Louisiana capitolian., 1880-07-22

pV"pipS Nu "VIV WIIlcI tuuS uJHWb CVUl-
parison between tho, "Dcmocmtic" anil
tho "Greenback" platforms:'
| There is one question, however, and
that, the one most vital to thu prosperi-
I ty of tho country, on which ti,csc plat
forms differ very materially, and that IL
tho question Of tho currency. Neither
tho Republican, nor tho Democratic pur
ty have word to say IN .f"ror of grect-
| backs.
They are both practically in favor Of
making coin the only legal-ten,ler for
dobts and of making bank notes redeem.
able in coin the only paper currency.
The National party makes u distinct is-
x,ic with both thu old partics ni the
question. IL believes III unlimited coin
age ofgold and silver, and In grccnbacks,
q lcgai,tcn,lcr for MI debts, o. the only
paper currency.
'rl,U Democratic party is divided oi,
the currency. 10 blows both hot and
cold. IL rides two horses mt tho same
time. In tho East tho Democrats arc
hard money advocates solely, xnd arc
clnpl,atically on tho same platform with
tho Republicans. In tho West they nre
half and hulf--tlat is, they wonld have
coin a. the only icgai-tcnicr, and MI
paper money rc,leclnable in coin, and
that pa|er money all bank notes or all
groenhacks, ~, " would leave thing, as
they arc--any way to get votes.
The Grccnbackers, on the contrary, are
emphatic on these subjects. They de-
nland that all currency, whether gold,
silver, or paper that passes as money to
pay debts, shall DO u legal tender for
debts, that tho coinage Of gold and sill
yer shall le unlimited, that bank notes
shall be Withdrawn from circulation and
greenbacks shall be put IN their pllcc,
and that tho grccibacks Thus issued
shall bc used to aid the payment Of bonds
about to fall due.
There arc somo people who are foolisl,
enough to think that it won't make any
difference to tho people which Of these
platforms arc adopted. Such persons do
not understand tho questions involved,
! and therefore make fearful mistakes in
reference to the matter.
The bankers now have almut S345, ,OOO,-
600 Of money, which was given to them
without u days labor ~ mn equivalent
for IL, This money they loan to the peo-
pie ut high rates Of interest, payable
cvcry three months. They usc this
money to prop up great corporations,
defraul labor, control elections, bribe
legislation, subsidizc the press, and rob
! the people.
The Democratic party proposcs to let
| these bankers keep tlnir money and con-
| tinuc their schemes to plumber the lco-
ple.
| The Grccn1mckcrs would wrcst this
power from tho bankers at once. On
another point the Grecnback platform
differs front tho other two, and that is in
reference to tho payment Of tho public
debt. Tho old parties want tho debt
refunded into bonds bearing 81 per cont
interest that cannot be paid, thus max
ing the toilcrs work and sweat for gcn-
crations to pay tho interest. On tho
other hand, the Grcenlack platform de-
mands the payment Of the bonds us fast
as they become due, and points ont the
way to do this.
How any working man, any farmer or
mechanic should hesitate ono moment
in deciding which Of these platforms to
support and what candidates to vote
for, can only bc explained on the ground
that tho majority of tho voters do not
understand tho question. If this tinam-
cial question was thoroughly understood
by tho voters Of this country, Weaver
and Chambers would be elected by a
| majority of nine TO onc.'
Tho foregoing conclusively shows that
| neither your party nor yo"rsc!f have "ac-
ccptcd as much Of our creed rs is war
rantcd by due rcgnrl to common sense
! and common houcs,y.' We believe that
it is self-cvidcnt that a liberal volume
Of currency, largely composed of paper,
is absolutely essential 10 tho develop
ment of the great resources of our cou,i-
try, by cfccting an easy exchange and
equitable distribution of tho fruits of
abOr. We believe that it is u common
sense proposition to say that it is safer
to cntrust the control of tho volume Of
the Issue of paper money to the gorcrn-
mcn', (Which We demand shall be of the
people, by the people and for the pcoplc)
rather than to corporate or privileged
institutions, whether they be National,
State, or any other kind of Banks. We
90 further; wo believe that "comnion
honesty demands that the people,
through their Government, assume and
maintain entire control over the issuing
of all currency; that they may have u
stable medium Of exchange, as free from
fluctuations, and the control of the
''moncy power" us now constituted, as
possible. LII our position, in favor Of
treasury notes, instead of bank notes,
VIC are intrcnchcd behind the opinions
Of many tinancicrs and patriotic states
men, from some of whom feel justified
i'll quoting u few extracts. Plato said:
Currency should be that whicl, is
most valuable to Il State, and Of no val
uc to any other country