The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-03-02
Joined to His Idols.

| Our neighbor editor of the Alex
andria Town Talk has been cater
ing so long to the Populistic idea
of "free and unlimited coinage"
that he almost believes in TIE fall
lacy, and seems to think that be-
cause it happens to be popular it
is bound to be right It is a pity
that our friend should take such a
narrow view of so important
matter, and persistently misrepre-
sent those of his Democratic breth-
rem who hold opposite to himself,
by calling them gold bugs, cuckoos,
demonetizers, traitors, etc., when
he knows they want sound money,
and plenty of it, properly secured
by safeguards, 80 the peace and
prosperity of the country can be
assured, and financial panics rend-
cred impossible.
The Democratic leaders started
into this fight ten years ago, and
have steadily worked for its ac-
complishment, and gained ground
in spite of SANDER and opposition
from the weathercocks who have
been turned aside by popular clam
or from the issue to which this adj
ministration is committed. They
have had to work not only against
political enemies, but also against
the weakened trimmers of their
own party, who are more concerned
about riding upon a brief wave of
popularity than they are about
carrying out pledges of the party.
This matter of misconception and
misrepresentation has gone so far
that Mr.. Carlisle has lately felt call
ed upon to deny the allegation of
inconsistency on his part, and to |
state his position in he matter. He
says:
/ have never made speech or written |
a line in favor of the free coinage OF sill |
yer, nor have ever been in favor of the |
total destruction of silver as money |
metal. / have always believed in as large |
a use OF silver in our monetary system as |
was consistent with preservation of a
sound currency and the maintenance of /
the public credit. My opinion is that
whenever the coinage value of a metal,
whether it be gold or silver, is greater
than the intrinsic or commercial value of |
the bullion contained in it, the coinage
OF that metal, If it is coined at all, should
be on government account only. This is
the only way in which the coinage of the
deprecated metal can be retained within
safe limits, so as to maintain equality in
the purchasing power OF the two kinds OF
coin. In my opinion, it is not within the
power OF the United States. or any other
under existing conditions, to
establish and maintain any permanent
ratio between gold aud silver, and an at
tempt to do 90 would Immediately drive
the coins of one or the other metals out
Of circulation. II silver should be nm
by the coinage laws, it would
cease to circulate, as it did during the
great part OF the time prior to 1873, and
Il gold should be undervalued it would
cease to circulate. This has been the
uniform experience in the past, and there
Is no reason to suppose that it would not
be the experience in the future.
Very truly yours, g. CARLISLE.
This is the position of the brain
est and most patriotic men Of
America, without regard to politics,
and we expect to see their policy
succeed, just as Mr.. Cleveland did
q few years ago, in another policy
in which we believe Town Talk OPP
posed him, but lived to take it all
oorD