New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-17
THE TOTCE or DIR. TOORHEES.

warm in his seat before the mliltiudinous
voice of the Wabash is heard roaring through
the north end of the Capitol and the grave
and reverend scigniOrs stand at attention, ana
listen TO the sound. We are told that when
the Ichounding echoes stopped knocking one
another about the chamber, the Senators
gathered around Mr.. Voorhees, to offer COM
ailments upon his achievement, and to shake
him by the hand. The silver men, moreover,
rs they brought their fists down upon the
desks with an emphasis that Joggled
great drops of writing f'uid out OF the
inkstands, were heard TO remark, "ThatS
" the talk" and the more sangulne OF
them nominated Mr.. Voorhees, on the spot as
next President of the United States. Whether
we are to attribute the effect of this address to
the noise with which il was delivered. or the
sentiments which it contained, it Is equally
phenomenon worthy Of consideration. If the
Senate, or any considerable majority of IT. Is
DISPOSED to applaud such speech we must
take heed.
MIR. Noorh -cs appears to have presented no
new arguments III favor of the silver dollar,
and TO have met none of the innumcrablc OBJ
jcctions which have been urgedagainst the Bland
u,
the sound men of his own party, such as Mr.
Havard. But he has stated the purposes
of his faction-and the principles. such
rs they arc-with an aggressive frankncss that
cannot fail 10 impress the country. lie de
mands an absolutely unlimited issue of dcprc-
ciatcd and dishonest money an unconditional
violation of the nations pledge 10 redeem its
notes: bOundcss profu~ion of paper
promises to pay which shall he repudiated i'll
their tum; permanent system OF legislation
in the interest Of the dishonest debtor class,
and against the people whom he calls capital
ists and law cancclling at least ten per
cent of ali obligations, and authorizing the
discharge of all debts in dcbascd coin. If he
Gavors the silver dollar now, it seems To be
because that is the next thing to no dollar at
all. He would prefer piece OF worth
less and ilrcdccmabc paper which a creditor
only take, on compulsion. He has but one
remedy for all the evils of the time. If banks
fail and values shrink, call ninety cents n
dollar. If commerce stagnates, wipe out 10
per cent of every traders debts II property
sells for only two-thirds of its former price,
lower the purchasing value of the currency,
and 80 bring it up again The markets OF the
country are CONFUSED by bankruptcy and
fraud trustees abscOnd insurance officers
are sent 20 Jail the incomes of widows and
orphans are swept away; confidence Il de-
stroycd; men learn To distrust their best
friends, and To blush when the world discusses
The good faith Of their country; the
fine sense Of honor, which WAS once the boast
of the American merchant, Is actually de
uOunccd as "A crime against the poor; the land
is full of "suicidcS. and broken hearts, and
shattered hopes" and 10 remove all these
terrible evils here comes the Indiana Senator,
shouting. "Nincty cents make dollarm and
waving Mr. BANDS portcntous sponge.
If the purposes of the silver party are bad,
their methods are outrageous. The drift OF
the remarks Of Mr. Voorhees, and of many
other leaders of this faction is to create the i'm
preston that there are two classes of American
citizens with aniagoniStic interests in finance
The tax-paying millions who bear the burdens,
and a bondholding oiigarchy which swallows
the revenues. Every man who is in pecuniaIy
straits, whose property is m0rtgaged. who has
notes aiIoat, who owes money. is taught that
a conspiracy of bankers and spectators is
striving 10 grind the faces of the poor and
that robbing them of n part of their plumber
is only spelling the Egyptians; and when the
bankers refuse to lend good money any more
unlcss they can be assured that bad money
will moi be forced upon them III payment, Mr..
Voorhees, screams, "1'yIanny !" and cries ont
"In behalf of every lab0rcr and every
"0wncr of the soil whom | represent,
81 wain all such as value their investments
"that when these doctrines OF dcspOtISm are
"sought to be enforced this fair land will again
abe conyulScd in agony, and the fire. of liberty
"will blaze forth again Is they did one hundred
"ycals ago in defence Of the natural
rights of man. 1hercUpon, the report con
tnucs, there was "applausc in the galleries"
Shame upon such incendiaIy speech! There
j. 30 such thing in America ~ Il division of
the people into debtor aud creditor classes, 10
such thing possible as discrimination between
iaxpaycr and bondhOldcr. We are all taxpayers;
we are all crcdlt0rs we all hear the same
burdens; we all share in the prosperity of the
Nation, and suffer il its misfJYtuncs. To sow
animOsity between the people who work in the
cities and the people who work in The fields,
to teach tho poor man that he must hate and
envy, and if possible plumber lis more for
tunate nciehbor, who, having earned a COM
petencc. is now trying TO enjoy his own is
cIImc against society. What Il commentary it
is upon American enlightenment that in ths
age of free schools gentleman like Mr.. Voor-
hccs knows so little Of the condition of his
own country and has learned so little of the
lessons of history.
H. IN