Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-05-01
EX-SENATOR INGALLS,.
[cou,inued from first page ]

mately, tnOuRn InysJeIlOuolJ, OVuueOO
cd with the financial system that hat
been developed in the past twenty
wears. The contraction of the circu
lation medium of all the great nations
by the destruction of the money func
tions of silver is, to my mind, the
chief cause. i can see no other ex
planation of IL, though l do not offel
that as solution. We are told tim,
after time fin the east that any one
holding those views is either mad
man, a knave or fool. Not wishing
70 be put In any Of these classes,
simply offer the Suggestion as posi-
bic cause, and leave 1t to Others to de-
termine another one. 1t Is curious
fact, though, that with increasing
population. creating increasing de-
mands for food and clothing, all prod
ucts of the farm and field have dimin-
ished In value, and that with the ex-
haustion of the public domain farm
ing land should become more and
more unsalable-in short, that with
idle capital constantly accommodating
in our financial centers, all business
and industrial enterprise should Ian
guish until we have reached cOndi-
tlon which believe has never existed
before siuce this government was es-
tabllshed.
"I believe there can be no perma-
nent return TO prosperity until there
is some change in our financial system
by which the circulating medium will
have corresponding rate Of increase
with the increment of our population
and the consequent demands of In
dustry, commerce and manufacture.
They tell us that we have $24 or $25
per capita of circulating medium in
this country, when, in fact, there isn't
$40. Everybody knows that there is
no gold In circulation and that the
greenbacks are In the national treas
ury and the banks. All estimates of
the per capita of circulating medium
are mere guess work. They say as an
excuse for the absence of an adequate
circulation of money that 30 per cent
OF the business of the nation is trans
acted withoat money--by checks.
That is perhaps true, but it Is no
remedy"
"Is our craftsmanship to solve this
question, or where are we to look for q
settlement?" asked.
"To the people," replied Mr.. In
gals. "This is government of pub
lie opinion, not of statesmen. The
people think and have their own
views. They know what they want
in respect of both money and the tar
iff. They have made up their minds
and no man can deceive them, lead
them or swerve them. The man or
the party that attempts 1t will be
lost. 1t is my observation that the
American people can always be
trusted with the solution OF great
problems like this money question. II
is difficult, at times, TO get them
around TO IL. Their thoughts are
crowded with their business or their
pleasures, and on one pretext or an
other they remain indifferent. Once
interested, though, they quickly mas
ter the problem.
TRUE sTATEsMANsHIP.
1.-THE real statesman in this coun
try Is the one who sees ahead the
drift OF public opinion and is guided
by IL. Lincoln and Blaine were, and
are pre-eminent in this respect among
all OF our great leaders, and thell
names suggest themselves irresistiblly
10 me in looking at the aspect of pub
lie affairs. They perceived what the
people thought and needed, and they
went ahead aud did IL. Lincoln, par
tlcularly, is pre-eminently the repre-
sentative man OF the epoch, and his
greatness is attributable to his ability
to see the needs, the aspirations, the
hopes and the fears OF the great
masses OF the people, from which he
sprung.
He is the man who represents more
than any other, 10 my mind, the aver
age convictions and purposes OF the
people. Lincoln was in no sense q
leader-he was follower Of public
opinion. In no single instance through
out the many crises OF his career car
il be shown that he endeayored TO en-
force his own convictions against
what he believed TO be the average
opinion Of the country. His win b
one Of the few immortal names and
flames OF the nineteenth century, and
for the reasons i have stated"
Cleveland advocates the retire
ment OF the greenback as a measure
OF relief"
i-"Yes that is the fayorite idea Ia
the East, too, The greenback, how
ever, is more powerfully intrenchet
in the affections Of our people than Ii
any other part OF our currency, anc
A. wOuId he df4leult-T haliaVQ imnOS