The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-08-28
ANOTHER MONETARY ISSUE
Chicago Platform Declares for Irredeem-
able Paper Currency.

The silver question is not the only issue
affecting our money in the pending con
test. Not content with urging the free
coinage Of silver, its strongest champions
demand that our paper money shall be
issued directly by the government of the
United States. This is the Chicago Dem
Ocratic declaration. The It. Louis Peo-
pies declaration is that ''our national
money shall be issued by the General gov
eminent only, without the intervention of
banks of issue, be full legal tender for the
payment of all debts, public and private"
and be distributed direct to the people
and through lawful disbursements of the
government"
Thus, in addition to the free coinage Of
the world $ silver, we are asked to enter
upon an era Of unlimited irredeemable
paper currency. The question which was
fought out from 1856 to 1879 is thus to be
reopened With all its cheap none expert
ments Of every conceivable form foisted
upon us. This indicates "a most startling
reactionary policy. strangely at variance
with every requirement of sound finance;
but the declaration shows the spirit and
parpose Of those who. by combined action,
are contending for the control of the gov
eminent. Not satisfied with the detase-
ment of u coin which inevitably follows
the free coinage Of silver at l6 to l, they
would still further degrade our currency
and threaten the public honor by the I'M
limited issue Of an irredeemable paper
currency. A graver menace to our finan-
cial standing and credit could hardly be
conceived. ard ry patriotic citizen
should be- sod 10 promptly meet ard
effectually defeat it.
In the Highest Degree Reprchensible.
1t is a cause for painful regret and solic-
itude that an effort is being made by those
high in the counscls Of the allied parties
to divide the people of this country into
classes and create distinctions among us
which in fact do not exist and are repug-
nant to u form Of government. These
appeals TO the passion and prejudice are
beneath the spirit and intelligence of a
free people and should be met with stern
rebuke by those they are sought { o influ-
once, and l believe they will be. Every
attempt to array class against class, 'the
classes against the masses" section
against section, labor against capital, ''the
poor against the rich" or interest against
interest in the United States, is in the
highest degree ~reprehensible. 1t Is op-
posed to the national instinct and interest
and should be resisted by every oili-
zen. We are not a nation Of
classes, but of sturdy. fee, independent
and honorable people, despising the dema-
gogue and never captivating to dishonor.
This ever-rccurring effort endangers popu-
lar government and is a menace to our
liberties. 1t Is not a new campaign de-
vice or party appeal. 1t Is as old as gov
eminent among men. but was never more
untimely and unfortunate thar now.
Washington warned us against 1t, and
Webster said in the senate in words which
l feel are singularly appropriate at this
time: II admonish the people against the
object of overtures like these. / admonish
every industrious laborer of this country
to be on his guard against such delusion.
I tell him the attempt is to play of his
passion against his interest and to prevail
on him In the name of liberty to destroy
all the fruits of liberty"