The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-04-26
THE PARAMOUNT ISSI Els.

THE PARAMOUNT ISSt Els.
There are two issues which will be para
mount in the great national contest of
1896 saws the Philadelphia Times, and all
other questions will be merely incidental.
They are:
First, an absolutely sound financial sys-
TEN. that will maintain public and private
credit, and a currency that will command
confidence at home and throughout the
civilized world:
Second, the maintenance of law and or
der and the protection of person and prop
ertv by all the powers of the government.
Politicians will discuss the tariff ques
ton in some sections of the country dur
ing the next campaign, but it will not be
1896 The tariff policy of the government
is practically settled. There may he OBJ
iections to the details of the present tariff
law, and dispute on such questions as free
wool and some others but the tariff policy
of this government is settled for years to
come, and no higher tariff will be enacted
in the future unless demanded by the ex-
igencies of war.
The question of honest money is the
most vital of all issues now before the peo-
pie, and hundreds of thousands of good
citizens will utterly disregard party lines
to support the party or candidate for Presi-
dent who shall be in heartieSt accord with
the policy of an absolutely sound financial
system.
The party and candidate for President
that shall most clearly and distinctly sup
port the policy of a sound financial system
and honest money will be heartily support
ed by this journal. The party and candi-
date that shall occupy doubtful attitude
on the issue will be earnestly and aggres-
sively opposed in these columns, regard
less of the party flag.
We protest at this early stage of the great
contest for honest money against those
who attempt to confuse it by pleading for
bimetallism as diStin guished from the gold
standard International bimetalliSm would
solve the problem, and any standard thus
adopted would maintain public and private
credit, but international bimetallism is i'm
probable, and this country has to deal with
the issue as it is.
We have bimetallsm as part of our tinan-
cial policy and it will so remain but the
standard of value accepted by the civil
lied world and by ourselves is the gold
standard. We are compelled to redeem
our silver certificates in gold to maintain
the national credit. and in obedience to
our laws which compel the government to
maintain the parity of the two metals
Silver furnishes 53 cents for every silver
dollar now in circulation. and the govern
ment-that is the people-pay the remain
der
currency, but whatever coin we shall make
of silver should conform to the intrinsic
standard of value fixed by every civilized
country of the world, including our own
The platform of both parties in 1892 de
manded that the intrinsic value of our coin
shall be maintained in accord with til.
stamp of the government.
There must be a standard of value in
coin. When two or more metals are used
in coin, one of them must be the accepted
standard and gold is to-day the standard
of the civilized world and the standard OF
the United States, plainly made so by oul
own laws We cannot we dare not de
part from it without producing panic and
CONFUSION and sacrificing both public and
private credit with every important nation
of the earth. Honest money is the most
vital of all issues before the people too day
and to that issue we shall subordinate all
Others
Next to honest money. the most vital
issue is that of the maintenance of law and
order and the protection of person and
property by all the powers of the govern
ment We had painful object lesson OF
the necessity of the exercise of this power
during the recent Chicago riots and Pres
dent Cleveland in single breath effacet
forever the lingering dregs of the Stat,
rights theory that was pleaded in behalf o
riot and murder He has made a recort
on this question that the nation must ad
here to. and whoever shall be called to
succeed him must be thoroughly sound up
on this issue or lawlcssnesS would speed
ilv be stronger than the government.