The Portland daily press., 1878-09-24
H9nest.MOney Leagues.

douest-MOney Leagues IN that section of the
country are doing good work in combating
the Greenback heresy. In Illinois especially
they are efectng much by teaching people
sound economic truths and exposing the fal-
lacies, sophisms and deliberate misstatements
OF the National orators and journals. These
Leagues are based on the idea that those
who think alike should act together, should
meet and confer upon the best methods for
staying the spread of the soft-money delu-
sion. They are non partisan, that is, do not
concern themselves with old party shibbo-
leths, do not ask if man be Democrat or
Republican, but cordially invite the coopera-
ton of all who desire sound, constitutional
currency based on coin. Nor do their mem
bers bind themselves to any prescribed line
OF political action. They meet as friends in
council to consider how the folly and wicked
ness of doctrine which, they believe, threat
ems the prosperity and even the safety of the
country, can best be exposed. Their object
is to shape, so far as they are able, public
opinion.
In pursuing this course the Honest Money
Leagues are but adopting the tactics of those
powerful rival organizations, the Greenback
Clubs-tactics which have worked so we'll in
Maine. In doing this they are doing wisely,
and there are abundant reasons why the
hard-money men in this State should follow
their example. All last Fall and Winter the
Greenback Clubs had the field nearly or
quite to themselves. They took their places
In every school district, advanced their argu-
ments and made what statements they chose,
and there was no man to gainsay them
That they did effsctual work the result of the
election shows. They purpose to continue
that work. The Greenback papers are full of
calls to these clubs to strengthen their orgaui-
zations, and call upon the Greenbackers to
organize new clubs wherever the field is un-
occupied.
Why cannot the advocates of sound
financial system, of currency based on and
redeemabe in coin, pursue similar course
and, taking lesson from our friends in the
West, organize Honest-Money Leagues?
Why cannot they meet, discuss this currency
question, and make themselves agencies for
the distribution of documents teaching the
principles of sound political economy? Why
do not the younger men, who have so vital
an interest in the future of the country, and
into whose hands its political direction must
soon fall, take hold of this matter, set them.
selves about combating the destructive here
sizes of the Greenbackers, and strive to do
what in them lies to mould public opinion?
Popular discussion is the most effective
agency that can be employed to bring about
the general acceptance of political or
economic truths. We should avail ourselves
of this agency, and at once. Thousands of
men in this State have Joined the Nationals
because they have heard only one side OF the
currency discussion. Let them hear the
other. At least let US educate our own men,
and equip them for the fight before them.
Too many hard-money men, though thorough
ly believing that currency redeemable in
coin is the only economical and safe currency
for the country, are slow to give reasons for
the faith within them, and are not always
able to expose the fallacies and correct the
misstatements of their Greenback opponents.
Honest-Money Leagues could put these men
in possession of the facts relating to our cur
rency, acquaint them with the arguments
upon which we base our cause, and furnish
them with examples, drawn from recorded
history, of the necessary evils and bad re-
suits of an irredeemable currency.
We trust that Honest-Money Leagues will
be organized throughout the State, not as
partisan machines, but as agencies for the
inculcation of sound economic principles
and means to the financial education of the
people. In these bodies hard-money Demo-
Gratis and hard-money Republicans can meet
on common ground, and for the time at least,
devote themselves. not to furthering the sue
cess of their respective parties, but to the
spread of correct financial doctrines among
the people.