Page:Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz, Volume 3.djvu/506

480  to draw the line between the sublime and the ridiculous. But whether there be or not, let the solemn duty of this hour unite all patriotic men in an earnest and active endeavor to prove that the American people are an honest people, scrupulously faithful to their National obligations, and a wise people, who, although not always exempt from temporary gusts of excitement and the invasion of erroneous doctrines, yet at last always follow the dictates of calm judgment and sovereign common-sense. 

 &emsp; You have my hearty thanks, and I have no doubt the hearty thanks of many thousands for your admirable and exhaustive speech at Cincinnati. It covers [the] whole ground, leaving nothing for inflationists to stand upon. It is, by far, the severest blow which has been given to the false gods which so many of our people are bowing down to. I wish all the members of the Cabinet were as sound on the financial questions as the Secretary of the Interior and as fearless as he in discussing it. 



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I have read your Cincinnati speech, or as much of it as I could find in the newspapers, with great satisfaction. It is the first speech which attacks the citadel of the anti-specie resumption party. That citadel is the silver bill, and I tell you that I don't see how the Government is to resume on the 1st of January with that act on the statute book. It is a warning and an incentive to all holders of greenbacks to hurry up and get the gold while it lasts, because if they wait they will get only silver. . . . 