West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-12-27

ARTICLE a.

NfsNhE
They tell us free silver is a dead
issue. Perhaps. 1t now looks as il
the money lenders throughout the
world have about won in their war
fare on silver. Well, what of it2
They have won only on silver re-
striction, only that and nothing
more. No financial. principle for
which Democrats commended has
been changed. Free silver as an
issue meant only this to the Dem
ocra,s-the money-lenders were
demonetizing one of the historic
money metals of the ages in order
to keep money scarce and easily in
control--and Democrats opposed
the innovation as fragrant injustice.
Democracy as the champion of pop
ular rights demands currency just
alike to all. Democracy opposes
the oornering and manipulating of
money. Hence the Democrat pre-
fers the government demand note
the greenback-- to the national
bank note. Could true Democrat
choose otherwise in the matter of
paper currency AS the peoples
own due bill the greenback draws
no interest but, on the other hand,
the national bank paper draws two
interests from the people. Night
and day, and day and night, the
national banker draws a double in
terest that enriches him and impov-
erishes others. No, grant that free
silver is dead the everlasting prin-
ciples of common justice still live
to be championed by those who yet
believe in freedom and equality
by those who believe that all men
should be equal before the law.
The Democratic party needs no
reconstruction upon financial ques-
tons. Its history will never omit
what Jefferson said and Jackson did
to protect the people against design
ing money-lenders.
1t needs no reconstruction, as
tried to show in my former article,
upon trust questions. And surely
the stand 1t took against imperialism
needs no revision, unless the Dec
lar:on of independence were mis-
take and our constitution a misft.
1t might be pertinent to inquire
who these would-be reconstruction-
lists of Democracy are. Are they
tried and true 2 Are they of those
who Joined the enemy four years
ago Are they of those who help
ed to fortify the national bank in Its
injustice against the people ? Has
not their desertion of Democracy
helped to fasten the disgrace and
danger of Imperialism upon this re-
public? Shall these men dictate to
the Democratic party just when and
how it should cast out the Populist
voters that joined it when they, these
beautiful reconstructionists, desert
ed and aided and abetted the COM
mon enemy3 Put, If you will, these
reconstructionists of Democratic
doctrines, upon dress parade, and
they will appear in three columns
Behold them column 1, gold Dem
ocrats ; column 2, deserters to Nc
kinley; column 8, professional
politicians. The professional cares
nothing for principle. He will sac
rifice every thing Only give him
power and place, and he, too, will
prosper. Are not these the same
men VINO set up strange gods in the
Democratic camp, causing the de-
lection of Democrats to the Popu-
list ranks ? Are they not largely
responsible for McKinley's prosper
ity by way of trust domination1
Having fought the battle of 1000
in the faith of high and holy princi-
pie, with a conscience void of of
Tense toward God and man, shall
Democrats allow deserters and
camp-followers to reconstruct them
out of the espousal ofjust and right
eous principle into any old policy
for plundering the people ? Better
60 down to defeat a thousand times
for principle than for once to be a
Judas bartering to bring about the
imperial crucifxion of humanity.
however spectacular such a success
might be !
The
New York World