The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-03-22
FINANCE ISSUE FIRST.
SHORT BUT RINGING ADDRESS
TO THE PEOPLE,.
Popuiists For Free Coinage, But Not to
Exclusion Of the Demand That the Gov
eminent Shall Issue Every Dollar and
Make 1t Legal Tender.
The Committee Speaks.

The gathering OF POpullSt editors
in annual conclave, and meeting of the
National Committee at the same time
are events of interest to our people.
The attendance on both was quite as
great as the most sanguine had right
to expect. For a quorum of the Ma
tional Committee to assemble at this
time is of itself an evidence Of work
that is going to he performed and of a
determination to stay with it until it
is performed.
For two days land nights, too, We
might say did the sessions continue,
all of them behind closed doors, and
for about the first time did the press
fail to gain access to proceedings or
report anything from within until
the address was completed and given
out. Nothing further need be said in
evidence of the utmost harmony which
prevailed from first to last. Sugges-
tions from some source had gotten atloat
to the effect that because the old parties
had forced the attention of the people
upon the financial issue, therefore
would the stress laid upon that ques-
ton by the Populists be heraldel as
IcCcOuuCc AIOLl ObucI uc1uiIIuS CoA-
tanned in the Omaha platform. There
was but one sentiment on that ques-
ton, however, and when the old par
ties manifest craze to take up and
settle any of them after the style usu
ally adopted by the "choas- members"
they will find the Populists right on
hand.
The general sentiment of the meet
ing is voiced in the following short but
comprehensive address to the people:
The union of the leaders of the old
parties under Grover Cleveland and
John Sherman have forced down the
the single gold standard, thereby en-
hanclhg the purchasing power of
money and depreciating the price of
all the products of labor as we'll as the
earnings of wage workers. The power
acquired by the campaign promises of
the Democratic and Republican par
sizes to restore silver to the place it oc-
cupied as a money metal previous to
the crime of 1873, has been used to
consummate that iniquity.
The tactics of deceiving the people
by sham issues, which have been so
successful in the past, will be en-
ployed to maintain the gold standard
and retire greenbacks. The British
policy of single gold standard system
of finance is contrary to every prin-
ciple of American independe nee.
therefore we are opposed to any inter
national conference with foreign ma
tons to regulate the financial policy
of this country, but favor a financial
system that is distinctly American.
The issue is made by the declaration
in the Omaha platform in favor of the
free coinage of gold and silver at the
ratio of Is to l, and the issuance by
the Government without the interven-
ton OF banks.
Other reforms demanded by the
Omaha platform are not less meritor-
ious because the old parties have
thrown Off the mask and made known
their purpose to enslave the people by
money contraction. A declaration in
favor Of the free and unlimited coinage
of both gold and silver at the ratio of
IL to l and the direct issue by the
Government of legal tender standard
paper money redeemable in metal and
of sufficient amount to meet the legiti-
mate demands of our growing popula-
ton and increase in business, and
which shall he sufficient to restore and
maintain stability and general prices,
would meet the issues presented by the
gold combination. The object of that
combination is the maintenance of the
gold standard adopted at the extra
session of Congress, the increase of the
bonded debt, the retirement of legal
tender money issued by the Govern
ment and the surrender to private cor
porations of the power and duty of the
Government to regulate the volume of
the circulating medium and maintain
its stability.
Botn the old parties will present the
tariff and other issues during the cam
paign, proving that they are in favor
of the policy of money contraction,
which by their united action they
have pursued for the last twenty years,
aud they will be for any and all issues
which they suppose will give them the
most votes, but when they secure the
power they will use it in the future as
they have done in the past. in the in
terest of the gold combination.
We denounce the issue Of bonds in
times of peace as an act of treason and
usurration unequalled in the history
of civilized government.
They propose to drown the outcries
of plundered people with sham
battle over the tariff so that the CAPT
talists, corporations, National Banks,
rings, trusts. wateled stock, the de-
monetization of silver and the oppres-
sion of the usures may be lost sight Of.
They propose to sacrifice our homes.
wives and children on the altar of
mammon-to destroy the multitude in
order to secure a corruption fund from
the millionaires.
Resolutions.
The following resolutions were also
adopted:
Whereas. The so-called Wilson bill fails
to provide sufficient revenue to- defray the
legitimate expenses of the Governme and
thereby creates u deficiency CT which the