The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-11-27
ATEXANDRIA LA. NOVEMBER n Is
WHAT DID IT?
CHEAP DOLLAR IDEA CHECKED.
Right of Property Attacked by Silver
ites-Fallscics and False Statements OF

Right of Property Attacked by Silver
ites-Fallscics n False Statements Of
Silver raine Owners Exposed.
Various causes have been given for
the rapid decline in tie free silver sen
timent, which less than Il year ago
seemed destined to sweep everything be-
fore it. The mastery exposition OF the
fundamental principles of the currency
question by Secretary Of the Treasury
Carlisle in a series Of speeches has
doubtless done much to check the free
coinage idea. In the southern states an
advance of over 60 Fer cent IN tie price
of cotton destroyed the sole argument
| of cheap cotton on which the silverites
relied for their support by farmers and
planters. Throughout the whole country
the educational work OF sound currency
clubs and similar organizations. aided
by the sound money press, has exposed
tie fallacies and false statements
through which the agents Of tho silver
mine owners had secured a following
for the cheap dollar scheme.
These different agencies have all con-
tributed to the rout of the rs to ! Sill
~verites, but a more potent influence
than any OF all of them was the recog-
milton by the American people OF the
right of property aud the hope CT every
citizen to Ire some day a property own
er. In tile progress OF the currency dis
cussion it soon became evident that the
free coinage a2itators were really at
lacking the right to hold property, and
that their arguments against tho gold
standard and the creditor class were
directed against the natural right OF
lenders to receive back from their debt
ors rs much property as was leaned.
The Populist pupers aud the speeches
and pamphlets of the more rabid silver
ties we're filled with denunc;aticns O
capital, ricL men and bankers 20 thai
t the issue between gold and silver wal
generally drcpped for the wider ques
I ton of the poorer classes against TIT
n wealthy.
Fortunately for the cause Of SOUND
. money, the great majority OF the peopl
= Of this country own property or hope a
some time in the near future to be prop
erty Il When they were asked t
1t support a financial policy which woul
D enable all the debtors of the country t
repudiate one-half Of their obligations
y thus practically taking by law half c
}. the property Of all creditors, the
d promptly answered "No." Those VIII
had a little money loaned out to q ban
Or to individuals; all who held pre
miums in a life Oh fire insurance comp'
Or ny or were in any other way creditors
e saw that they could only be injured b
:, tie ranptiou Of 80 cent dollars.
On the o..er hanIa, hose whose bus
n ness was carried On by borrowed none
is knew that although they might be ten
al porarily benefited by financial repudl'
ly ton, yet when they again wished
id borrow no one would lend, while q
ct who look forward, as every Americi
Of should, to being themselves owners
IN property were convinced that their be
up interests would be served by malntal
or ing a currency system which recosniz
or the rights Of every man to all his pr
tie. sessions. They argued that if the pre-
he ent silveri,e aud Populist demand I
H. the confiscation Of half Of the proper
yer of creditors should be granted, it Won
of not be long before there wcald be 9
he other socialist agitation for the confis'
Dig ton of all property, and they thereto
Iis- refused 10 favor a scheme which thre
rec ened to destroy all their hopes OF a pr
90 porous future. 1t is for this reas
md above all others that schemes OF rel
ill diation and attacks on property own
ois can never secure a permanent foot
alf in this country.