The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-07-09
WRIGHT IN WALKER.
THE FLOYD GENTLEMAN SPEAKS TO
POPULISTS AND DEMOCRATS.
Finance His Leading Theme-He Lays Down
His Platform, and 1t 10 Said That no
VIII be an Independent Candidate.

here today on the issues of the day at the
invitation of the populist party of Walker
county. Some of Mr.. Wrights intimate
friends say he will be an independent can
didate for congress from this district, and
in this light his address today might be
considered the first gun Of his cam
paisn, and is. therefore, Of especial inter-
est Right here it might be stated that
the Walker county democratic executive
committee met here today and set July
14th as the day for the purpose of selecting
delegates to the congressional convention.
Chairman j. p. Shuttuck says Judge Mad
doX will undoubtedly get Walkers vote
and that Everett has no showing here.
Mr.. Wright says he is not q candidate,
Sut he is certainly considering the requests
that have been made him to run. II he
does make the race. it will at least be in
teresting and picturesque, as he is a.
graceful orator and strong stump speaker.
Ills address today was made before an au-
dence of from five to seven
hundred. The democrats say nearly half of
the crowd were democrats. The popuists
declare that only thirty democrats were
present. However, there was good sprink-
ling of prominent democrats and all listened
to the address with marked attention.
1t was an unusual speech, in that it ap-
pealed to both parties to get together; to
forget party lines and work for relief. 1T
is no matter how they get it," said Mr..
Wright, "all are suffering" and he ad-
dressed himself to both parties: "All are
brothers and Jeffersonan democrats, and
If they can get together it will be better
for ALL" He said he was an independent.
The financial question was MIR. Wrlghts
main subject, and he handled it for one
hour and half.
He said that since the war the money of
the country has been to a large extent
greenbacks. national bank notes, including
gold notes and fractional currency. In 1865
the circulation was 500 100000. Eleven
years later General Logan declared that
contraction had reduced the amount to
S1i2. 100000.
THAI part of the currency known az ma
tional bank notes will necessarily soon dis
appear with the payment of the public
debt. All agree that some financial system
must be devised to take the place Of the
fast expiring national banking system.
Three Different Plans.
''Ihere are three plans open TO discussion
said Mr.. Wright. i. The republican idea,
which l believe to be also the idea of the
eastern democrats, supported by Mr.. Cleve
land, is the perpetuation of our present
banking system by increase of the
tional bonded Indebtedness OF the country,
or a system of state banks under the control
of the national government, which would
amount practically to the old national bank
ing system. This is clearly demonstrated,
first, by the recent bond issue: second, by
the refusal Internationally to repeal the
state bank tax. and third by the practical
demo .etization of silver. which if persisted
in will result in the absolute necessity for
81, 900, 900 gold bond Issue. VIII this idea
do? 1t means. first. the perpetuation and
increase of the public debt; second, a bank
ing monopoly in the hands of the few, which
has resulted in the past twenty-five years
in the concentration Of more than one-half
of the wealth Of the country in the hands
of l per cent of her population, which has
enriched the north and east at the expense
of the south and west.
THE second idea is that of the southern
element of the democratic party, with very
2ttie support from other sections of the
for the unconditional repeal of
the state bank tax. which leaves the ques
ton of the establishment of state banks en-
tirely to each state 10 determine for itself.
Il have in my hand" said Mr.. Wright,
1.-THE campaign textbook of the democratic
party for the presidential election Cf 1892
prepared by the authority of the national
executive committee of which
Don NJ Dickinson. Calvin S. Brlce, A. u.
and my friend, Clark Howell Jr
are members. In that book, in which these
speak for the Democratic
party. they declare emphatically for the I'M
conditional repeal of the state bank tax
and declare that the question will be left
entirely for each state to determine for it
self The bin for unconditional repeal in
spite of this solemn pledge In the
platform and reiterated by the ma
tionaI executive committee, has just
been defeated in congress
overwhelmingly democratic, with no word
of protest from the president who was
elected upon the solemn pledge of uncond-
tional repeal. am in favor of the uncon-
Gitioual repeal of tho ".a+a hank tax. |
believe it would have brought Immediate re-
lief to the country. l oppose the conditional
repeal of the state bank tax because it
means a continue ton of our national bank
ing system.
Immediate Relief Demanded.
"In the light of recent events it is hope
less to expect from the so-called democratic
party unconditional repeal. What then?
Shall we still adhere to this measure? Sup
pose, in the election this fall. every demo-
cratic congressman from the south is elect
ed pledged to the repeal. 1t is absolutely
certain that democrats who may be elected
TO the next congress from the north and
east will be opposed to unconditional repeal
The same scenes will be enacted in the next
congress as in this one. The people must
have immediate relief 1t is absolutely de-
manded
what then, Is to be done? find it In the
Arst clause of the first demand of the plat
form of the populist party. We demand a
national currency, safe, sound and flexible,
issued by the general Government only, a
full legal tender for all debts, public and
private and that without the use OF banking
corporations.
..This is Jeffersonian democracy, pure and
simDle The democrat who refuses to en-
torse it is a traitor to the principles of his
party If government bond, based upon
the faith of the government alone Is a good
security for debt, why is its promise to pay
without interest in small denominations, di-
rectlv to the common people who can only
obtain and hold such promises. worthless?
u. The government has the power to issue
such notes.
80. No interest to be paid upon these notes
70 a favored few. Do you know that the
government has paid, since 1862 in interest
alone more than 81, 900 100000 more than the
entire public Indebtedness amounted to? In
round sums this government has paid $4,000,
600 900 in interest to the bOndholders upon
less than 81, 000 900, 600 of bonds.
49, 1t does not benefit a class. 1t carries