People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-06-23
CORRESPONDENCE.
WHAT HAVE WE GAINED?
An Interesting Communication from
Hon. I. III. Hand.

What have we gained IN regard to
the restoration of silver to equality
or parity with gold by change Of
administrations Harrison and Eos
ter both claimed to be favorable to
the use of silver as money, but paid
out gold and ignored silver. Mr..
Cleveland and Mr.. Carlisle are doing
practically the same thing.
What is the difference to the peo-
pie whether they are oppressed and
robbed by Republican or a Demo
cratic administration The differ
ence is "'twixt tweedledum and
tweedledee."
If silver was demonetized because
there was no more of it and it was
three per cent higher than gold, by
Republican administration, for the
purpose of robbing you, and a
Democratic administration continues
the robbing, what have you gained
except a little experience?
You know that the contraction of
the currency, by stopping the coin
age and depriving silver Of its legal
tender quality in 1873 and 1874 has
resulted in a constant decline In the
price of products of industry. You
also know that those acts of Con-
gress were passed by fraud. In fact,
does not the whole world know it
wherever the English language is
spoken? The stencil of the fraud
had become SO disgustingly notorious
ia 1876 that an effort was made in
the House of Representatives to re-
store free coinage-168 voting for it
and So against it. Election troubles
prevented the Senate from consid-
ering the bill. In 1877 the House
passed a similar bill-164 for it and
"a against it. This vote proves to
you that it was not a partisan meas
ure. The act Of 1878 restored linn
tied coinage, but did not restore its
legal tender quality@ In 1885, Mr..
Cleveland, being president then as
now, was afraid that the limited
coinage of four million, five hundred
ounces of silver coinage monthly
would ''food the country with silver
dollars" He was opposed to free
ooninage then and is opposed to it
now. Later on, through his infu-
ence, an effort was made to reduce
the limited coinage-84 votes being
for it and POI against it. A motion
was then made to restore free coin
age, which was lost in the House by
SO votes. In 1890 an effort was
again made favorable to free coinage.
The Senate added a free coinage
amendment to a bullion House bill.
The House refused to concur in the
amendment, and necessitated a con-
ference, which resulted in the adop-
ton of a compromise, which is known
as the Sherman bill Of 1890, under
which the government is compelled
to purchase 100000 ounces of sill
yer bullion monthly and issue silver
certificates in payment for it. In
order to make this law odious in the
sight of the people the Republicans
paid out gold for those silver GER
tifcates. Cleveland and Carlisle are
dong the same. 1t is fight by the
conspirators against free coinage.
What have we gained by the de-
feat of the Republicans? Only lu-
crative offices for some of the par
tisans, with a chance at the spoils.
Is this the reform? Is this the
relief that was promised to the peo-
pie? Would you Democrats have
voted for Mr.. Cleveland if you had
believed that he would pursue the
Harrison policy? Have you not
been deceived by the partlsans?
will you still follow gold-bugs and
expect relief? We were promised
free coinage in 1891, but Demo
cratic House with majority of ia
refused to pass it.
Mr.. Cleveland says that he will
call an extra session of Congress not
earlier than the 1st of September
nor later than the 10Th.
The silver purchase bill must be
repealed.
Why do the gold-bug want the
Sherman law repealed 1t COM
pells the government to issue silver
certificates, which increases the
amount of currency a little and
keeps alive the hope that silver will
again be restored as money.
The clamor for free coinage was
SO persistent burning the Last year of
Mr.. Harrison's administration that
some expedient for Fostponement
was necessary to quiet the people
temporarily, SO the Republicans
asked for an international money
committee. This was only an expe-
dent to quiet the clamors of the
people and postpone action on the
part of Congress.
Mr.. Cleveland is hiding under
Harrlson's pretext.
What have we gained on this
point? Nothing = absolutely moth
ing. They-that is, the gold bugs
of both the parties-are determined
to beat the people out of free coin
age at any cost. Bribery and fraud
destroyed it, and they will never
consent to its restoration.