The Van Buren press., 1878-10-15
The So Called Currency Question.

There is so much sound, good sense IN
the following article from the New lla-
ven, Conn, Register, that, although
written fora Connecticut Democracy, is
just as applicable to Arkansas demo-
Gratis, and we commend it to their care
full perusal and consideration:
II is becoming quito the fashion with
the republican press to insist that the
sole and only question before the Amer
lean people, is the "money question:
They INCREASINGLY sdemand, are you
- hard' or "sott" money. If " hard
how "hard p The nationalists, on the
other hand, are trying to persuade the
people that the only question fit to dis
cuss is the " financial ISSUE" Are you
for soft money!" they excaim, and
they will talk Of nothing else. The rca.
son for the style Of tactics adopted by
both these parties is the same. The re-
publicans have an indefensiblo record,
and are ashamed of it. They are glad
to make anything an issue which will
obscure, if only in part, the shameful
record of their administrative manage
ment of the government. The nation
alists are endeavoring to make 9 curren-
cy" the issue, because they think that an
unlimited issue of paper money will
prove popular with every man who is
" loaded" with real estate or debt. An
initiation in prices would enable the real
estate debtor to get rid of his land at the
/ ~ hip ,far Ia ,,anlna
whoeo hands ID would certainly decline
in value. There are great numbers of
men in this condition, and it is quite nat
ural that they should like to shift their
burdens to the shoulders of others, but
the trouble would be that after they had
done so, the purchasers Of their land
would want another imitation of the cur
rency, so that they, too, could sell to ad-
vantage, and the agitation for plenty Of
money would never end.
Upon such a question as the propriety
of retiring the national bank currency,
and substituting treasury notes, there are
persons in all parties who honestly ia
vor it. Very many democrats believe it
would be economical so to do. Other
democrats think that free banking is bet
terand more democratic. Some demo-
Gratis believe in legal tender paper. 9th
crs still believe in gold only for curren-
cy. These. or some of these, differences
of opinion rs to what is the best form OF
currency, have always existed in the
democratic party. These differences of
opinion can be still entertained, and the
holders Of them still be good democrats.
1t is folly for a democrat who believes in
a gold standard to say that whoever diff
lcrs from him is not a democrat. 1t is
equal folly for a democrat who believes
in legal tender paper and agrees with the
gold democrat on every other democrat
ic principle, to say that those who differ
from him are scoundrcls, or to refuse to
VOC with the democratic party.
Democracy is not party OF one idea,
as the republican and nationalist parties
are, to-day. Democracy is the party OF
the constitution and the laws. Its miss
ion. to restore olr grand old government
to what it was before the radicals had
distorted its fair face, crippled its limbs,
and manned its beauty by corruption,
fraud, usurpation, unconstitutional laws,
class legislation and general eussednoss.
The money question is and should be
subordinate. 1t is false issue, conur-
sJrgnJ hv shaEllatta4HnS and q2lIiiiSsl .Rgotaai
well afford to be indifferent rs to whoth-
cr money is hard, soft or middIing, until
the supreme issue of a restoration of
constitutional Government is settled
Until John Sherman and his scaly gang
Of consplrators, political prostitutes and
constitution reckcrs are kicked out of
the high places which they disgrace; we
care nothing for the socaiIed currency
question. When democracy comes into
the iujl possession Of the government rs
| it surely will, it will be true to its glori-
Gus past it will make laws for the peo-
pie, and it will adopt Il financial policy,
wise aud just. 10 that we shall give
our allegiance. But, until that time ar
rives, all that we have to do is to oppose
the common enemy-the republicans
who have, for years, legislated only for
classes, corporations and monopolies.