The Louisiana populist., 1895-10-25
by discriminating against them by
law or by treaty.

5. Because we believe tho free coin
age of silver will increase the volume
OF our money, enhance the value OF
our property and diminish the burden
OF our debt-riddcn people.
8. Because we believe silver to be
one OF the materials from which con-
stitutional money can be made.
Z. Because we believe free coinage
will enhance the bullion value OF sill
yer, stimulate the mining industry of
silver and thereby provide remunera-
tive employment for thousands of idle
wage earners.
8. Because we are opposed to any
class OF barons having monopoly OF
ownership OF the material from which
our money is made. IL gold mono
metalism is to prevail, then owners OF
gold mines become sovereigns in
stead OF citizens.
9. Because we believe in the SOW
ereign power of this government to
create money out of any material, re-
gardless OF the intrinsic value of ma
terial used, and if one metal is to be
demonetized, we favor demonetizirg
all metals and substituting therefor a
paper money issued direct from the
government.
~. Because we believe that the
free coinage of silver will bring to us
closer commercial relations with Mex
leo, all the South American republics,
countries of the world.
IL. Because every nation that
uses silver for any purpose has to buy
the bullion from the United States or
Mexico, and we favor any policy that
enlarges upon the uses OF silver, be-
cause il enhances the value OF a
United States product.
II. Because we are opposed to any
restrictions upon the supreme power
of this nation to make its own money
from any material of its own selection.
These are some of the reasons why
we favor free coinage of silver. A
great majority of the Democrats of
Texas agree with US in many of the
reasons for our policy. But there is
another school Of Democrats in Texas
who pronounce these policies danger
Gus, ruinous, dishonest; who are clam
orous for an ''honest dollar" They
say there is but one material from
which an honest dollar can be made,
because:
]. There can be no honest money
without an intrinsic value as a base
?. Because no one nation can es-
tablish money for universal use.
3. Because our international mon
eyed obligations must be met and dis
charged by universal money, with
a universal intrinsic value, and gold
is the only money that embodies these
qualities.
4. That our credit can only be
maintained by gold money with which
to discharge our promises.
5. That free coinage of silver will
drive all the gold from the country,
and pu. us on a silver monometa!lic
basis.
6. That this nation can not, inde-
pendent OF International agreement,
enter upon free coinage OF silver.
My answer to the gold Democrats
first objection Is that money is the
creation OF law; it is necessarily
local, confined to the territorial limits
that creates it; that money is but the
of local nations to further
commerce, the liberty, the happiness,
Of its own immediate family, and
ceases to be money the moment it
passes beyond the immediate family.
1t may possess a value, but it is not
a money value; it is a commodity
value, such as would attach to a bill
Of exchange, an individual draft, or
an article OF merchandise ship
ped by one family to another. This
value is measured by solvency,
standing, ability to pay, and
the wants and uses of the commodity.
My answer to the second argument
is, no one nation ever undertook to
establish a money of universal use.
Money is the legitimate exercise of
it is not made for foreign
srs. it is made for home use, just as
statutory law is made for home regu-
ation. The municipal regulations of
nations is as inviolate as the municipal
regulation of family. No country has
3 right to dictate to us the material
Dr. the value OF our money. They may
contract with US for so many penny
weight OF gold or ounces of silver.
and to be OF certain fineness, and pub
ic honor compels us to live to the
just as they can contract
with us for so many head OF cattle of
certain weight or condition; but when
hey contract with us ior so many dol
ars. it means for such dollars as this |
sovereign nation shall declare to be
iollars.
TO the third argument l answer:
This nation has never contracted such |
obligations. We have
10 debt that is not lawfully payable !
n gold. silver or legal tender money.
There is no such thing as universal