New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-09
SILVER IN THE SENATE.
HILL MAKES TELLING SPEECH ON THE SIDE OF
HoNEsTY-A SLIGHT BRUSH WITH BLAINE.

MIL MAKES A TELLING SPEECH ON THE SIDE OF
HoNfsTY-A SLIGHT BRUSH WITH BLAINE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-The weeks debate on the
Silver Bill in the Senate was closed to day with
noble speech by Senator Hill, of Georgia. Mr..
Withers, of Virginia, spoke after him, but nobody
Thought it worth while to listen, although he proba
bly contributed something to what has already
been said on his side of the question.
Mr. Hills speech was remarkable in several ways
is an event of no ordinary interest in this debate
for Southern Senator and he Democrat, to speak
nm the Size of honest money at all. Left to them
selves not few of the representatives IRON south OF
the Potomac would not go astray on tins question,
but while they have been attending TO other
things they have allowed the demagogues OF
their section and the editors of the newspapers
who have gone wrong through perversity or lgnor-
ance TO create public sentiment on the wrong side
until it requires more than ordinary courage for
Southern Democratic Senator to throw himself into
the stream and try to stem the flood Mr. hlls speech
was also remarkable for the force and vigor with
which he presented his strong points and for the
boldness with which he attacked some OF the dis
tiDctvely Democratic positions on the subject, and
carried them.
Mr. Baines speech yesterday made some impress
sion but less than most of his efforts. Mr.. Blaine is
greatest in personal or political controversy, when
he has an opportunity to attack his political oppo-
nents with dd h0mRcm arguments, and ride
rough-shod over every one who gets IN
his way either to question his arguments or
to oppose a policy which he advocates. He
was perfectly at home when engaged in the
controversy with Mr.. Hill in the House in the
last Congress ON the Amnesty question: when
towering above Proctor Knott that little states
man from Kentucky undertook to break down
his character when provoking Senators
Dawes and Hoar to question his history and
Interpretation of ii at the presentation of the King
statue. But when it comes down to cold-blooded
logic and the discussion of questions in which there
is less opportunity to display those wonderful quail
ties which he possesses as "leader of men," SeDa-
for Blame, while he still stands in the frontlrank Of
Senators, does not tower above his fellows as
he does on occasions such as those described
Mr. Blaine's speech yesterday was remarkable for
;ts compactpess and drectness as well as for the
pecular position lie took in it on the Silver ques-
ton but the time has not yet come when II can be
really effective. The supporters OF the Bland Dill,
in their conscious strength, are not in mood to ac-
cept any compromise, and a majority of the oppo-
nents of it see no use In yielding any
thing if they are not to be met by the
other side and Their offers of compromise
are TO be spurned. But there is time likely to
come when Mr.. Blaine will be looked upon as the
leader of his party and of the advocates of honest
money. on account of this very speech; and it is
because of the possibility that the Republicans can
be united on some measure. such as he proposes,
that his speech is chiefly important. lie does not
expect his ideas to be adopted now and he said so,
but he does undoubtedly think that his time is
coming ~ -, ,
In the meantime some portions OF Mr.. Blalnes
sneech are provoking much criticism from all sides,
and none perhaps more than his assertion that IT is
unconstitutional for Congress to demOnetiZe silver.
IL is doubtful if there is a single constitutional law
Yer in Congress whose views have not been warped
and twisted by public clamor on the Silver ques-
ton who agrees with him and Mr.. Hill attacked
him on that point today with considerable yIgor.
Mr. Blaine was quick to strike back, and so lar as
the battle of words concerned, got the best Of
it. Mr.. Hill, who had learned Il valuable lesson
from experience, put stop TO the contest at once
by refusing to hear Mr. Blaines questions after
two or three of them and the latter sat down with
an air of satisfied triumph
But Nh. Hill having escaped from the hands OF bis
old enemy lin debate, not oherwIse,l went on 10
explain his position in such way that II must nave
carried conviction to all who heard. The most stink
ing passages of Mr.. Hills speech were those In which
he showed the cause of the present depreciation
of silver and from the facts he presented drew the
necessary conclusion that simple reconciliation
in this country could not put tine price of silver back
where ii was In 1870; his treatment of the bond
question, and the lecture which he read to that
prince OF demagomes. Voorhees,. which was none the
less pointed because 1T was IInpeisohai MI. Hius
speech Will repay careful reading.