THE SILVER ISSUE 163 



movement, as we have seen, but from the very be- 

 ginning of American history. Indeed, the pioneer 

 everywhere has needed capital and has believed 

 that it could be obtained only through money. The 

 cheaper the money, the better it served his needs. 

 The Western farmer preferred, other things being 

 equal, that the supply of currency should be in- 

 creased by direct issue of paper by the Government. 

 Things, however, were not equal. In the Moun- 

 tain States were many interested in silver as a com- 

 modity whose assistance could be counted on in a 

 campaign to increase the amount of the metal in 

 circulation. There were, moreover, many other 

 voters who, while regarding Greenbackism as an 

 economic heresy, were convinced that bimetallism 

 offered a safe and sound solution of the currency 

 problem. For the sake of added votes the infla- 

 tionists were ready to waive any preference as to 

 the form in which the cheap money should be 

 issued. Before the actual formation of the People's 

 Party, the farmers' organizations had set out to 

 capture votes by advocating free silver. After the 

 election of 1892 free silver captured the Populist 

 organization. 



Heartened by the large vote of 1892 the Populist 

 leaders prepared to drive the wedge further into the 



