If such a
course had been adopted, the clamor would have been louder and more
just. The order, no doubt, had a happy effect, as the running
accounts were rapidly and quietly closed, by the payment of the
called bonds, without any disturbance in the money market. The
clamor made was beneficial because it induced the holders of the
called bonds to send them in for payment, in which I greatly
rejoiced.

In the evening of that day a reception was given to me at the
Lincoln club. While it was going on a large crowd, headed by a
band, approached the clubhouse, and loudly insisted that I should
speak to them. As this was a political club, I felt at liberty,
on being introduced by Warner M. Bateman, to make a political
speech, mainly devoted to my early friend, General Ewing, and his
peculiar notions of finance. This was reported in the papers at
the time. If there was too much political feeling manifested in
my speeches at this period, it may be partly excused by the extreme
violence of denunciation of me by Democratic speakers and
newspapers.

Later in the evening I visited Wielert's pavilion, on Vine Street,
where the usual evening concert was being given. The visitors were
mainly German citizens, and, as such, were known to be in favor of
a sound currency based upon gold and silver. The orchestra at once
stopped the piece they were playing, and played the "Star Spangled
Banner," amid the cheering of the assemblage. They insisted upon
a speech, and I said:

"When I came here to-night I did not expect to make a speech, as
I have made one already. I only came to see the people enjoy
themselves, to drink a glass of that good old German beverage,
beer, and to listen to the music. I am very happy to meet you,
and shall carry away with me a kindly remembrance of your greeting.
All I want, and that is what we all want, is honest money. A dollar
in paper is now worth a dollar in gold or silver anywhere in this
country, and we want affairs so shaped that the paper money issued
may be exchanged anywhere or under any circumstances for gold or
silver. That is my idea of honest money. [Cries, 'That is so.'
'That is ours, too,' etc.] We may be assured that such shall be
the character of the money in our country if the people will sustain
the party which has equalized the values of the paper and metal
moneys. Again I thank you for your kind reception."

I returned to Washington and remained there during the month of