The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1894-09-21
THE USUAL DECEPTION.

the following w asnlnStOn dlspatcn
to the Times Democrat
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10-The Democra-
tic congressional committee had an inter
esting letter to-day from Texas, show
ing how the Democrats of the Lone Star
Statemeet and overcome the arguments
and wiles of their opponents, the Popu-
lists. 1t appears that the Democrats
had been considerably embarrassed by
the attacks which the POpulists have
been making on the Democratic record
on the monetary question. This is a
vital issue in Texas, and the Populists
have been losing no opportunity to eX-
plain to the people what little regard
the Democratic party has for bimetall
ism. They have reinforced their argu-
ments by calling attention to the fact
that there were no silver dollars in cir
culation in Texas of the date of 1894,
and they stated that there had not been
any silver dollars coined by the Demo
cratic administration since the repeal of
the silver purchasing clause of the Sher-
man act. This kind of worried warfare
worried the Democrats not little until
Mr.. VIM. L. Arminstead, of jefferson,
the chairman of the Democratic county
committee, hit upon a plan to circum-
vent the enemy. He sent $500 to the
Mint at New Orleans with the request
that that number of silver dollars of the
present year should be returned to him.
His order was filled, and the 500 silver
dollars were distributed around among
the Democratic leaders of that and the
adjoining counties, Mr.. Armistead, of
course, being reimbursed for his outlay.
Armed with these coins the Democrats
circulated among the Populists and
among those who had, attended the Po-
pulistic meetings and casually requested
the exchange of dollar bill for a silver
dollar. This requisite being gladly
complied with, the Democrat would
suggest that the date of the coin should
be noted. The effect was instantaneous
and the news spread rapidly that the
Democratic administration was still
coming silver dollars.
This trick was played in Ala
bama or at least was attempted and
soon exploded, and we do not be-
lieve that the POpulists of Texas
were deceived by it to the extent
claimed. We publish below direct
authentic evidence produced by the
Democratic party with the view of
discrediting a report that it (the
Democratic party was friendly to
silver. The national Democratic
party is opposed to silver under
any circumstances, and Mr.. Car
lille is very careful to establish the
fact. Read carefully the following
correspondence
Campaign Thunder Exploded.
Special 10 The Times-Democrat
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.-Secretary
Carlisle has addressed letter to Con-
gresham Heard, of Missouri, upon the
subject of the coinage of silver dollars
since the passage of the bill repeating
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
act. Republican newspapers have been
attempting to make party capital out Of
the fact that such coinage is still being
continued by the Treasury Department
and they have charged that this was be-
ing done purely for campaign purposes
in order to convince the Populists and
other silver people that the administra-
ton is still friendly to the white metal.
They have apparently forgotten that,
while the clause of the so-called Sher-
man act which provided for the purchase
of silver bullion has been repealed, the
other sections of shat act are still in
force. The Secretary's letter is Us fol-
lows:
Treasury Department,
Office of the Secretary,
Washington, Sept. 10, 1894
Hon. John 7. Heard, House Of Representatives;
DEAR SIR-Referring to our personal
interview this morning, I'have the honor
to say that the minis at New Orleans,
Philadelphia and San Francisco are en-
geged in coming standard silver dollars
from the bullion purchased under the
act of July IA, 1890: commonly known
as the Sherman law. During the month
of July S430, 600 were coined, and dur
ing the month of August s72S, 600.
About the same amount will be coined
during the present month tSeptember),
and thereafter such amOut will be COIN
ed as the Secretary may consider advis-
able under the circumstances.
The third section of the act of July
IA, 1890, provided that the Secretary of
the Treasury should coin each month in
to standard dollars 1000, 600 ounces oil
the silver bullion purchased under the
provisions of that act until the LIST day
of July. 1891, and thereafter he should
coin of the silver bullion purchased I'M
der the provisions of the act as much as
might be necessary to provide for the
redemption of the treasury notes issued
in payment for the bullion, and that any
gain or seigniorage arising from such
coinage should be accounted for and paid
into the treasury. The coinage now GO
ing on is done under the authority con-
ferred by this section of the law. and
the seigniorage derived from it be paid
into the public treasury, as required by