The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-07-15
BEFORE AND AFTER.
What the Secretary of the Interior
Thought About Currency in 1890.

Thought About Currency In 1870.
The following letter. written by Hon.
Hoke Smith. proprietor of The Evening
Journal and secretary of the interior. ex-
plains itself 1t is taken from the files
of Smiths own paper. AS viii be seen.
the letter was written on the 18th of Sep
TENDER. 1890.
The Letter.
Atlanta, Ga, September 15.-1S9O.-Hon.
W. l.. Peek My Dear Sir: In The Atlanta
Constitution of yesterday you are credited
with having used in your Conyers speech
the following language:
Some of General Gordon's friends, Mr.
Hoke Smith and others. went to Colonel
Livingston and other ailiancemen. saying
| to them that Governor Gordon would SUD
port the subtreasury bill if certain condi-
tions were agreed to.
Colonel Livingston answered promptly
that he was sure that the alliance would
| agree to these conditions knowing that the
alliancemen deplored more than any one
else the governors defiant opposition Col
| onel Livingston vouched for the alliance
| agreeing to the terms proposed.
Colonel Smith and these other friends
of General Gordon pledged themselves that
/ ne Woulu accept the dSiSSiAASiAN-
| This statement. so far as it relates 20
myself, is at variance with the facts. and
can best correct It by giving you what
did occur SO far a. it Is applicable.
wished to talk with Colonel Livingston
about the Importance of perfect harmony
among democrats in Georgia. and he called
at my request. 1 began by urging the
necessity for preventing antagonisms from
| q
| called his attention to the rumor that
| the alliance nominees for congress would
not abide by the action of the democratic
| caucus in Washington, and to the i'm
portance of its immediate contradiction
! Colonel Livingston expressed no doubt
| about the fact that alliancemen from
| Georgia would act in Washington with
| the democratic organization. and our con-
yersation then changed to the sUbtreasury-
| l urged that it was unwise for alliances
men to make an Endorsement Of this meas
ure a prerequisite 10 their support OF
| democrats for office. l called his attention
| to the fact that there were many democrats
| inside and outside the alliance who were
heartily in favor of relief from the present
financial system, and who were thoroughly
in accord with the effort to increase TIE
circulating medium. but who could not
| approve the subtreasury Oil. If this sub
treasury men fought this branch OF money
| reform advocates, the latter would. ia
! self-defense, be forced into a fight against
| the subtreasury men. and thus those voters
| who were natural allies would be divided
so that nothing could be accomplished. I
| stated to Colonel Livingston that there
were many like myself. who could not
| say they were for the subtressury bill or
something better. for this Indicated tAat
| il was possible for them to support tbs
| subtreasury bill as it stood. ! urged that
| many believed the provision OF the bi!
| which required products TO be sold by the
| government. and the money received for
| the same cancelled at the end OF twelve
| months unless redemption had earlier taken
| place at the instance OF the depositors,
| necessitated a yearly contraction OF the
currency dependent in no sense upon the
| needs Of the public for money. and that
1 considered this forced yearly contraction
even more injurious 10 the masses than
| the present system.
| l mentioned a number of measures of
| proposed reform around which all might
| gather. and out Of them obtain the very
best pan Tor tha relief Of the people that
| 1t was possible to pass.
| 1. currency, Win NOA-peElSldDle aSElEIl-
| tural products as a basis, the issue to be
| limited to only a part of the crop. but
not TO be called in at the end Of twelve
months. On the contrary. to remain in
.circulation until a second crop is harvested.
| and until a portion OF the second crop may
be substituted for the first. thereby making
it possible to keep the money n constant
| circulation. and to prevent yearly forced
! contraction.
| >. THE FREE COINAGE OF SILVER.
! 3. The issue Of treasury notes by which
| the government bonds might be redeemed,
aud instead Of the Understanding bonds
| legal tender currency substituted.
| 1. A graded income tax by which the
large fortunes accumulated IN the hands
| of the few might be made to bear their
portion of the expense OF government.
:. reduction Of the tariff generally and
especially ON the necsssaries of life
also stated that l contemplated writing
an editorial on this line. Colonel Living
ston expressed himself very favorable 20
| the proposed editorial. and stated his nur-
: pose to approve it in The SOdthern Alliance
Farmer. lie also said that f General
Gordon was upon this line, all hight against
HIM inside of the alliance would stop 1
replied that 1 had no doubt General Cor
don was upon the line suggested.
This was the substance Of the couversa-
ton. There was no argument or attempt
ed agreement between Us as 70 the sena-
torial question. I. in no sense. represented
General Gordon in the conference, and /
certaily did not uder:ake 20 pied 20 General
Gordon upon the subject. 1 diI not even
repeat the conversation to him, although l
then believed, and now believe. that the
construction when l placed upon General
Gordon's position correct.
/ write thus fully to you on account CT
my absolute confidence in your sincerity.
and because my conference Vita Colonel
Livingson was induced by a desire to aid
In preventing the bitterness which seemed
about to spring up among democrats in
Georgia.
My only purpose was. IN spirit u
harmony. to aid democratic nominees and
preserve democratic organization, and pass
by united effort measures of pract.ca.
benefit 10 the people.
To present just what took place. so far