Year: 1874




HIS POLITICAL VIEWS.


HIS OPINIONS ON FINANCE, THE RECIPROCITY,
THE THIRD TERM, ETC.-A GRAND SCHEME
FOR CHEAP TRANsPoRTATIoN-AP PLEASANT
HOUR WITH THE GENERAL.


A Sentinel reporter yesterday called upon
General Coburn at his residence on Ohio
street. The general is young man, prob
ably but little in advance OF forty years.
His physique may be said to be progresses
ing. though little above medium stature,
but otherwise we'll built. His manner is
genial and cordial; his counteDance frank
and open, and when the reporter hrst
met him apparently betrayed an averseness
to being interviewed. at least an uncertainty
as to the object of the visit. He, however.
became tree in the expression OF his opln-
ions, and even emphatic upon leading ques-
tions at issue. The conversation was pretty
much as follows:


Reporter-General, do you expect to re-
main here during the summer e..


Mr.. Coburn-Yes sir; after the perform
ance of the active duties OF public life at
Washington, L wish to enjoy season OF
rest and quiet at home.


R.-You will undoubtedly take an
active part in the fall campaign in this
state?


Mr.. C-Being candidate. 1 suppose
will be expected to and shall participate in
the approaching canvass.


R.-Do you apprehend lively cam
paign?


Mr.. CT is rather too soon to form an
opinion. 1t will largely depend upon the
action of the approaching democratic con-
vention.


R.-What are your views regarding
the platform of the recent republican con-
vention? And how do yoH think it will be
received by the people?


Mr.. C-The platform of party is of but
secondary importance in an election. l


II Ill
any discrimination between our senators
and representatives in congress. j do not
see how anv number CT republicans can dis
crminate in favor of the one or the
other. Regarding the financial plank, l am
in favor of a moderate addition to the cur
rency.


R.-Will you please mention your
views on the subject of finances?


Mr.. C.-I have so frequently expressed
myself, both in and out of Congress, that the
ions on that subject. 1 am in favor of a suf
ficient reserve to insure the country
against a stringency. It is like the
head OF the water necessary to run
mill. You cannot run mill
by current alone, but you must have res
ervoir-a place of supply. We could not
agree upon any measure of reserve. This
plan of nee banking is plan to give elas-
ITCHY to the currency. am not fixed to any
particular theory. 1 am in favor of any rea-
sonable measure that will give the people,
in times of striugency, an opportunity to
get at a reserve, whether it is in the shape
of bank notes or greenbacks. / do
not want the country, by reason
ofrigid laws to be let down to point where
honest men, and men of monetary ability,
will be tied down, because of the mere lack
of caTrency, and in fact, the lack of capital.
In other words, we ought to have positions
IN this country so that capital would not be
impaired IN the transaction of business, for
the lack of currency. Those who are op-
posed to expansion of the currency
say that we are pledged to return to specie
payment by the way of contraction. | know
very well that we elected Gen. Grant upon a
different idea. He would not have carried
any of the western states if it had been 9TH
erwise. No pledge was ever given by the
Republican party that the way Of
resumption IS by the road of contrac-
ton, and / firmly believe the way
to resumption is moderate expansion. This
is the only way to keep up the credit of the
government and to insure the prosperity of
the country. In few years the payment of
the public debt would be a small thing
compared with what 1t Is now. In thirty
years. az the rate we have been paving
taxes, we could pay off the entire public debt
In one year, If the country grows as it has
been growing. / am, therefore in no
hurry to pay off the public debt, or to
contract the currency and resume specie
payment; whenever we get the bonded
debt of the nation reduced down to a sum less
than the amount of bank notes we have in
circulation then will greenbacks be at par,
and not until then. 1t will gradually lessen,
and that will be the result, not OF
any law We may pass, but OF
the prosperity os the people. We
have not gold enough in the country TO
resume, or TO carry out a policy oi
specie payment. ! do not think that
there is any respectable man in congress;
indeed I do not know a single man that
would be glad to return to specie payment
This question involves so many different
matters in which the country is Interested
(and they are so varied,) that it is difficult to
arrive at satisfactory solution.
The question of cheap transpor-
tatiOn is one of the most i'm
portant. We should do all we can to af
ford outlets for the transportation of oul
products. Those questions must come up.
/ am in favor of simultaneously opening
the mouth of the Mississippi river to large
vessels and the lakes around Niagra Falls
think we ought to do this in our own
country, so that in case of war with
Canada we may have full control
of 1t. One of the most dangerous
things ahead is the enormous amount oi
claims against the government, owing TO the
depredzrions of the army in the South
That Is one OF the most serious things we