Natchitoches populist., 1898-04-22

Following is the full text of the ap.
peal for harmony, issued recently by
Chairman Butler and twenty-five other
populist senator's and representatives
Chairmen Jones and Towne of the free
silver Democrats and Republicans sim
ultaneously issued similar circulars to
the members OF their parties. The
Populist appeal is as follows:
The conspiracy Of gold and monopo-
~ Is nearing its elimination. Every
advance 1t has made during the last
twenty-five years has been by adroit
and stealthy processes. These would
have been impossible if 1t had not had
Its agents and confederates holding
positions Of public trust In the legis-
lative, executive and judicial branches
Of the government. Neither the bene-
dciaries nor the tools of this conspira-
cy have any particular politics. In
name the last administration was Dem
ocratic. The present administration
Is called Republican, but it has in
gioriously practiced and defended the
perfidious policies of its predecessors.
At length the selfish and brutal in
terests behind this conspiracy deem
themselves strong enough to dispense
with the caution and duplicity hither-
10 necessary to their success. The ad-
ministration boldly avows its indorse-
ment OF their scheme against the lib-
erty and prosperity Of the people.
Within few weeks 1t has formulated
and sent to congress a bill the leading
purpose OF which is, in the words Of
the secretary of the treasury: "To
commit the country more thoroughly
TO the gold standard"
This country has, during the past
twenty-four years. suffered enough Of
the blighting effect of the gold stan
dard, so far as fraudulent legislation
and executive usurpation have been
able to establish 1t. 1t Is now boldly
proposed to legalize what has been
done In defiance OF law and to use the
power secured by false pretenses from
long suffering and too trustful peo-
pie to put upon this Infamous design
the stamp of alleged popular authoriza-
ton.
In the pursuit Of this purpose of
committing the country more thor
oughly to the gold standard, the plan
OF this administration, as Of the last.
Is to retire the greenbacks and other
non-interest bearing paper money Of
the government, to Issue interest-b bur-
dened gold bonds, and to increase the
powers, privileges, and profits Of ma
fional banks. The achievement would
turn over the duty of supplying the
peoples money, the very life-blood of
business, to selfish, heartless, and ir-
responsible foreign gold syndicate and
It's American agents and allies.
1t must be remembered also that this
foreign gold syndicate and it's allies
have, with the connivance il not the
assistance OF our government, captured
and today control every instrument of
commerce in the nation. In framing
the constitution our patriotic fore
fathers, with jealous care and with
prophetic wisdom, provided that com
merce should be regulated by congress-;
but this tremendous power has been
abdicated by congress In favor of the
gold trust and the banking ring. Money
Ia the first great instrument of COM
merce, but the gold ring. not satisfied
with controlling our financial system.
has captured the other instruments OF
commerce, to enable 1t to keep the gold
standard yoke upon our necks, and ito
more thoroughly" subjugate our people
and dominate our government.
All history teaches that those who
have controlled the instruments of
commerce In any country have not on
Iy controlled the commerce of that ma
tion. but have also controlled and DOM
mated that government. Thus the
gold syndicate and its allied monopo-
lies in our country, having seized the
great instruments Of commerce, have
used this tremendous power to dis
:riminate against sections and individ-
uals to destroy competition, to breed
business stagnation, and to create
hard times" in the midst of plenty. |
Thus the organization and maintenance
OF great Industrial trusts have been
promoted, which operate to aggravate
the evil conditions which gave them
birth. Thus they are making millions
oi paupers to create few millionaires.
The inevitable result must be to con-
vert our government into an oligarchy
Of sordid wealth!
In the accomplishment OF this end
these evil influences must shackle
opinion and muzzle discussion. They
not only subsidize the press and at
tempt to seat their well-paid attorneys
In our legislative halls, on our benches
of justice, and in all other departments
of government; but wherever college
faculties are susceptible to pretended
generosity or inverted philanthropy
they carefully maneuver for either SER