The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-05-13
Mr., SMITHS CHANGE.
OyLYAFEW YEIRS AGO lie FAVOR
ED FREE COINAGE.
With "a $4,000 Fee in His Pocket 1t L. Not
TO he Expected That He
Sees Amy Distress.

perS here off aud on for two or three weeks,
that Mr.. Cleveland was about TO d"tali
certain uf his officials for educational Ilr-
poses They were to be assigned 10 cuty IN
the supposed less enlightened sections OF the
comtry-the south ana west-anI "'ere 10
align the democracy upon the side OF
Sound money ana safe cuTrcncy, accord
] ing to Mr.. Cleveland, but when MS mdls-
Greet admirer, Secretary Morton. with
much more candor and frInki"ss, o"ilS
gold monometall,sm,' ana the gold ba-
sis" IT. the performance of his necessary
official function Secretary Hoke Smith is
now in Georgia ana appears 10 have opened
his campaign IN an interview telrgraphed
a day or two ago from Macon. of course he
is opposed TO the free coinage of silver
and says in plain words. had ne eN-
pressed himself TO the c5ntr I-y Mir. leVe-
land--tD pIrapEra,e a remark 81 eA-Speiker
Crisy in reference to the Mr.. Morton above
referred to-would most ,ertainly dismiss
him from his cabinet. This pieces OF exec
utive furniture belongs exclusively . the
occupant of the white mouse; he carries the
hoy is responsible for the occupants ana
he controls their output
An Ohio friend, cOntrovcrting one # the
arguments OF Mr.. CieN Glands chief support
or in the senate, once said: But why So TO
tie statutes when you always have Mr.
Sherman with you to contradict Mr.. Sher-
man." an observation to which there seem
"a Ia be 10 pertinent fejonder since the
ipse diNit of the ohio senator had appeared
To carry weight. no matter upon what side
of the silver question he happened TO be at
the time
Now, it is not TO be supposed that Mr.
Smith has been on as many sides of the sill
yer question as John Sherman, but he has
advocated the two sides directly opposite
each other. even if he has not covered all
the ground between. 4 few years ago-less
sg.-.. a. Ntrssa
dent editor OF a free newspaper, responsi-
bic To nobody following without let or him
drancc the dictates of his own judgment
hampe~ed 10y no Office and restrained by no
MASTER he took occasion in his own news
paper. over his own name. To suggest "a
number of measures of proposed reform
around which, am quoting his precise
language-.an might gather ana out of
them obtain the very best plan for the re-
lief of the people that il was possible TO
pass SO precise and methodical was Mr.
Smith. the editor and democrat. That ne
numbered the planks of his platform as ne
went along. and here they are. just as he
printed them i'm his own paper ana over
his own signature:
For Free Coinage.
Il Currency with non perishable agricul-
tural products as "A basis. the issue to be
limited to only a part of the crop. but not
10 be called ia ut the end OF twelve months
on the contrary to remain in circulation
until a second crop is harvested and until
portion OF the second crop may be- subsiitut-
ed Tor the first, thereby making i; possible
to keep the money in constant circulation
and To prevent a yearly forced contraction
-. THE FREE COINAGE OF SILVER.
=. The issue Of treasury notes by which
the government bonds might be redeemed.
and instead OF the mterest-bearinS bonds,
a legal tender currency substituted.
4 Graded income tax bN which the
| large fortunes accumulated i'm the hands
Of the few might be made TO bear their por-
| ton Of the expense of government
-. \ reduction Of the tariff generally and
) especially on inc neccssiiIivs OF life.
Here we have a platform for the demo-
Gratis of Georgia which includes: Govern
nent currency ON deposit of agricultural
products-a part of the subtreasury plan;
free silver coinage; payment Of the bonded
debt of the United states in legal tender
sretnbacks: an income tax. and a reduced
tariff. So convinced was Editor Smith of
the strength Of these declarations that he
told fIiend it seemed to him that "aii
who favored any Of these lines of action
ought 10 bc united under promise to adopt
from the whole that measure of relief
which could most properly be passed. and
most effectually accomplish the good de-
sired
So assured was he OF the soundness OF
these several doctrines that. while disavow-
ing the right TO represent General Gordon
then candidate for the United States sen
atr-he believed him TO Doe on the same
line and in entire accord with himself.
WHY not confront Secretary Smith with
Editor SMITH Secretary Smith. in oppos-
ing the free coinage Of silver. attacks Edi-
tor Smiths second plank. which favors
1.-The free coinage of silver" in just those
FIVE words. Let him down Editor smith in
q fair fight with premise ana CONCLUSION. be
for. he undertakes to lead Georgia demo
Gratis away from the paths along which
hey were guided 10y Editor Smith-but il IS
reasonably certain that he will utterly g
more the then Editor Smith i'm this cam
paieu.
once there was man who was a country
postmaster for fifty years Being asked
by a friend as the half century was draw
Ing 80 "A close. how he managed to hold Of
flee during 81 many changes of admins
tra;ion his reply was that il was a mighty
smart administration that could change oft
snor than he could. This somewhat remark
able faculty was. no doubt. conducive to
long continued Office holding. but il un-
doubtedly affected the value of any opln-
ions our postmaster might EXPRESS on the
policy OF the administration Tor me tilne
being. his advocacy Of the gold standard-to
suppose a Casc-under one administration
beinu somewhat handicapped and discount
ed by his enthusiastic support of free sill
vcr-again To suppose caSe-Undcr another
and former administration.
After all. however. the question Is not
whether Secretary Smiths present opinions
ARE directly opposed n those Of that good
man. Editor smith whom we all knew ana
admired. hut whether they are sound con
illusions from admitted or proven facts.
An Erroneous Classification.
The secretary says that the people are di-
vided into ''thrce classes-gol monomrtal-
lists silver monometallists ana bimetal-
lists and that THE issue is FOR against
silver monomct allism." There Is not the
slightest foundation for either of these
statements and Mr.. Smith wisely does not
| attempt 10 prove them. even 10 the estent of
giving a definition of gold monometallism,
silver mOnometaliiSm or bimeta'iism, 50
/ thar The reader may draw his own conciu-
sions.
These conditions exist I'm each country
Separately without any regard Ia any other
country. and are defined solely Icy inc local
law Of coinage and legal trnder. vi the
mtutS 81 any country arc open 10 the Uniim-
Itel and unrestricted coiuagc of gold and
silver bUllion into fun legal tender money.
without eXception-Wheiher or rot there Is
a charge To cover cost of minta@c does not
matter. provided il covers both metals
/ alike-that is himctallic country: was
/ the United States from the beginning M to
y the passage Of the act of February -. 1873.
I II the mints OF country are 50 open to
! the coinage Of gold. while such coinage is
I ionic b9f