The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-09
TURNED OVER UNw1sELY.

The Utah Democrat, published at
Ogden, announces itself henceforth
Peoples Party Paper" In long
editorial to explain its reasons, it sue
ceeds in showing good reasons why it
should not take such a course. But
when people or papers go over into
! Populism, we may expect strange
freaks of reasoning and funny depar-
lures from the lines of logic.
That paper quotes from another the
statement that: 1.-THE Populist plat
form is no more for silver than either
of the other parties" because the
Populists want paper or fiat money"
1t denounces that as "either from the
pen of man that is utterly ignorant
of the principles of the Peoples party,
or as written for the purpose of de-
ceiving the readers of the paper"
If there is anything deceptive in that
statement concerning the Populist
notion, il is not exposed by the paper
that denounces it. While it may be
true that the Populist platforms de-
clare for the free coinage of silver at
list resolutions as to that are more
specific, direct and decisive than any,
thing on the question in a national
platform of either of the other parties,
at the same time it will certainly not
be denied by any candid paper, that
Populism advocates paper or fiat
money"
1t is that heresy that renders the
free silver coinage demand of the
Populists vain and powerless, because
it is absurd in view of it's fiat money
notions. If the government can grind
out greenbacks at will, without any
metallic money in which they may be
redeemed, what need is there for silver
coinage or gold coinage az all? The
government paper in such case would
be fiat money, and the coinage of
either or any metal might as we'll
cease.
Democrats do not object to paper
money if it is redeemable in coin. And
they admit that a! larger volume of
paper than the actual coin deposited
may be issued on the credit of the ma
ton, because much of it will circulate
long time without call for the coin
that gives it value. But, as every
banker and business man knows.
there must be a limit to such issue or
the paper will depreciate in proportion
to the danger Of it's non-redeemability
in real money on demand.
To clamor. then. for free silver COIN
age at the same time as the proposf-
ton is made that paper money may be
issued that is not redeemable in coin.
is to make noise for nothing 1t is
because of that fat error that Popu-
lism does not and cannot make per-
manent Roadway. The so-called Peo-
pies party is one of those effervesences
that arise in the political world, which
reach their full ferment and then
subside.
The proper course for the silver men
OF the country to pursue is to do their
utmost within the lines of the Repub-
lican or Democratic party, as the case
may be, to restore silver to its proper
place as standard money. Then when
1t becomes evident, as we have no
doubt it will, that the Republican
party is opposed to immediate, indie
pendent free coinage, let all the silver
men unite to support silver Demo-
crat for the Presidency and silver
men for Congress, and the battle of
silver can be won. Populism is a side
issue and cannot accomplish the re-
demption of the white metal nor any
thing else of national moment.