Year: 1874

payment. I will not say we cannot
return to specie payment sooner; I
say no such thing. We can return


to specie payment to morrow; no
doubt about that We can an


nounce the fact we will pay specie
to morrow, but We can't announce


the fact that we will continue to


pay it. We must continue to pay


it; if not, we are bankrupt; hence


we must provide some way of re-


turn to specie payments and con


inue them without Gripping the


country. Two years ago this was


Republican doctrine All ose, Tie


country, just what I say to you


now, and stand on that now just


as did then. [Applause. Now,


gentlemen, / will not detain you


but a very few moments longer. I


only want to call your attention to


another point or two, and then I


am done.


On the question of transporta-


ton believe that the Legislature


of the State has the right to regu
late transportation within it's own


limits, but I disagree with set of
resolutions that I see were passed


here at Springfield a few days ago,


which would confine the question


to the State entirely, and 1 will


give you my reasons. l believe


when the Legislature of the State


can act, and when the line of road


is entirely within the limits of the


State; the State Legislature is the


proper place for action, but lines


that run through different States


are not left to the regulation of the


Legislatures of the States, but the
Constitution provides that COM


merce among the several States


shall be regulated by Congress; and


hence roads and rivers passing


through different States must, by


the Constitution of the United


States, be regulated, if at all, by


Congress. Applause. And I be-


lieve Congress has the power to


act. I believe it is the duty of the


Legislature and Congress both,


each to act within their respective


spheres under the Constitution, to


see that extort;on is not perpetra-


ted upon the people. Some fault


is found with the Republican party.
There are great many farmers


here-a great many have joined


what is called ''the Independent


Reform" They are going into


that for the purpose of getting a


reform in this particular. Now let


us see; the only reform farmers


have ever obtained on this subject


has been through Republican Leg


islature. Applause The reform


commences with the Republican


party in this State. 1 will go fur
ther. The only reform measures
presented in the Congress Of the
United States on this subject have
been presented in bills by Repub.


icans, and let me call your atten-
. ton to the fact that when thee ques-
ton came up on regulating trans.
, portation, Republicans were the
only ones in favor of it. Applause.]
, The votes of the Democracy were
{ found almost unanimous in oppo
sition, denying the power Of Con
{ gress to interfere with. that ques
ton in any way whatever Then ]
y ask of my farmer friends in the
, State of Illinois, to whose arms are


you going for relief if you leave
+ those men whoalone have extended
. you protection in this direction
t They will fail to find it I fear
a The farmers, numerous as they are
|, are but a small class when compar
q ed with all the other people of th,
United States, and it is not for an,
+ one class to run the machinery of
/ government like ours in one inte
y rest. It must be q combination o
( more elements than one-lnor
7 classes of business than one, NOR
J. classes of people than one-and tn
g only result is, therefore, these me-
4 will either have to stay in the Re
g publican party or go over body an
g boots to the Democratic party aE
v plause]. And now I ask ther
' simply to read the pages of histor
q for the last few years to find wha
a consolation they are to get in tn
). Democratic party. No, sir; th
a theory of the Republican party ]
v to give all men equal rights, equf
8 protection under and before th
/, law, and,, TO see that rights SO guar
is ranteed to communities and ind
- viduals shall not be invaded withor
IF the provision of remedial statut
a for the reformation of abuses. Tht
er is the theory upon which we g
r. Our people are progressive; the
or are developing new interests ever
q. day, and when men tell me that
ic government stands still, I tell the
j. if it does, it is a government col
IS. trolled by fossils, and not by me
er of energy, vigor, and intellect. A
Mt the government grows, our ide,
II expand as we advance; we learn Il
ot rights of men are sometimes trar
v. pied upon, and we learn to shal
in our movements to the redress
of evils and to the defense of the righ
gn of the people. Applause Al
y. person who denies the progress
,o government denies q patent fac
n. Applause.] In reference to th
by transportation question, l kne
to there would be q difficulty. Whe
IN ever it was brought up in the Sc
er ate it would be fought there by Il
ch Democracy, who hold the old irt