The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-02-28
HALF 4 LOAF.
Which, as hir. Phillips Truly Says,
is Better than no Bread at all.
The Speech Of Hon. w. A. Phillips
Upon the Silver Bill as Amend
&c by iie Senate.

-NE. - IL ilLNc, OF GeOTSi1- 1 NitI
three minutes Of my time to the gentlema
from Kansas, Mr.. PHILLIPS
Mr.. PHILLIPS. Mr.. Speaker, in the bri,
time allotted ME shall attempt no discu
sion OF the principles OF the bill or eve
t e p incip!es involved in the Senar
amendments. / hold that the question
now before us are of a different characte
to be settled in different wav All leg
iation is a species of compromise. Ever
man who enters this body i warranted i
presenting his views 20 it on any question
No m m5er Il warranted in saving that Il
VIII not vote Tor measure unless il pei
iectiy represents and fully completes h
personal conception. lie has Just as niue
right TO his own opinion a. the other tw
hundred and nisety men have to theirs, an
he IL sent here with the expectation that h
wall have sense enough to draw throug
the cIucIb!e Of American legislation IN
best thing lie can get Tor his constituent.
lie who in dominecring spirit declare
that lie Will defeat good measure unles
fifty men yield TO his Judgment has neithe
the capacity ii legislator nor the dignit
Of a statesman. And ii the individual leg
is.atOr cannot justly assume such positio
neither can on House The Senate of sey
enty members is just as potent in its ye
and nay as the House OF three hundred
Both must agree ere law can be made
and the wise legislator studies all tn
methods OF agreement. We sent to then
what We wanted, they have sent it back a
they wanted 1t, and We cannot assume tina
they did not give 1t consideration.
1 shall not discuss the element OF poSsibl
veto. assume that no President will vet
bill unless unconstitutional, or the crea
ture OF haste which has begCt perniciou
mischief, or where it contains an elemen
immediately dangerous to the public inter
ests and tranquility. That the President
signature to bill is simply deiiberativ
legislative act, AMI that he can Justly exer
else the same power Is either of thes
Chambers, is theory obnoxious to tn
genius OF the American Government, an,
which / venture TO say will never be 80 ex
ercIsed without meeting the stamp of popu
lar reprobaiion
Our task today is therefore not whsthe
We like the Senate amendments, but what ]
the best thing We can do for our constitu
ents and country. believe the very bes
thing We can d, is 10 concur in the Senat,
amendments, and say this when | believ
that most of those amendments detrac
from what the bill should be, cripple it
usefulness, an weaken Its power to reliev,
the country from Its present embarrass
ments.
Why should We concur? Because W,
gain positive good. We get firm foot
hold from which to get other powers, an,
we in all probability will not get either un
less We at the present moment take this.
Weremedy the wrong by which the Amer
lean silver dollar was asdemonetized. We de
clare our old dollar OF 4l2l grains a lesa
tender for all debts. We say to England
the great creditor nation OF the world
England that is the creditor Of every nation
and every individual, has tried to make tn
debts everybody owes her worth more b,
struggling Tor a single gold standard fo
three-quarters of century-that she NJ
longer controls American politics and tha
We shall force even her in her pride To CONT
back TO the ancient standard. That muci
We gain, and that is a great deal. That W,
gain b. accepting this bill and that We will
probably lose unless We now accept it.
Why? \ bill, like a man, has history
THIS bill is now clothed with certain pow.
ers. We can act on il and secure it. When
we refer it TO committee We throw that
power away We suhiec it 10 chance.
which will probably kill it, and we risk all
this in the vague hope that we can force in
we like like better. The country
needs and demands relief and is watching
us carefully, and will never sustain us in 50
a position, so reckless venture.
But, say some, if We do not secure other
things in this bill it will have little practi-
cal value, and a. this silver bill has popular
strength behind il We can dictate our own
terms. lie, US see. This battle is really
whether the United States shall be forced
On the British platform of single gold
The passage OF this bill tramples
Ii t doc crine in the dust. 1t d tinitely fixes
certain ideas on American money IL gives
Is the basis and We will get the rest.
The coin certificates are not bullion GER
iiicates. We ought TO h We bullion certi-
icates. If silver is one of our standards,
when the proper value OF 1t is deposited and
lss we'd, there is no reason why a certificate
@ act in Its place should no, be issued. Tosa,
We could not would be a reflection on Amer
can genius. When we have restored to
'ur old dollar the patent OF its nobility, We
will have our feet on strong ground from
which to demand the necessary details. Ii
he bill as it stands becomes a law. do
rot think we have a right to assume that
he President will be so unpatriotic rs to
'eto bills necessary to perfect the scheme OF
liver coinage. 1t would be impossible for
lin to do SO without becoming merely fac
ions.
Again, when the Senate struck out the
lause for free coinage it did wrong, but on
his subject it is proper to state there is
ivid d popular opinion. Formerly small
ercentage was charged by our government |
Or coinage, and the result was to drive our
ullion to other countries where it was
rec. To give our min,s what belonged to
hem we made gold coinage free, and now
ne enemies OF silver coin wish TO make il
step-child, and since they cannot keep il
ut OF the House strive to make it uncom-
'rtable in it. This bill passed and silver
i'll steadily appreciate to gold. venture
he prediction, and my prediction is based
4 figures and calculation, that before
venty months from the time the silver
Dllar is coined gold and silver, in the pro-
ortions of our standard, will be at par
ith each other, and before three years
ave passed it will again have risen to be
e dearest metal. Bills are being matured
r free coinage and silver bullion certifi-
ties, and these measures will come before .
Congress that has determined on the
,uble standard.
Again, the means by which the silver
in can get in circulation under these Sen .
e amendments is not good. In this and :
e invitations they contain 10 make private
ntracts to ignore it is blunder. II will G
event this bill from giving the country a.
u measure and As speedy measure OF
lief as we could have wished. The Senate d
$ thus taken this responsibility, and ere ,
,g will be glad TO undo what it has done. l
,r ought We to assume that the Secretary S
the Treasury will seek to defeat the pur- 5
rt of this bill by issuing gold and locking b
silver coin. Before We believe him TO be c
,tious let us wait and see and even il he a
there is law OF business that rises above
idicaies and secretaries. c
The country is awaiting our action with C
interest they seldom take in legislation
ID here let me entreat members TO reflect d
It our vote on these amendments is not t.
lily vote on these propositions them I;
YES. do not favor any OF these amend t.
nts, but ! shall feel that in voting for Il
m | am not voting on such proposition. $,
am voting on the proposition, "shaIl a
have our old silver dollar?' On that |
Iays vote aye. vote for the bill, and m
e for any proposition is a vote for delay d.
probable defeat. The country will so u
d 1t, and justly hold it. Let US have the 81
graph tonight announce that the first Il
at battle has be fought and won, and th
t victory perches on the banners Of ii
erican finance This is the Plevna Of gI
campaign ON the silver-dollar men, and
enemies Of American finance will soon o,
1t our feet. Our position is consistent,
E, and just. il
y