The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-10-04
1873 VS.. 1898.

EDITOR STAR:
So The Populist speakers and
papers are telling the people that
the repeal of the purchasing clause
of the Sherman act by the Demo
cratic Congress in 1893 was as
great a crime as the Demonetiza-
tion act of 1873, and that therefore
the Democrats are as guilty of de-
stlzing silver as are the Repub-
licans. They have repeatedly
made the charge in the present
canvass that the Democratic party
demoneuzed silver in 1898, and
ask @'if crime in 1873, why not
in crime in 1882
These statements show one OF
two things, either criminal inten-
ton to mislead their followers, or
an inexcusable ignorance OF he
questions at issue. No one who
has kept up with the history OF
our financial legislation can afford
10 assert that the Act of 1893 de-
monetized silver. That the repeal
of the Sherman law, or the pur-
chasing clause of that law, did in
no way or manner affect the status
of silver as money metal is too
plain a proposition TO argue.
1t simply stopped the
purchase of silver bullion for coin
age purposes, leaving that already
coined as it was placed by the act
of 1873, a subsidiary legal tender
money, the value of which was
and is measured by the gold dollar
unit of value as declared by the
act demonetizing silver.
There was nothing wrong in the
repeal act of 1893. The Demo
cratic platform rightfully demand
ed such a repeal; but the great
wrong of which the Democratic
administration mot party) was
guilty, was its failure to follow up
that repeal by Legislation restoring
silver to its original place in our
monetary system as a unit OF value
and a money of final payment
But instead of righting "the great
est crime of all the ages, the adj
ministration saw fit to adopt the
Republican financial policy which
had been for years the pet scheme
Of John Sherman and his gold
standard allies.
This policy of the Cleveland ad-
ministration is Justly condemned
by the great mass of Democrats In
our State, and in almost the entire
country. But, because the Wall
Street tories, some Of whom are
masqurading as Democrats, are
trying to perpetuate the Republi-
British gold standard policy
set up by the Republican party in
1873. The Populites declare thai
the whole Democratic party is un
friendly to silver. They juggl'
with figures and quote authorities
in a most remarkable way to Dol
ster up this charge against democ
racy. Figures, it is said, will no
lie, but they can be manipulated
and made to "prove" some very re
markable statements. But facts
are stubborn, and cold facts can
not be successfully juggled with.
The facts of history show thu
the Democratic party began to hgh
for the restoration Of silver as ear
" as 1877. The resolution oHeref
in the L. S. Senate by Stsnle,
Mathews on January 10, 1877
declaring that all I. S. bonds ar
PAYABLE in standard silver dollars
and that to restore to its colnag
such silver coins for the purpos
OF such payment, is not a yiolatio
of the public faith, etc. Althoug
Matthews was Republican VIII
was evidently not in accord wit
his party on the money question
his resolution embodied the Den
ocratic idea with reference to 81
yer, and was supported by
Democrats, 7 Democrats votin
against it.
On February 20, 1878, II
Bland Allison act was supporte
in the Senate by IS Democrats,
voting against it. Again on ur
Ist 1890 on bill to provide ft
the free coinage Of both gold an
silver, 20 Democrats voted for an
3 against the bill. Again, Il
free coinage substitute offered /