Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/156

 122 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS adopted a platform declaring that the volume of the currency (meaning the irredeemable paper cur rency of the United States) should be made and kept equal to the wants of trade; that the national bank currency should be retired, and greenbacks issued in its stead; and that at least half of the cus toms duties should be made payable in the govern ment paper money. The Republicans were by no means as united in favor of honest money as might have been desired, and Gov. Hayes was appealed to by many of his party friends not to oppose an increase of the paper currency; but he resolutely declared his opinions in favor of honest money in a series of speeches, appealing to the honor and sober judgment of the people with that warmth of patriotic feeling and that good sense in the state ment of political issues wiiich, uttered in language always temperate and kindly, gave him the ear of opponents as well as friends. The canvass, on ac count of the national questions involved in it, attracted attention in all parts of the country, and Gov. Hayes was well supported by speakers from other states. Another subject had been thrust upon the people of Ohio by a legislative attempt to divide the school fund between Catholics and Prot estants, and Hayes vigorously advocated the cause of secular education. After a spirited struggle he carried the election by a majority of 5,500. He had thus not only won the distinction of being elected