The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-10-16
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM On
THE CURRENCY.

THE CURRENCY.
We call the attention Of OUT citi-
,ens to Article Nine of the Demo-
cratic platform, which IN political
oarlance, may be termed tie Cur
.ency plank. It promises to be the
all absorbing and controlling CUES.
ion in the next presidential cam
psign. Upon this question in the
North are two bitter parties upon
this question, which are rather sec
tional than political, the East and
the West. In the South there is
hardly division of opinion among /
her white population. The plank in
our platform embraces all that can be
asked by any one who does not en-
brace the Eastern side of the ques-
ton; who does not sanction the con
traction which has been the policy of
the Government since 1870, if not
since 1868. The evils produced by
contraction has called into existence
the National or Workiugmen's party
at the North and West; making an
expansion of the currency, their plat
form. They assumed a separate or
ganization then, because the ques.
ton was sectional rather than politi-
cal. But none of these reasons for
an organization exist in the South.
The white people, or as they are
termed, the Democratic party, are
almost an unit upon that subject.
But a portion Of our citizens have
united in an organization called the
Workingman's party, whose center,
ifnot sole plank, is an expansion Of
the currency. Upon that subject,
they can hardly ask more or embrace
more, than is embraced in the 9th
Article of our Platform. 1t embraces
all that has been said, and We believe
all that can be asked by the most ex-
pensive Greenbacker. This, we think
will be readily admitted by any one
in the Workiugmen's party. Then
why disagree on that which we all
agree? Are they BY their separate
organizations promoting orlefeating
the end they have in view; an ex
pansion of the currency; the eman.
cipation Of labor from the grinding
tyranny Of contraction In .his Pa
risb, whether they intend it or not,
they virtually do SO by aiding the
Radical party. Every vote their can.
didates receive for the Legislature, is
virtually vote in favor Of the Radi-
cal party, as is most evident to any
one who will take the trouble to
think. In thus incidentally aiding
in the election of a radical member
to the legislature; in doing more than
that, in saving the Radical party in
this Parish from utter rout and de-
moralization, and preserving it for a
contest in our constitutional conven.
ton ard the next presidential election
Are they promoting the great object
Of their party; the emancipation of
labor from contraction, from the
cruel tyranny of monied oligarchy2
If they think SO, we must frankly
tell them that they have not read
the history of the currency for the
last ten years, to say nothing of the
history of reconstruction.
Perhaps they are not informed, or
have forgotten what party enforced
contraction; do not know the cold.
blooded avarice with which it was
pursued, nor the heartless indiffer
ence with which it watched the toll
ing millions struggling 10 it's grasp,
as they sank from comfort and afliu-
ence to poverty, and from poverty to
hunger.
The power Of contraction was
something unknown to the statesmen
Of our Constitution. They were
jealous Of the union Of the sword and
the purse, and guarded our liberties
against it with every care. Bat they
did not know that in tho currency
alone, there was subtle power more
potent and despotis than that Of the
sword; so suble that, while it reduced
the toiling millions to slavery, yet
eluded their grasp, power so subtle
that it could play che honest Iago
before its deluded slaves while they
in vain sought their oppressor. But
this despotic power is now we'll
known to bankers and statesmen,
and in future number we may show
how knowledge of it was developed,
and its development necessarily de.
monstrates its effects, but our space
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