Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-28
The Money Issue.

The Money Issue.
The money issues takes the foremost
place in the political contests of the year.
The country is being rapidly divided into
two camps, one in favor of currency
resting upon coin basis with paper con-
vertIble into coin at the will of the holter;
the other In favor OF fiat money. absolute
money. mere paper money, as baseless as
the fabric OF a dream.
Since the Maine election the tendency
OF parties to concentrate upon one side or
the other Of this question has increased.
The necessity of the case is compelling
the abandonment of old party issues and
party lines. The greenback party is draw
Ing to itself the elements that sympaihize
with its doctrines and purposes. 1t has
annihilated the democratic party. When
we see democratic State convention in
Massachusetts, taken possession OF ny
greenbackers, and such a man as General
Butler nominated by that body, We may
be sure that the democratic party in tina,
State at least is in a dying or dead condi-
ton. As in Massachusetts so ia other
States. In Maine the democratic party
occupies in the election returns the third
place, and some of its repnted leaders.
since the election, are terribly anxious to
transfer the remnant that voted for Gtrce-
Ion 10 the greenbackers for a cOnsidera-
ton in the division of State officers which
will come up next winter. A few demo-
cratic State conventions have passed half
hearted resolves 10 favor of sound curren-
cy, but at the last moment before election
the leaders will probably forswear every
word they have uttered for honest money
and urge fusion with the greenbackers.
They did It in Maine, they will do it in
Massachusetts,. But there are democrats
who have not abandoned and will not the
principles Of the party to join In the wor-
ship Of the Rag Baby. many thousands OF
them in this State alone the best and truest
men of the party. 1t is an impossibility
for honest, intelligent democrats to be
become greenbackers.
Around the standard of Honest Money
gathers the great bulk of the republican
party, with all other persons from other
organizations who are willing to stand up
and he counted for a currency based on
coin. as good as gold, not Dependent. for
its value upon the political charac-
ter of Congress. The fight henceforlh is
to be with the greenback party, not with
the democratic party. The democratic
party 10 dead. The greenback party alone
confronts the Honest Money party. The
money issue is supreme now. as the ques-
ton OF maintaining the Union of these
States was supreme while the rebellion
ragged. There are but two sides in this
fight. There Is no room for third party
Every man will be on one side or the
other.
What the effect Of this state of things
will DO upon the Presidential campaign Il
is yet too early to determine. This much
however, is plain, that the calculations
upon which the leaders of the democratic
party predicated victory in 1880 have
been strangely confused and overturned by
the appearance Of the greenback party
upon the stage. There is no telling just
yet who will be President after March
1881. The solid South is not so solid a.
it was for the democratic patti. The
West Il 10 an uncertain political mood. i
the Honest Money men hold fast to then
platform and educate the people thorough
~ the next year in sound money doctrines
they will sweep the country in 1880 The
greenback party has no abiding qualities.
II il built on. error. 1t will flourish for
brief season and then pass away. Blu,
truth though overborne at first will GER
:ainly be victorious at last, and unless all
the wisdom of the ages, the great states
men Of our own and other countries, have
been in the wrong. the system of curren-
cy advocated by the friends of Honest
Money is the on y true and reliable sys-
tenn.
The harmony of the democratic and
greenback alliance. In this region, is in
danger of being disturbed by the compe.
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