The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-11
coRcoRAN,s COMMENTS.


Hon. John w. Corcoran of Clinton,
Mass, made the following comments
on the Washburn letter:
There never was a logical coalition
between a Populism which contem-
plated a control of industry and enter
prise by government and a Democracy
that adhered 10 ancient faith that be-
lieved that the true function OF gov
eminent was the least interference that
was consistent with Good order and
efficient government. Whatever union
was agreed upon in the last campaign
was simply a platform of expediency
to bring about success in presidential
election. Measures that were antici-
pated were to be the fruition of COM
promise for the purpose of national
success. If there ever was a tenet
that was cardinal with intelligent De-
mOcracy, it was the policy that would
keep the hand of government off the
energy and the enterprise of the people.
Democracy, so far as il has had his
toric construction, taught the lesson of
national obedience, federal order and
domestic authority. If the historic
party of the nation abandOns its his
tOric position OF no more government
than is consistent with public order,
and no more legislative interference
than is requisite for domestic peace,
lItH IL DdQ DeliSF get out OF DUoln6SS
and honestly confess itself an advocate
of government centralism or a subor-
Climate of PoDulistic universal inter-
ference. The Democracy does not ad-
Vocate Daternalism upon the one hand
nor popular impOtency on the other.
1t believes that the state is supreme
in local affairs, and that the Union is
supreme in national matters"
GEORGE FRED WILLIAMS
Hon. George Fred Williams said: "A
few days ago, in conversation with "a
Boston newspaper man, l said that in
1900 we would find the financiers and
business men of the country support
ing the free and independent silver
coinage in this country as a conserva-
tive measure. 1 have always had some
doubts whether the supply of both gold
and silver together would be sufficient
to do the business of the country, and
it is almost certain that ii would not
if an international agreement should
be reached. | have held that silver
should be coined, and if it should be
found insufficient, combined with gold,
then the road might be opened for ar
gument on the greenback issue.
The line between the greenback of
the people controlled by the people or
what the Pooulists call scientific cur
rency, and the metal basis of a redemp-
ton currency. is the difference be-
tween a money. which cannot be cor
nered by bankers and one which can.
In the former lies the remedy for "a
sufficient money, but there also lies its
danger.
Il should not regretsto see the Popu-
list party insist upon its principles, be-
cause l think the party is an advance
force, and that if they insist upon the
anti-monopoly principle they will make
it impossible for the Dem )cratic party
to have a relapse from the Chicago
platform. The danger of the Demo-
cratic party is that for the sake of
local success they may allow the prin-
ciples of the Chicago platform to be
treated with Indifference by their con-
stituencieS. l have always considered
this movement of 1896 as social move
ment, social inasmuch as a false none
tary system is bringing misery to debt
ors and Drostrating the legitimate in
dustries of the country. Just as the
arrogance of the banking powers drove
the people into the free coinage move
ment, so the arrogance of the combined
banking interests, railroad interests
and trusts in the last campaign may
drive the people in 1900 beyond the free
coinage issue.
I favor the government ownership
in some form of the Pacific railroads
and of the others, and also of the tele-
phone and telegraph systems of the
country. and believe that they should
be managed as the DOstoffices are.