-that there
ought to be achange-merely for the sake of change
As far have noticed il is upon this ground chiefly
that the Democratic vicepresdental candidate rests
his appeals to the voters. Let us examine this argu
ment little.
One of the fundamental clements of good govern
nent is stability. 1t is for the sake of permanent
laws policies and institutions that civil governments
exist. Every free government is government of
party. That party which is in the majority makes
and executes the laws and controls the whole
and policy of the government for the time being In
some Tree governments, as i'll ours there are perlod
cal eleotlons. at stated times, and the party which
prevails at given election takes supreme control
til the next one In some countries as in England
elections and changes of administration do not
at liked periods but at irregular intervals, and as
OFTEN as the state of public affairs and the demands OF
public opinion require But whatever may be the or
ganzaton OF the government in that respect 1t is al
ways true that change OF parties is to some extent
q change OF government
With the exception of an occasional brief of
partial Democratic supremacy in Congress- the Repub-
can party has been in control of the general govern
ment since March 4, 1861. In the course of that
long administration it has conducted public affairs &C
cordng TO certain clear consistent well defined prln
cipeS.
1t assorted the doctrine and established it by the
suppression of great rebellion. that the United
States is government of original indies tructble and
supreme powers and not temporary partnership OF
inde endent States.
1t assertel the inalienab right of every human be-
ing to personal liberty and tue equality OF all citizens
before the law
1t built these sublime doctrines into the foundation
and frame of the government by the am endments OF
| the Constitution.
1t declared and established principles of public OBJ
| ligation, and devised measures of public revenue,
which have resulted in the payment of over six billion
dollars OF expenses, in reducing public debt of
three billion dollars onehaf in nineteen years, and in
raising tho public credit to- point reached by
any other government.
1t enacted a protective tariff under which our
tu Industries have attained degree of diversity, ex-
ceenee and prosperity never equaled by any Other
nation.
1t organized q system of national banks which for
twenty years has given the people the best paper cur
rency ever known.
1t has inaugurated civl-service reform which in
its present beginning promises radical aud permanent
elevation aud publication of the public service.
Some Of the work of the Republican party cannot
be undone of it could be undone very easily IL
would hoimpossble to re-estabish slavery. 1t would
be difficult though not impossible, to ablogate the
amendments But it would not be difficult to impair
the public credit, break up the banking system repeal
or modify the tariff arrest the progress of civil
| service reform. And it Is therefore important to
consider how far the public interest is concerned In
the maintenance of tho present principles of the gov
/ eminent III these particulars.
| Good money is like good water in many respects,
and among others in this: that, by ngcontinued
oyment of it, we are apt to grow forgetful Of s val
/ ue You, young men, can hardly imagine the ncon-
yeniences and disasters that attended the Democratic
State bank system of the antebelum days. The cir
culaticn and credit Of each of those banks
sar1ly conhned chiefly to its State and neighbor-
hood. IL could be- transported TO distant places only
at large loss in discount exchange In the travel
o. - rVse anu len as ae & anu
40 "iuo e'9' eine ne ofoesou o 7O@'' iiHe,
Bat these snnoyances Che least Of the evils of
| the old currency 1t was characteristic of those
banks that they we're most likely to break down just
when their strength was most needed. When panic
struck the country, every dollar bill became at once
an object of suspicion. No one knew to-day what
would be good tomorrow man might go to bed at
night leaving his pocket full of current money, and
wake in the morning to find the documents still there
but with all virtue gone out OF them Such things do
| no XIII
bonal citizen IS equally at home IN every State NO
man ever lost dollar on one of them through the
failure Of the bank that issued it. Indeed venture
to say that there is not first voter here present who
| ever saw worthless broken bankbill in his life.
Countertelts ne may nave seem out no worthless gen
ulne OIL . .
The value OF such currency Is inestmabie 1t
imParts stability and security to business, and con
tributes to the prosperity of every individual citizen
Whom panies and crises come as they will in spite
OF all precautions it goes far to limit the effect of
them to those departments OF business in which cause
Tor Them exists whereas an unsound currency makes
disaster contagious and carries II everywhere With
the financial system OF thirty years ago the recent
stock panic IN wall street would have produced gen
era crash and brought ruin on thousands of men who
never touched stocks As it was the value of money
was not aected IN the slightest degree, and Few per
sons were hnrt by the panic except VINO We're stock
Speculators themselves or 80 related to stock specu
Iators as 10 snHer from ther iaiiure Inc crash ~
1873 was widespread because the conditions that ia
| vored it were widespread But even in that disas
trous TIME II was circumstance OF the greatest I'M
portance and good fortune that tn money In crcula-
! S'H 81, '0tu".HOv 5O"o'
| The tarih law OF 1o0l was enacted with view to
the protection OF American industry. In every amend
mont of it since made that principle has been adhered
TO- and 1t will be- as long as the Republican party Is IN
control will not stop now TO argue the wisdom and
the benehcenca of this principle which like the
gen in the air. unseen untet unnotced nevertheless
feeds and sustains every industrial enterprise, and
adds some dignity and reward to each days labor of
every American citizen and some beauty and comfort
| to every American homo. We have experienced its
blessings tor twenty years and over, and we see its
good fruits to-day in every department of American
life and business The installation of the Democratic
party in power means II 1t means anything the aoan
donment of this principle and the substitution for it
of the tree-trade doctrine OF "a tariff for revenue
only.
1t Is in these respects that the administration of the
general government concerns us most, and in these
respects it concerns us great deal Through the
| currency. which goes every where. and the tariff,
| which touches everything the federal government
lays its hand for good or for i'll on every citizen OF