Year: 1878

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nesday, was composed Of as earnest,
intelligent and sober set Of men as
ever assembled in any place for a
like purpose. Gen. Ben Harrison
was made president OF the conven-
tion, upon taking the chair Gen.
Harrison made the following ad-
dress: F


GENERAL uARRIsoN's ADDRESS.


Gentlemen, we are assembled in con-
ventien to day under circumstances of
great interest to the Republican party and
to the country. 1t seems to me that
right candid expression of true political
principles from this convention will have
potent influence in the coming election.
The circumstances of our assembling are
exceedingly auspicious and favorable.
The wise delay in calling our convention
together has given us nearer view of
some of those political questions which are
to be discussed in this campaign, and has
put some of these questions behind us as
accomplished facts. We have great ad


vantage over our opponents, the Demo
cratic party Their convention assembled
sometime in the remote past Laughter
and applause. Their declaration of
principles is stale to-day, having scarcely
so much relation to living things as last
years oyster-shell. [Laughter.] / have
said that We have passed some of those
questions upon which the public mind
was divided last winter The silver ques-
ton, upon which men of all parties were
divided, is settled. The dollar of our
fathers constitutes to-day the circulating
medium of our country. l was one of
those who thought we would have to hon.
or our fathers by putting little more sill
Yer in that dollar, but accept, to-day, as
finality, the silver bill, and would de-
prcciate any attempt to meddle with it
[applausel, for if there is any great stress
upon this nation to-day it is for rest upon
the financial question. / believe when
Congress assembled last fall there were
patent to observing minds all through the
country indications of reviving confidence
and an improved feeling in business af-
fairs. BY the discussions Of the past
winter L, believe that we have been put
back six months in our progress towards
prosperity. [Applause The silver ques-
ton is settled. 1 believe for myself to-
day-whether ii shall meet the views Of
those in this convention or the trainers of
your platform / do not knOw-but for
myselfI believe the resumption of specie
payments is an accomplished fact as well.
lApplause.] l believe we should recog


nize it as something not to be discussed
or talked about-as an accomplished and
present and eternal fact. [Applause.] II is
hard road we have gone over in many
respects. Shall we 90 back and tread the
weary track again? Loud cries of mo
no."] The intelligence of this age and
the wisdom of the past is all at fault If
there is anyother bedrock of finance than
currency redeemable on demand in coin.
Some of these gentlemen would have us
go back. They attribute to the legisla-
tion which has tended in the direction of
specie payment great many of the evils
that have affected the country which are
not properly attributable in that direction.
The intelligent reader of current history
has not failed to notice in foreign lands
where John Sherman and the resumption
bill had no control or influence the same
distress has been felt as in this country.
Whatever mistake there may have been
in past legislation-ifit it had been true as
some charge that the distress Of the coun-
try have been aggravated by it-shall we
repeat this distress by striking down
everything that has been done and plod
again over the same weary ways For
myself am opposed to doing any such
thing. In some excursions along the
Kenkakee river have found it necessary
to cross the marsh, and as 1t got deeper
and deeper the further aded, / have
been about ready to turn back. But when
I remembered that one further courageous
step would take me out on to the solid
soil and sure ground in the direction in
which must go, / have said: "let us
60 through it," [Applause.] A great
deal of most mistaken talk, as l believe,
is INDUCED in upon this question. Dema-
gogues appeal to the poor and laboring
man and say that this new species of cur
rency which they call fiat money laugh
ter is the money for the poor man, by
which they mean that the currency, in
stead of bearing upon 1t an honest prom.
Use, should simply declare in the shape OF
fiat or pronunciamento, "This bill is
$10." We have no asylum for idiots in
, Indiana, but think it would be very


well for the next Legislature to turn its
attention in that direction. Laughter.
Ii there is one thing that needs to be set
tied beyond dispute it Is that the money


of the laboring man, the farmer, the non


commercial classes. the men who have NO


bank, should be currency of an honest


fixed, determined value. There is no


class to whom this is so important as to


the poor and laboring men. 1 appeal to
your recollection of those times when de.
preciated currency has been in circulation
Who was 1t that suffered with this de.


preciationr 1t was not the capitalists, il
was not the bankers he is always advised
and prepared for all changes, and can
shave the currency as it passes through
his hands. / met the other day Q
colored laborer who said, 81 have jusi