Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1878-02-16
JONES, GREAT SPEECH.

mary OF SENATOR Jones great speecn
delivered in the Senate Thursday:
twas generally supposed be would
not be able to present anything new
en- tpe subject, and that his speech
would consist mainly Of recapitula-
ton of his former argument. 1t
was, however, both striking and fresh.
The first part was devoted almost en-
tirely to establishing by an astonish'
ing number Of proofs and illustra-
tions the proposition that silver has
not deprecated in comparison with
any other CONNIE dity than gold, but
on the contrary that its purchasing
power is to-day greater than it was
when demonetized. On this he built
up an extremely forcible argument
that equity would not be violated by
the payment of the Government
bonds in silver, and that the national
honor is not involved and cannot be
impaired by making the old silver
dollar legal tender for public as we'll
as private debts. After fortifying
these positions with many other
tersely-stated arguments he proceed
ed to refute criticisms made against
himself and the people of Nevada to
the effect that they were actuated in
their advocacy of silver remonetiza-
ton by sordid motives of self-inter-
est, and warming up to his subject,
be spoke from this point onward with
an earnest intensity and power which
still more firmly riveted the attention
of every person in the crowded
chamber. He declared that he had no
investment n productive silver mines,
and his investments In non productive
silver mines are less extensiye than in
mines which produce gold exclusive
". He advocated the reconciliation
of silver, because both justice and
expediency demanded it, and because
even if it does not restore the full
measure of prosperity it will check
the rapidly,spreading bankruptcy and
poverty which threatens to overwhelm
the country. Furthermore, he in
auired with keen sarcasm whether
the metropolitan press had ever de-
handed that Senators sld members
interested in national banks, in any
of the thousand industries affected
by tariff legislation, should refrain
from voting in regard to them. "If
such a rule were insisted upor," said
he, "might il not leave one or both
branches of Congress without a
quorum Might not strict enforce
ment Of such rule render necessary
the creation OF an Idle and privileged
class to legislate for this countay 2
He then pronounced high eulogium
on the people of Nevada, gave pic
turesque description of their toll
enterprise and hardships in wrench
ing silver from its embraces Of ada
mant by exhausting labor, and elo
quen,ly claimed they have rights t.
protection as sacred as those of thu
national creditor. In his peroratior
he created sensation by boldly at
lacking in detail and in the aggre
gate several of the New York city
newspapers for their course in de
nouncing the vast majority of Con
gress as dishonest reppdlators. Thi
he maintained was in effect shame
full and pernioions assault upon tn
national honor; but he warned it
makers that the people, by peaceiu
methods, would nevertheless in thi
capitol demonstrate through consti
tutional means their imperial will
Immediately upon the termination o
this speech there was a burst Of en-
thusiastic and long-c,ntinued ap
plause from Senators ON both sides o
the chamber, as well as from tn
galleries, and more than half til
members of the Senate left their seat
and crowded around Senator Jones I
congratulate him, the first bein
Senator Blaine, Who sat directly i
front of him. So great was the confu
sion caused by these congratulation
that despite the efforts Of the pre-
siding officer and numerous calls
order it was nearly ten minutes b.
tore order was sufficiently restore
to allow the business of the Senai
TO proceed. Official reporters an
other old habitues of the Senate sa
the scene has never been parallele
within their recollection. Conklin