The Louisiana populist., 1897-01-29

''"'"A Nii'ot" >''N; 40 Wv ~ hVihS ID
sue Of the next four years, is in
line with the best sentiment of our
party and requires no change of
front, no abandonment OF princi-
pie, no new platform. The main
army merely moves up to occupy
the position held by the skirmish
line.
President Cleveland supplies us
with fresh incentive for renewed
effort, in his official demand for
the retirement of the grcenbacks
and the issue and control of paper
money except coin certiticates) by
the banks. Senator Quay says
this should be made an issue by
the republicans, and advocates the
substitution Of United States notes.
payable i'll gold, for the green
backs.
Here we have q living issue
with both wings Of the gold for
ces, which brings our main question
to the front--Shall the paper
money of the country be issued
and regulated by the people or by
the banks! This will precipitate
a hot debate in Congress that will
focus public attention upon the
relative merits Of scientific and re-
demption money, which will be-
come the absorbing question Of the
day, just as the silver movement
followed the silver debate a year
ago, and will afford our sentlneIs
in congress an opportunity to
measure the true attitude Of the
silver, democratic and republican
leaders, on an issue vital to our
party and the welfare of the cOun-
try, and to determine to what eX-
tent our recent allies can be de-
pended upon.
Again, the fact that the rail
road, telegraph, and telephone
companies became the willing tools
Of a campaign committee III the
recent election furnishes us with
another striking argument for the
government ownership of these
great monopolics. We are not a
free people so long as they can be
utilized for campaign purposes in
the interest of trusts und combines.
The proposed retirement of the
greenbacks and the discussion OF
the Pacific Railroad question will
bring before Congress the two
strongest measures of our plat
form and whatever issue the 9th
er parties may adopt, the logic OF
events will so force upon both
Congress and the people the con
sideration Of these measures as t(
ovcrshudow all others, and win t(
our ranks thousands of voter!
from both the republican and dem
ocratic parties.
LIVING ISSUES FOE THE PEOPLE.
These are living issues upol
which we shall grow. The urgen
necessity for them will appeal tt
the people, groaning under tn
weight of Mckinley prosperity,
''restored confidence" and the Ell
forced idleness and extreme power
ty attending them. They appes
with equal force to the busines
man, coerced by the banks to tn
wage Garner, the helpless victim
corporations and to the farmer
cursed with mortgages and extol
tionate freight rates. They AZ
, issues free from the charge G
, mercenary motives, to enrich
portion of our constituency.
Let us act with patriotism, cou'
age, and sagacity. Let us lose II
time. If any lack incentive,
will be found in the intense sutfel
ing and in the increasing arrogance
lawlessness, and heartlessness {
} the trusts and monopolies. Agains
} their power we put principle
t against their money we match MAJ
hood, and urge all populists
continue this contest during tt
5 next four years and then hold a
t early national convention, to striE
! the keynote Of the next Presider
. tiaI campaign, Or, if desirable, G:
} tablish an honorable alliance c
7 leading issues.
e | also suggest that a nationl col
ference of party leaders and wor]
: ers be held as soon as practicable
: that we may have a full and fir
+. expression Of opinion regardin
9 our future work. We hope, Their
D for, that the reform press will civ
+, the fullest possible expression
t their views on this important su
t iect and our friends are invite
Y To writa ma Or orr NATIONAL chai