The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-02-15

necessary to administer the Federal gov
ernment
"Seventh. They favor the abolition of
trusts.
eighth. They are opposed to govern
ment by Injunction.
"Ninth. They are in favor of arbitra-
ton as means of settling disputes be-
tween la or and capital.
"Here are nine issues which are nut only
i'm portant in themselves, but are now
prominently before the people. Are not
these reforms worth securing? These
questions were submitted to the people
at the last election. but they were not
settled, ard will not be settled until they
are settled right.
"The Republican party is trying to
commit the country more thoroughly to
the gold standard. Even now 1t il en-
deavoring to secure legislative endorse
ment of the policy of paying all coin OBJ
legations in gold. 1t pretends to be much
concerned about national he nor and the
public credit The leaders of the party
know that the debtor, whether public
DEBTOR OF private debtor, meets all the
requirements Of the law, moral as we'll
as statutory, when he discharges his OBJ
legations according to the terms of the
contract. They know that all through
the war The government, and private debt
ors as we'll, paid coin obligations in
gold, although gold was worth cents
less on the dollar than silver. Ami yet
hese leaders would accuse A Abraham Lin
coin of dishonor rather than incur the
displeasure of the Wall street magnates
who now control the financial policy of
the Il publican party.
''rhese leaders know that if the Fede
raj government declares its purpose to
ma NIL ii oh inpc in g.
pie will he used rs an argument to force
old contracts upon State and municipal
governments, and upon private citizens.
These leaders know that il their scheme
is carried out, the very existence of these
gold obligations will be urged as n reason
why bimetsllsm should not be restored
"If the Republicans obtain control of
the Senate and House 10 the elections Of
1898, there is no doubt that they will, by
law, surrender the cOntrUct right which
the government now has, to nay coin OBJ
legations in silver (of which we are large
producers) and bind the nation TO pay in
gold IAN approaching metal the prodac-
tlon Ct which is largely controlled by
England).
"The Republican party will, If it oh
tains control of Congress in 1895, abandon
the'system which gives the debtor the OPP.
ton, and substitute new system, which,
first, permits the money lenders 10
choose the coin OF payment. and, second,
allows them to increase the purchasing
power of the dollars which they demand,
to the impoverishment of the wealth pro-
ducers of the world.
"Shouid those who oppose this fnan-
cial heresy this child of greed and ava
rice, fight each other while the American
people are bound with letters of gold.
1.-The administration is clearly COM
rc-itted to the policy of opposing indepen-
dent bimetallism. oShculd friends of hi
metallism help the administration by
fighting each other?
"The Secretary of the Treasury is plan
ming the retirement of the greenbacks.
Should those who oppose the retirement
of the Rreenbacks help 20 destroy them
by fighting each other?
''The administration has recommended
an enlargem eut OF the privileges and
profits of national banks of issue. Should
those who oppose national hacks of issue
strengthen the banks by fighting each
other
1.-THE Secretary of, the Treasury asks
authority to issue interest. bearing bonds.
Should those who oppose such bonds aid
Embarrassing the interest bearing debt by
fighting each other?
"Our Federal taxes are collected en-
tirely from import duties and interim |
revenue duties, both systems bearing more
heavily upon the poor than upon the rich.
The Republicans refuse to grant the re.
lief which could be secured through an
amendment tn the Constitution providing
for an income tax. Should those who
favor an income tax oppose this needed
reform 10y fighting each other?
'Trusts are heing organized on every
hand and the political as we'll RS the in