The Louisiana populist., 1897-02-05
PARTY ACTION PROPOSED.

SltlOn must be taken, The sub
stitution Of our main plank for {
subordinate one, as the fighting is
sue Of the next four years, is ir
line with the best sentiment of oul
party and requires no change OF
front, no abandonment of princi.
pie, no,new platform. The mair
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 certifcates) by
the banks. Senator Quay says
this should be made an issue by
the republicans, and advocates the
substitution of United States notes,
payable in gold. for the green
backs.
Here we have a living issue
with both wings of the gold for
ces, which brings our main question
to the front-ShalI the paper
money of the country be issued
and regulated by the people or by
the banksE This will precipitate
q 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 year
ago, and will afford our sentlnels
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 In the
recent election furnishes us with
another striking argument for the
government ownership of these
great monopolies. We are not a
free people so long as they can be
utilized for campaign purposes in
the interest Of trusts and 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 to
overshadow all others, and win to
our ranks thousands of voters
from both the republican and dem
ocratic parties.
LIVING ISSUES FOR THE PEOPLE.
These are living issues upon
which we shall grow. The urgent
necessity for them will appeal to
the people, groaning under the
weight Of mckinley prosperity, ="
''restored confidence" and the en-
forced idleness and extreme power
ty attending them. They appeal
with equal force to the business
man, coerced by the banks to the
wage Garner, the helpless victim of
corporations /; and to the farmer,
cursed with mortgages and extor-
tionate freight rates. They arr
issues free from the charge of
mercenary motives, to enrich a
portion of our constituency.
Let us act with patriotism, cour-
age, and sagacity. Let us lose no
time. If any lack incentive, it
will be found in the intense suffer-
ing and in the increasing arrogance,
lawlessness, and heartlessness OF
the trusts and monopolies. Against
their power we put principle !;
against their money we match man
hood, and urge all populists to
continue this contest during the
next four years and then hold an
early national convention, to strike
the keynote Of the next Presiden-
tial campaign, or, if desirable, es-
tablish an honorable alliance on
leading issues.
| also suggest that a nationl con-
ference Of party leaders and work
ers be held as soon as practicable,
that we may have full and free
expression of opinion regarding
our future work. We hope, there
for, that the reform press will give
the fullest possible expression of