The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-12-29
THE CARLISLE PLAN.

To the Editor OF the tntel1gencef:
Having ~endeavored, in your last
issue, to show hat the pending prop
osition to establish a new national
banking system is in opposition to the
settled policy aud principles Of the
democratic party, now come naturally
to the consideration of the details of the
s'plan."
But let ME premise, that nc matter
how apathetic at times the people, the
source of all power, may become, in
the end they a be trusted.
Ignorance, a want of attention, even
corruption, may enter into party on
ventions or elections, yet, when once
informed and thoroughly aroused, the
masses of the people may safely be
trusted to right temporary wrongs and
to correct mistaken policies.
The two sources of danger is ig-
norance or corruption on the part of
leaders, influenced by the wealthy
classes, who are ever present at the
federal capitol, asking for special
favors; or, indifference or like influ-
ence on the part of the press, which,
in u country, very largely moulds and
controls public opinion. And did the
same spirit today animate the demo-
cratic leaders and the democratic press,
as o whole, as guided them in the days
of Jackson, the principles Of democracy
would be safe, and the rights of the
people secure. But if we read the
debates In congress, and the message
Of the president, and cabinet officers,
in reference TO this matter, we would
be led to believe that they are In WASH
ington for the sole purpose OF legislating
for the benefit of the bankers, and that
the people at large were a herd of
common cattle, unworthy of their care
and attention.
I. We were told by Mr.. Cleveland that
our whole trouble arose from the pur.
chasing clause of the Sherman act, and
that from its repeal all blessings were
to flow. At his dictalion, and by his
coercion, it was repealed, and the
country placed upon a gold standard.
The troubles were not cured, but were
multiplied; for the very same forces
that forced this repeal Internationally,
and The destruction of silver, COM
menced a new assault by attacking The
green-back circulation, and determined
to destroy 1t. Never before had green
backs, in great quantities, been pre-
sented for redemption.
Why is it just now they are pre-
sented for redemrtionP
Instead of meeting thin assault, made
for q purpose, in a heroic manner by
chair norrnAnt ~ The lar ahorro,
in silver, Mr.. Cleveland and Mr..
Carlisle complacently yielded and
became parties in the crime TO destroy
the gIeen-back circulation by their
payment in gold. As a relief. so
called, this new national banking
system is proposed; and notwithstand-
ing the fact that both the president
and secretary In the past have shown
themselves false prophets, let this new
recommendation be carefully exam
ined, as its Importance deserves, solely
upon its merits.
First, the measure Is upwise, and
would be destructive to the commercial
and agricultural interests of the
country, and, in fact, to all its material
prosperity, unless L the banks them
selves, for the following reason:
The requirement Of a deposit of thirty
per cent of the capital in the specified
greenbacks o r treasury notes, and
authorizing the issue of seventy
per cent in treasury notes, it will be
found, OF calculation, would authorize
at the outside, something under eight
hundred thousand dollars in national
bank notes. II VIC concede that the
-'plan" proposed, as a banking system.
would be successful and acceptable to
greater part or entire amount of the
legal tender issue, now used as money,
would be taken up for deposit as the
basis of circulation. or course it would
be withdrawn from circulation, aud the
currency reduced to that extent. But
this would not be the greatest evil,
since it might be said its place was 10
be supplied by national bank notes
but the over Swallowing evil would be
this, as the necessary result: the legal
tenders would be withdrawn; the new
national bank notes are not to be legal
tenders; silver, besides not being
coined, except to an insignificant
amount, is not a legal tender, except
for small amounts. Therefore, the
result of Mr.. Carlisle's plan is to clinch
the movement and the iniquitous con-
spiraoy, in which the president is
either a party or o dupe, commenced
by the unconditional repeal of the
Sherman law, Of making every debt
contracted and owed IN the United
States payable in gold. For under his
proposed plan there is left absolutely
no money in circulation that is II legal
tender Except for small amounts)
EXCEPT GOLD!
When we contemplate the bankrupt
cy and the hardships thus proposed TO
DO fastened upon the American people,
by the destruction of every species of
money that has u sembiaEce of legal
tender quality, except gold, and to hand
over the ioiling millions of American
free men to a SINGLE standard, and to
the exactions OF n gigantic monied
msnor oily, it is hard indeed to write
with moderation, either of the measure
itself, or Of those representatives who
propose TO give to il their sanHfIoH