The Opelousas courier., 1894-04-21
Boatner OH the Money Question.

Bastrop Appeal.
Hon. Charles j. Boatner never lodges
nor %equivocates when his opinion and
position on a public measure are asked
for. Recently a prominent citizen OF
Louisiana requested Mr.. BOatner to de-
fine his position on the financial prob
lem and to give his views on that plank
in the Chicago platform relating to the
ten Der cent tax on State Banks circu-
lation. Boatner Immediately complied,
and did so in such vigorous and uneqni-
vocal terms that we are constrained to
publish what he says, although he never
intended that his manly words should
find their way into the public prints.
Here are his emphatic and democratic
views given in language not capable OF
but one construction-loyalty to the
platform Of his party:
my position on the silver question was taken
after deliberate and thorough investigation. 1t
Is the Democratic position as l understood 1t
and I shall adhere to it as long as / retain my
present convictions and opinion on the subject.
II I should decide to change them l shall GER
tainly let the people know it before l ask their
votes on the supposition that they remain the
same.
under their charters, to issue currency as one
of the most important questions now before
the people. 1t Is perfectly clear that under the
present duIllulStIdulOu anu q " JOuS uS tIc
Cleveland Democrats and Sherman Republi-
cans control the policy Of the Government, we
will have q gold standard of values and a con
slant contraction of our circulation. State
bank circulation is the only possible means of
relieving the present situation. II the banks
in Louisiana, for instance. were allowed to
issue circulation secured by State and city
bonds, it would be unnecessary to go to New
York for financial assistance - In fact, the
banks of the city of New Orleans could easily
furnish an ample supply OF money for Louisi-
INK NIicoicoinpi and FTnYaa TaprVInp into of
feet this plank of the Democratic platform
would at once destroy the commanding in
fuence which the capitalists of New York now
possess. They might hoard their bank re-
serves, to their hearts content, without inflict-
ing any serious damage on the South and West.
ii the latter could utilize their assets and cred,
its In issuing circulation"
Had every Democrat iD the present
Congress taken the same view of the
-party's platform promises there would
have been no unconditional repeal of
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
lished in this country no single gold
standard, nor would there have arisen
the excuse for the issuance of interest
hearing bonds. Had every, Democrat
in Congress taken the same sound and
correct position that Mr.. Boatner took
on the party's platform there would not
to-day exist the dissatisfaction and the
disgust, which do exist among the peo-
pie, on account of the party's palpable
inability to redeem its pledges and car
ry out it's promises. Mr.. Boatner's posi-
ton now is what it was when he went
before the people of this District asking
their support, and it has been the same
throughout all of the long and disgust
ing struggle between his party in Con-
gress and the President of the United
States. In that struggle it is not neces-
sary to remark that Mr.. Boatner has
been boldly opposing the policy Of those
whom he aptly denominates "Cleveland
Democrats and Sherman Republicans"
"a gang whose purpose it is to estab-
lish a gold standard and perpetuate it
in order that the circulation of money
may be at the beck and call of those
who are in possession of vast quantities
of gold which they wish to convert into
bonds issued on the faith of the govern
ment. Nor ia it necessary to say that
10 thai opposition Mr. Boatner has been
the friend of the masses who have
placed their interests in his hands. No
Congressman has been so faithful to
the people. No Congressman has made
q harder fight for the redemption of the
platform pledges; and he is the only
one of the Louisiana delegation who
has not either WINGED before the threats
of the President or else abandoned the
platform in the greedy anticipation of
official promotion.