San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-23

or bonds and other paper securities
for debt and in the same measure
increases the difficulty Of paying
all debts. 1t unjustly changes the
law of the contracts under which
such debts were created. 1t par.
alyZes industry, arrests enterprise
and has produced more bankrupt
cies than was ever before known
in this country, and has deprived
tens Of thousands of employment
by which to live and support their
families and filled the country
with tramps and beggars.
The policy Of the free silver
democrats is to restore silver to
the place it occupied as a part
of the constitutional, standard
money of the country and legal
tender for debts for the first sc
years OF the existence OF our con-
stitutional government. This
would add something to the vol
ume Of our metallic money, would
nearly double the basis for bank
ing and exchange, il we are to re.
tain system Of banking. 1t would
stimulate industry and enterprise,
restore the value Of property, re-
leive financial pressure, from
which the country Is now suffer
ing. The making Of silver again
a legal tender and the using Of 1t
as provided for by law to pay gov
eminent liabilities, would arrest
the outflow of gold from the Unit
ed States and would render I'M
necessary any further issue of in
terest bearing bonds in time Of
peace. And this policy would
augment our trade with Mexico
and the Central and South Ameri-
can countries, and with China,
Japan and the Indies and force
the gold standard countries to re-
monetize their trade with silver
using countries.
1t is not the purpose Of this
paper to 60 further into the dis
cussion of that question.
Third-The Populist party ad-
vocates some wise and just politi-
cal policies, which are in accord
with the policies Of the democratic
party. But it advocates some
other policies which are believed
to be unconstitutional, dangerous
ly paternalistic, distinctive of the
best interests of the country, and
liable II they could be adopted, Ito
unduly augment the power and
patronage of the federal govern
ment, to dwarf the rights OF states
and to revolutionize the character
of the federal government.
These two classes Of politics will
be separately considered. This
party is in favor of the free and
unlimited coinage OF silver at the
ratio of 16 to l, as opposed to the
single gold standard. This policy
has been advocated by the demo-
cratic party for 20 years, and long
before the populist party had an
existence; and has been adopted
by the populists. But most of the
leaders Of that party prefer an ir.
redeemable paper currency, to be
issued by the federal government,
based on the wealth and credit of
all the people. And many of
them advocate the making of such
paper the standard of values. This
party agrees with the democratic
party in opposing the retirement
and cancellation of the $346,000,000
of outstanding legal tender notes,
and in demanding that they re-
main a part Of the legal tender
money Of the country, to aid its in
dustries, stimulate enterprise and
promote the general welfare. 1t
opposes, as the democratic party
has done all the time, the increase
Of the national debt by the issue of
interest bearing government bonds
in time OF peace. 1t favors, as the
democrats do, a tax upon incomes
which would compel the wealth of
the country to bear its proper pro-
portion of the support Of the gov
eminent which protects that
wealth ; 1t favors, as the democrats
do, the election of senators of the
United States by the direct vote O I
the people.
Thus far there is substantial ly
no disagreement between the dem
ocratic and populist parties, and
no good reason why they might not
act together.
But in the Omaha platform Of
the populist party it demands: "a
just, equitable and efficient means
OF distribution of money direct to
the people at tax Qnterest) not
exceeding 2 per cent per annum, to
be provided for as set forth In the
sub-treasury plan of the Farmers
Alliance or a better system; also
by payments in discharge Of its OBJ
legations for public improvements"
In that platform it also declares /:
THAT transportation being means
Of exchange and public necessity,
the government should own and
operate the railroads in the inter-
ests of the people," And that "The
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