30 
Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 
we will circulate that paper, and will receive that for bond?, upon 
which we will punctually pay the interest in gold; and then, in 
order that the national currency might be permanent, and that 
nobody might have just cause to complain, I called the national 
banking system into existence, and pledged every bank to redeem its 
currency in greenbacks, and the government pledged that every dol¬ 
lar should be redeemed in the end—the securities to be pledged and 
provided that in the end everything should be made equivalent to 
gold. This is the true idea of a greenback. It is the credit and 
property of the American people, made to serve the purpose of 
money in the midst of a great strife, when we must have everything 
we can get. And, in my humble judgment, if out of this war this 
national currency comes as is provided in our platform, so that no 
Western farmer or merchant will be obliged to pa} r tribute to the 
East in his exchange; so that we shall not loose upon exchange so 
large a profit upon our industry; so that the laborer receive his 
dollar, or two dollars, or dozen dollars, at the night or week’s end, 
shall be perfectly sure that it will not turn to dust and ashes before 
the morning sun rises; I say, if you can get such a sound currency 
as this, then this country, at least, has been without one of the 
collateral benefits of the war; if you can take your money on the 
Atlantic and go to the Pacific, and pay your bills all the way with¬ 
out having to change the currency at every tavern you stop at. 
* * If the Government is administered as it should be, with 
proper vigor and economy, every dollar in greenbacks will be as 
good as a dollar in gold." 
One sometimes hears the expression, u Only a farmer; ” I want 
to see the word u only” left off. It can be, when those engaged in 
farming will place those of education and ability among them in 
positions of trust and responsibility—those whose sympathies are 
with the farmers and who can command respect. Intelligence only 
can cope with intelligence, and business and trade interests under¬ 
stand this full well, and govern themselves accordingly. The 
farmer’s occupation is the most useful of any to societ}L His in¬ 
dustry produces from the soil that which feeds all other classes. 
His is the foundation one upon which all others must build. None 
can prosper without his aid and support. None produce the food 
