No man has been punished for his share in the Rebellion.
In spite of dishonest and subtle counsel, and in spite of great temptation, we have dealt with the public debt on the simple and honest principle that the only thing to do with a debt is to pay it.

The National credit is the best in the world, and the National debt has ceased to be an object either of anxiety or consideration.
Specie payments have been resumed.

Every dollar issued by the Government, or by national banks under government authority, passes current like gold.

Indeed the ease with which it can be transported and the certainty of its redemption makes the paper money of the United States better than gold.
The United States has joined the commercial nations of the first rank in making gold the world's standard of value.
In doing this we have never departed from the theoretical principle of bimetallism as announced by Hamilton and Washington and Webster and all our statesmen without exception down to 1869.

The contest was an exceedingly close one.