Year: 1872

/ AA-As2A-


democracy, Under its New Guise


Of Greeleyism, Exposed.


Extracts from the Speech Of Senator
| Morton, at Indianapolis.


| -


We seStet that, our space precE aei
the publication in full of the speech O
Senator Morton at the Indianapolil
ratification meeting. We presenth6w
ever, the salient points of this very aBl,
address:


| FELLow-CITzENs / have spoken OF
several occasions in this hall. | well re
member the first meeting of publ,
character ever attended in this hall
in 1861, wheR l was calling for recruit.
for the armYT remember the meetingt
that occurred during the war in seasons
of doubt and gloom. | remember meet
ings that occurred after the war wal
over, and particularly have in remem.
berance that in May, 1866, at the open
ing of that bitter and important cam
paign. But | have never been present
at a meeting in Masonic Hall when the
Republican party was surrounded by
sucHs circumstances of congratulation
and triumph.


So far as the Republican policy in the
administration of this government is
concerned, it stands vindicated by the
confession of our political antagonists.
While they are proposing to form new
party for the purpose of gaining control
Of the Government and filling the offices,
they are not proposing, and dare not
propose, new policy. They have no
thing to offer you, my friends, which
they tell you can improve your condi-
ton. In their platform they propose
no new question or measure on hesub-
ject of finances. They have nothing to
offer that is better than what you have.
Mr.. Greeley in himself constitutes plat
form which they dare not reaffirm in
their resolutions. He has advocated
some measures Of finance for the last
four years which every intelligent busi-
ness man in this audience tonight,
knows would bring convulsion and ruin
upon this country. if they were carried
out. For example, he has said for the
last four years in the New York Tribune
that the right way to resume specie
payment was to resume at once, by
simply giving notice, posting it over the
door Of the Treasury, that the Govern
ment would pay specie from that very
hour. This he has urged in his paper
for four years. Need l argue to any in
telligent gentleman here tonight that
if Horace Greeley was elected President
and should attempt to carry out that
policy it would result in panic, bank
ruptcy and prostration to all the bust.
ness of the country? ask how it would
operate upon the city of Indianapolis
l ask how it would operate upon the
growing enterprises and upon the credit
Of our country everywhere?


He is also in favor of another theory
that is, the Immediate and uncondi
tional retirement Of our greenback cur
rency-that nothing but gold and silver
shall be legal tender in the payment Of
debts, so that every man who owes an.
other ten, or hundred, or a thousand
dollars may be required to pay in gold.
As all know, such policy as that, if
carried out by Mr.. Greeley as President
of the United States, would result in the
destruction of the business interests Of
this country. So that so far as Mr..
Greeley represents anything that is diff
ferent from the avowed policy of the
Republican party-that policy which is
now being executed-that difference
upon the part of Mr.. Greeley would be
ruinous to the country.


The people of this country cannot af-
ford to change this Administration.
This is particularly the campaign of the
business men of all parties, and the
campaign of the laboring men Of all
parties. This county is now prospering
as it has never done before. / may say
! to you with perfect confidence tonight
that the wages of labor in the city OF
Indianapolis are now purchasing more
of the necessaries and comforts OF life
than they ever did before. Your city ID
growing as it has never done before,
and it is a solid growth. This whole
country is piospering rs it never did be-
fore, and there is entire confidence per
vading every class OF the community. You
have no fear of panic or convulsion


Business has come down to solid founda
| tiOns, and what we want is not some
thing new in finance or in our com
mercial policy; what we want is stability
to 90 on as we are now going on-tc
come to specie payments not by spas
modic efforts, but by the slow and grad


ual process under which we are now do
ing it-approaching specie payments in
a way that will not bring wreck and
ruin 10 the country, but continued sta


bility and prosperity.


The Republican party has reduced


taxation. We have now repealed al


internal taxes, except on whisky and


tobacco, to take effect in few weeks


Within the last four or five weeks WI


have passed bills repeating taxes to th'


amount of more than tifty.two millions


Two years ago we passed bill that re


pealed eighty.three millions; and ye


the public debt is being paid of at tn


rate of one hundred millions year


Three hundred and fifty millions hav'


been paid oft within the last three ant


half years, and the process is still 20


ing on. How is it that the Government


is able to pay oil so much OF the publ


debt, and yet at the same time reduc


taxation so largely? My friends, it j


by introducing economy and retrench


ment into every department @


the Government, by an homes
and faithful collection of the re
venue. do not believe that the iinar
c,al department OF this Government hs
ever been administered better than
is now, and the confession of that fac
J is found in this circumstance Tho
our political adversaries. while the
clamor against us necessarily, are nc