The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1895-03-15
Address 10 the People of the
United States.

cent, respectable opinion of man
kind required that reasons should
be given for dlssOlving the bonds
that had bound the colonies to
Great Britain, so we will find it
necessary to sever our relations
with the political parties with
which we have heretofore acted,
and form new alliances in COM
mon cause, and deem it proper
that some of the reasons which i'm
pelS to this action should be sub
mitted to a candid pnblic.
The monetary reform for which
we contend, as above set forth, is,
in our judgment, so vital to the
common welfare and so necessary
to a return to conditions of pros
perity in this country, as to pre-
clude longer delay in the inaugu-
ration of a movement, the purpose
of which is to bring together all
who believe in the necessity OF the
proposed reform for this object and
this alone. Those in favor Of the
gold standard are and have been
united in purpose and action. Par
tv lines do not divide them when
this issue is raised. Differences on
other questions are then laid asid,
and together they Sin well-be-
seeming ranks march all one way"
On the other hand, those who
are in favor of a return to the con
stitutional standard of gold and
silver, are split into as many dl-
visions as there are parties. Sill
yer Republicans from the west and
south, to the great delight of the
leaders of the Republican party,
insist on cOntending for their cause
only within the lines of their party ;
and southern and western Demo
Gratis, earnest silver men, equally
to the delight of the leaders OF the
Democratic party, continue the
contest on their part, only within
the lines of the Democratic party.
In other words, the advocates OF
the bimetallic standard, through
the unrestricted coinage of silver
as well as gold, now cOntendefor
their cause in organizations which
are controlled by the gold party
Hence, however jealous in the
cause one may be, no results are
possible because his party refuses
to carry out his views or to per
nit them to be carried out. 1t is
believed that there are now, and
have been for twenty years, a large
majority of the voters in the Unit
ed States in favor of restoring the
free coinage OF both gold and sill
yer, but the opportunity to vote
their convictions has never been
given them, and they have been
continually thwarted by party CHI
canery.
There has not been a congress
for twenty years, except for the in
fiuence of the executive patronage
or the fear of an executive veto
that would not have voted to open
the mints again to silver on the
same terms as to gold. Indeed
each house of congress has at diff
ferent times separately passed free
coinage bills, but this action has
often been frustrated by party
manipulation. 1t is as necessary
therefore, to have a president ir
sympathy with the causes as t(
have a congress in favor of it.
But enough has been said tt
show the impossibility of gainins
our cause as long as we remain di
vided, or fight only in the ranks o
the gold party, or in organization
controlled by the advocates of tht
gold standard. AS well might Oul
fathers have expected to win tht
independence of the colonies j
while contending for the cause o
liberty they had refused to sepa
, rate from the tories.
Independence could never hav'
haor uvon hxy fobfipu u for Iihorfv II