Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-04-28

The proposition that national con-
ference of populists be called for the
purpose of displ cling the money ques-
tion as a paramount issue of their
party, absurd though it is, has created
little furry suggestive of tempest
in teapot" The authors of the pro-
position do not share the spirit that
vitalizes this great movement to dis
cnthrall the wealth producers of the
nation, nor do they comprehend the
forces in control.
Conferences can not make or unmake
issue. Issues are born of conditions,
and, like cyclones, assert their right of
way.
A conferences can no more displace
an issue after it is once developed than
1t can set aside the law of gravita tion.
Political parties can demonstrate their
fitness or unfitness, but can not smoth-
er or evade an issue.
When an issue arises it commands an
organism and exponent in defiance of
pre-existing parties.
The peoples party did not come into
existence at the bidding of politicians.
The platform formulated at Omaha
was not an accident. Neither was it
an accident that the plank that was
given first place in that platform
named the issue that since has con-
Vulsed and dismembered all political
parties that sought to evade it.
The republican party, in the late
sampaign, recognized the issue, de-
slared for bimetallism, but purposly
attached condition TO make its realiz-
alton impossible. This subterfuge,
while it commanded the purse strings
Os the creditor and money-lending
Ilasses of the two continents, could
hot hold the party together, and
Iplit occurred that signalizes the doom
Df that party. The revolution wrought
N the democratic party last year
Affords a striking illustration of the
power of an issue and the impotency
Ofparty leaders to resist or evade it.
When the people were submerged in
The two old parties, the national con-
Ventions of which wore dominated by
banks, corporate monopolies, and
trusts, who filed the congress of the
United States with their attorneys and
retainers, the peoples party sprang
from the loins of the people to give ut
Eerance to their protest against unjust
and oppressive laws, and to voice the
demands of the wealth producers from
whose toll alone the nations taxes are
paid.
Of the confederated monopolies that
controlled the congressional caucuses
pf both old parties the creditor and
banking combine was not only the
most formidable and relentless but the
most aggressive and burdensome.
While the other monopolies were
plundering the people, each in a spec
lal line, the money power was cutting
off the sources of money supply, and
Iapplng the foundation of all prosper
masthead 1.-THE Money Question" un-
Ger three subdivisions, the first OF
which was an unconditional demand
for the free and unlimited coinage OF
silver and gold at the ratio of 16 to l;
second, that all paper should be issued
by the General Government alone and
made a full legal tender; the third. in
substance, being n demand that the
government maintain at all times an
adequate volume of money to give
stability and permanency to money
values
The silver question is the storm cen.
ter in the great battle for monetary
reform, that is now being waged.
Against silver, the bondholders and
money and credit mongers of the two
continents have made common cause.
Against it are arrayed the owners ot
the Indebtedness of the world, an
amount exceeding $3.50, 900, 900, 600
They favor the gold standard because
II means scarce and dear money. Every
fall in the general level of prices mean.
that they are correspondingly enriched
ut the expense of society.
The allies and active agents of the
creditor combination in its warfare
against silver are the banking interest,
seeking the exclusive right to issu,
and control the paper money of tn,
country. These constitute an ind =
pendent political organization who's,
eamifcations extend through both O
the old parties. The money powe
thus organized is as relentless ana re.
morSeless as 1t is powerful.
They refuse credit to and breal
down those who openly support tn
cause of silver, and thus compel sup
port for their platform from busines
men generally who slavishly bend 9Th
pregnant hinges of the knee that thrift
may follow fawning."
Thus the aggressive attitude of tn
banks has broadened the issue until !
Is now squarely joined between tn
single standard of gold and ban
currency on one side, and the coinaR
of silver and gold on terms of exac
equality, -'"mented by full lega
tender government paper money o