Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-29
PENNsYlvANIA PoPULIsrs

Populism is not confined to the west
nor 20 the south, nor is il even confined
TO the so-called Populists. There is al
most as much popuIism in the RepUbE
can party In Pennsylvania as in all the
west and south combined. The Repub-
lican party Of that State In two success
sivs state conventions declares itself to
be in favor OF an increase of the
money circulation to forty dollars
head. The only difference between this
and The Popblist platform is the slight
one between forty and fifty dollars
head. the latter being what the Popu-
lists demand. The Pennsylvania Re-
publicans know what they want; they
come out openly and demand more
money. They are in all respects just
like the Populists, against whom the
Republican press aud party has been
saying so many unkind things.
when Republican State Con-
vention, says she Springfield
Republic, " in so old and conservative a
Commonwealth as Pennsylvania pro-
nounces in favor OF an increase OF the
money circulation to $40 per capita, we
submit that Eastern filings at PopuIistic
ignorance and Communism Ia Kansas,
and Republican filings at Democratic
financial heresy bad better come to an
end. This is not a haphazard declara-
ton in the Pennsylvania platform, sur
rBptitlously worked of upon the con-
vention at an unguardsd moment. 1t
was in the platform last year, and had
been a subject Of wide notice. 1t was
therefore reafsrmed deliberately and in
full knowledge Of the nature Of the de-
msnd"
Going on 20 explain the positions Of
the Populists and tho Republicans on
the money question, and pointing out
the facI that they are standing on plat
forms almost idsntieallY alike, the
Republic says;
The present per capita monetary circu'
lation Of the United States is a fraction
above S25 What the Republican party of
the great State of Pennsylvania cOnse-
ouently demands is an increase Of the
money value by $40 per capita, or over
a. 1000, 600 HOW is IL % be thus IN
creasedl Something is said IN another
part of the platform about letting national
banks issue notes 10 the par value OF
bonds. But II every Government bond IN
the country were so employed, the
money would not begin TO be as
large as the Pennsylvania Repub-
hcans demand. Something is said, again,
about uaing silver on a parIy with goid IN
some IN ie haite way, But the Government
might utilize as money every ounce Of sill
YER produced in tho United States year
after year without being able % satisfy
this Pennsylvania demand in the next
quarter Of a century.
What the PENNSYLVANIA Repu blicans must
want then, is q big issue Of greeubacks
along with q lot Of almost equally nat sill
yer. This puts them st once on the Omaha
POpulist platform, which demanded so
per capita surely the Pennsyl-
vania Republicans would not object
TO the extra 500, 20 be got BY free silver
coinage and a greenback issue. That part
of the Populist platform has generally and
rightly been regarded as the crazlest part.
But here is the Republican organization m
the next largest and richest State Of the
Union, and supposed 70 be one OF the
soundsst and safest Of all on property
rights and money, close up 10 the Western
and Southern POpulists in the wlldness
and incoherence Of its demands. Let Us
say no more about Kansas and Alabama.