The Louisiana populist., 1897-08-13
BY THE GOLD CRAZE.
aHE EVILS THAT HAVE BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED.
Americans Should Arouse Themselves to
the Monstrous Spoliation of Their In
dustries Through the Attempted Firm
Establishment Of the Gold Standard.
(By Hon. J. w. Porter.)

ouoniiI W lue ulOuStTOuS SpOlldllOn OL
their Industries by the attempted firm
establishment of the changed stand
ards OF payment for their vast public
corporate and private debts, and for
the support of the costly governmental
establishments fixed upon money
cheaper and more abundant? The peo-
pie of this country are morally respon-
sible to the world for the continued ex-
istence OF the gold standard, which has
placed such untold burdens upon the
producing classes of other nations; for
the bimetallic law, which provided for
the unlimited use of all gold and silver
as money could not have been broken
but by American action, nor could the
sole gold standard be maintained now
without American concurrence. This
is so well understood abroad that every
effort has been made to prevent Amer
1can action, which would sound the
death knell Of gold monometallism.
When under the impulse of til oner-
man purchasing act silver rapidly rose
as soon as its passage was assured, and
was morally certain to reach coin par,
there was by some secret work of un-
seen hands abroad, no doubt aided and
abetted by traitors in our un-American
Wall street, action taken to those ap-
peared a large quantity Of silver pur-
posely shipped to break our markets,
not only for silver but wheat and cot
ton, which advanced with the gold
price OF silver. This rise in silver
wheat and cotton, our great American
staple products, was really fall in
gold.
Why, the financial magnates abroad
aided by their ever ready allies in our
great mart, could afford to spend mill
lens to defeat the will of the American
people In this matter.
In that one year they saved more
than $50.000,000 by the forced decline
OF wheat and cotton, or In other words,
reversing the decline in gold and ad-
vancing it-for the decline of silver
since 1873 mas been really the appre-
citation Of gold.
Nothing was easier to do. To ship
our silver coin Of even par value under
the laws OF all continental Europe. 1t
needed not to be sold nor even melted,
but only offered, to bear the American
market. Aided by their American pals
in the gigantic plot, they easily affected
their purpose, and silver again fell and
gold went up.
For ought we know the silver ship
ncnt may then have been returned to
its use in Europe.
:. Though not primarily responsible for
the original wrong-the act Of Febru-
airy IL, 1S73--an act Of treason to the
people OF this country, inasmuch as 1t
aided and abetted the enemies Of our
country, more effectively than would
the marshaling of armies upon our
borders: cur people are responsible to
the world for so long condoning the
wrong after Its withering exposure in
the halls OF congress prior to the pas
sage of the Bland-Allison act of 1878.
and in the great debates since. Egypt.
hopeless and powerless under its three
fold burden OF its debt to the Roths-
echiids, and Portugal with its debt Of
over $500,000.0O0. owe their miseries
tc Americas action. Portugal affords
a noteworthy example Of the terrible
oppression of this octopus of an appre-
clating standard. A brave and frugal
race, numbering but little more than
the people Of Ohio, with revenues
pledged to the Rothschilds as trus-
tees, in London, for the payment Of in
terests they are struggling with con-
stantly falling prices for their export
able produce, and are being reduced to
the verge Of despair.
The condition Of all southern Europe
Il almost as bad; and Americans may
well reflect upon their responsibility to
free the people of other lands as well as
our own lair land.
We fell unwittingly into the scheme
Of the conspirators, the first and most
powerful In resources Of all nations.
Independent action by our country
would not only redeem the world from
this CALLING bondage, but would place
our country in the forefront of nations.
The humiliating spectacle OF plead
ing at European capitals for permis-
sion to utilize to the full legal extent
the God-given treasure Of silver as
money would be spared us.
AS well might we appeal to them for
an international consent as to our
tariff and have commission appoint
ed to arrange 1t. Indeed, our tariff poll
cies appear to affect many foreign na-
| a0ns more intimately than our finan-
cial policies. for they threaten repris-
ais which they did not do when we dis
,arded both gold and silver, and pros
oered, too. under greenback regime.
| This gold craze originated to crafty
lthe lust for wealth and power. Sufa-
Gent warning has been given that the
3oeople will not submit to it, and they
3are masters of the situation until they
hbdicate their power, and consent to
khe rule of a plutocracy pure and sim
|hla WHY. then. cannot the situation