The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1895-09-06
"Free Silver at Is to l"
Has Never Been In The Demo
cratic Greed, or Sustained
by a Democratic Con-
PreSS.

|
From the Okolona Miss Messenger.
TO the Peoples party is due the
credit of agitating this money ques-
ton for years past. 1t is the only
national party that ever declared
for Is to l or any other ratio, and
in all its efforts to arouse the peo-
pie on this vital subject 1t has had
to contend with both the old par
ties. Now that the people have
become fairly educated, and are
beginning to understand not only
the cause of their misfortunes, but
also, who are responsible for them,
the treacherous old Democracy
fiops over and pretends to be sill
ver's best and only available friend.
That this claim is wholly unbound
ed any unprecedented man will I'M
derstand when he examines the re-
cord made by the party. Here II
is:
1st. The 10th Congress having
a Democratic majority of II on
April Sth, 1886, killed a bill pro-
viding for the free and unlimited
coinage of silver at a ratio of Is to
1.
2nd. The Sind Congress having
Democratic majority of las, on
the 9th day of March 1892, killed
free coinage bill at a ratio of Is
to 1.
3rd. The same Congress on Ju
ly 18th of the same year, over
whelmingly defeated another free
coinage bill, Is to 1, AFTER 1T HAD
PASSED A REPUBLICAN SENATE, and
when it was well understood that
Republican President, although
individually opposed to free silver,
had said he would approve it, if
passed by the Democratic House.
4th. On the 23rd of August
1898, the 53rd Congress called in
extra session by Mr.. Cleveland de
feated bill providing for the free
coinage of silver at IS to l by a
two thirds vote. This Congress
had a Democratic majority over
both Republicans and Populists of
SO, but the ten Pops voted for the
bill thus making the Democratic
majority, if really in favor of free
silver 1O3 over the Republicans.
There were 2l1 Democrats on
the floor of the House when this
vote was taken and ONE HUNDRED
AND ONE VOTED FOR THE MEASURE
AND ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN
VOTED AGAINST 1T. So then it will
be seen, if nobody but Democrats
had been present and voting the
bill would have been defeated by a
majority of fifteen.
9Th. On the same day, namely
August 23rd, 1853, this same Dem
ocratic Congress voted down sec
ond proposition to coin silver free,
at ratio of II to by still larg-
err majority.
9th. On the same day this same
Congress voted down another pro
position, looking to ''the parity"
of the two metals. ut Is to /.
9TH. On the same day, another
bill providing for the free coinage
of silver at 10 to /, was defeated.
Sth. On the same day, another
proposition looking to the free and
unlimited coinage of silver at ra-
ito of 20 to- l was showed under in
a Democratic House.
And thus it was FIVE bills provi-
ding for the free and unlimited
coinage of silver was beaten in u
representative body now profess
ing to be the friend of the white
metal as the clerk could call the
roll. And don't forget honest
Democratic reader, that in every
solitary instance, majority of
your Democratic Congressman vo-
ted against silver and in favor of
the single gold standard.
9th. On Nov. LIST, 1898, the
53rd Congress, with its SO Demo-
cratic majority over all, voted
down an amendment offered by Mr..
Bland to a pending bill, which
amendment provided for the free
and unlimited coinage of silver at
16 to 1.
10th. On October 9th, 1898,
the United States Senate, having a
Democratic majority of three over
all, and when the four Populist
Senators were counted for silver,
the majority over the Republicans