The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-11-11
Our Washington Letter.


able interest is awakened as TO what the
leaders of the Democracy will choose as
the basis of future principles upon which
to 60 before the country and the voters OF
the United States Not little curiosity
is manifested here as to the exact status of
the new political party which is said to be
in a state of organization and which is
dent minated the National Paper Money
party, which promises primarily to devote
itself exclusively to the currency question
as the first and greatest issue before the
country. The tariff question is to be rele-
gated to the rear. and all the other issues
which have been the mainstay of the old
Democratic party are to be side tracked
as side issues of only minor Importance.
1t is well understood by close observers,
and in fact by all intelligent readers of the
newspapers, that the wing of the Demo-
cratic party which last year adopted free
silver as its cardinal principle has been
gradually disintegrating owing to the
growing unpopularity of the silver cause,
and that while some of its supporters still
cling TO the free coinage idea, a large pro-
portion of them are casting about for an
other issue Which will be more likely to
take with the people as a campaign issue
in the fight of 1900. a preliminary meet
ing of The new Paper Money party was
recently held III Chicago and arrangements
were made to enter the Congressional cam
paien of next year, 1t is claimed that the
new movement has made ONE Roadway in
the Western States, and that climbs have
been organized in san Francisco, Kansas
City. and other Western cities. Pure fiat
ism, no metallic basis Of currency and no
redemption, is announced as the motto of
fine new movement. This resolves itself
into Old time greenbacksm, pure and
simple, and will doubtless find many sup
Tol.els from the ranks of the silverites
who have always believed in gleenbackism
au. ha>. tolerated silver simply as means
to- tie end, The new party promises to
devote itself to the single plank Of green
backiSn, demanding Government paper,
i>ouec and controlled entirely by Congress,
Ic4Hl tender for all debts and not redeem
able Congress will be called upon to stop
issuing all gold, Silver. and bank paper
money, and to issue only national paper
money t5r the use of the people. The
money now III circulation in the country
viii b. recognized for its face value. but
DO more OF the kind viii be issued Ex-
Governor Altgeld is said to be in favor of
the movement, but expresses the doubt
that the people of the country are not
ready to accept the fiat scheme in toto; in
other words, that they are not vet edu-
Gated up to it. Frequent declarations
were Heard during the campaign Of last
year that free silver was but necessary
stepping stone to the true money of the
county, viz, paper currency. 1t was
frequently asserted during the last cam
paign that Altgeld was more of a green
backel than free silverite and the fol-
lowing words of the Governor would seem
to corroborate the claim: ''Agitation in
may take only spark to cause the tide to
turn, but | think it will take long time
to educate the people to adopt the correct
system 1t is the purpose of the new
party to commence the work of education
immediately, and the hope is that much
Of the dismembeled Democracy will be
united under the standard OF true tiatism
and imitation.
What the new movements will result in
Will be Interesting to watch. That disin-
teggatiou is eadily going on in the Dem
ooratie and silver parties is beyond ques-
tiou, but what new plmnx will arise from
tie ashes no one can at this period tell.
Tile followers OF Bryan under whatever
name, still assert that there has been no
real revival OF prosperity in the country
OF Improvement in business. Business men
kno" that this is not so, but there are a
great many people who have no such per (
sonal experience to guide them A million
81 more laborers whose wages have been
increased OF who have found employment
after long idleness know that this is not
SO, but there may be millions more who
have not had such experience But the
volume Of business actually transacted as |
shown by the bank clearances and bust
ness statements shows to the business man
that general and great improvement is
at hand.
Considerable satisfactory comment is
occasioned by the appointment by the
President of Mr.. John A. Kasson as Reel |
procity Commissioner. The reciprocity
features OF the Mckinley law were carried
out by the State Department, which occa-
stoned much delay, owing to the slow and
tedious routine of that Department, and
the need is now felt for a better and
quicker transaction of the work required
under these features of the Dingley law |
Although an experiment under the Nc
kinley law, reciprocity was proven most
satisfactory undertaking, and one of the
most serious blunders Of the Democracy
in 1894 was in the repeal of ali reciprocity
fpatrrps nf the tariff and tha re c indi mo- nf