Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-08-28

backs. From that time down to this
hour Sl5, 900 in gold have been paid
out to the holders of greenbacks, and
yet we hold now SlO0,0OO,OOO idle
money to redeem greenback circulation
which nobody wants to redeem. The
government Of England has thirty mil
lions of reserve, although she controls
the commerce of the world; and France
has twenty millions, and Germany in
the same proportion, about sixteen mil
lions; and yet the people of the United
States, with sixty millions of Anglo
Saxon people, in whose veins bound
the blood of conquest and power-we,
forsooth, must hold one hundred mil
lions OF money because our credit is so
bad that our paper money would
COME BACK TO THE TREASURY
for redemption. would put the larger
amount of this reserve in circulation. L
would not dread any run upon the
treasury of the United States. 1t has
behind it larger reserve fund than
can be invested by any mortal man. 1t
has this continent with its varied eli
mate and interests; 1t has its popula-
ton of GO,OOO, 900 OF treelnen bound
for the redemption of this debt and
payment of its paper circulation, and
when there is run made upon the
treasury of the United States through
want of confidence there will-be il
reverently spoken-be run upon the
Maker OF the universe himself. lAp-
plause.l
l have spoken very briefly of the
limitations of the constitution. | would
that circumstances and my strength
and your patience would permit me to
say more. 1t is time that the great
democratic party should assert the dis
unctive principles upon which it is
based. There should not be one single
democrat who could not upon single
instant answer the question as to the
difference between the democratic and
republican parties. The difference is
as great as that between night and day.
1t is the difference between monarchical
Capitalization and liberty. 1t is the
difference between the general welfare
clause OF the constitution as construed
by the republican party, and the strict
framed by Mr.. Madison and construed
by the supreme court OF the United
States, even when its bench was filled
by republican judges. know there is
throughout the country tendency uL
on the part Of even good and intelligent
and patriotic men to say that we have
outlived these antiquated theories, and
that every one who holds to the strict
construction of the constitution is q
Bourbon. If to be Bourbon is not to
forget the teachings of our fathers IF to
be Bourbon is not to learn the way to
these new fashioned doctrines of cen.
tralization, thank God am Bourbon
and expect to die one. [Cheers.l
Just before lett Washington City q
story was rife in social aud political
circles OF an Irish member of congress,
whose name 1 won't give-and have
a right to speak of the Irish as l have
some Irish blood in my veins, which
explains some of the eccentricities in
my private and public career.
[Laughter.] He introduced a bill
that was OF some local interest to
his constituents. Hearing that the
president was to veto the bill, this
gentleman secured private interview
with the president and said: "Mr.
President, understand you are going
to veto my bill" The president said:
Yes, | am sorry to say l think it is
contrary to the constitution The con-
gresham replied:
81 have u great respect for the con-
stitution; it is
VENERABLE INSTRUMENT,
and sleep with it under my pillow at
night. think it is q venerable instru-
ment, but think, Mr.. President, the
constitution OF the United States should
not be permitted to come between
friends" Laughterl.
Ihere are too many people in this
country that do not want the constitu-
ton to come between them. and local
and selfish interests. We are each day
adding to our population. The great
question submitted to the American
people and the civilized world is wheth-
er reform of the government can
stand the STRAIN and pressure of all
such diverse and irreconcilable inter-
ests as now exist? What is the trouble
IN regard to the financial question!
Let me speak plainly. l have no
secrets in public life and very few in
private life. | am talking to you now
because believe you are democrats
and if you are not then you should not
be IN this convention. Laughter
What is the difference between the
east and the west? The difference is
that the east is the money-lending por-
tlon OF the country, whilst we are
THE MONEY BORROWERS.
They represent the bondholding inter
ests OF the country, and we the agri-
cultural and other varied interests now
beng developed in the west. When we
meet i'll congress every step that we
take in tariff or finance developes this
difference between the east and west,
IL Is folly to expect men to be angels
because they go into congress. When
men go there they 90 to represent the
Interests of their section. A man sent
from the money-lending districts of the
east wants to make the money rate
higher, man coming from the west,
on the contrary, wants to make mOuey
plenty and cheaper: wants to make it
so that the money interests of the west
will be developed. 1t is to bring about
just medium between these diverse
interests of the east and west that calls
Tor the highest craftsmanship. This is
the great danger that threatens the
people, and there is but one safety for
US. We must stand by the constitution
and strict construction of its grants;
that the power of taxation must be
confined to the interes Of the govern
ment honestly administered. Let not
The power OF taxation be used as police
power. let it not be used to suppress
one industry and build up another; let
1t be so imposed as to fall upon all the
people and all the country alike and to
build up the whole country together,
Applause
Ny fellow-citiZens and democrats, let
Inc say word now about
IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.
AS | return to this state, in which |
are all my interests and all my affec-
lions, without pretending to any great
or distinctive affection for the people |
Of whom am one, say now here to-
day and If 1t is not an honest declara-
ton it is Impossible for me to make |
Dne-l would rather have the good !
opinion of the people of Missouri than
any other boon that could be given me
upon the face of this earth. Applause
Ii Will not be many years before my
public and private career will be ended. |
want no other epitaph then put above
me, as | rest under the soil of this
state, than that | was true to the inter
esis OF the people, than that | am and
"a ., t>o, Il |