New-York tribune., 1879-05-09
MR. CHITTEYDEN ON SILVER.
a LIVELY SPEECH WHICH WOKE UP THE HOUSE
AND ELECTED MUCH LAUGHTER AND APPLAOsL'
Trrrct2ApU To THE TRIBUNR.I

"A
.xn ELECTED MUCH LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUSH.I
1v,eHrSGToN, May S.-When the House took up
n, warmers Silver bill to-day, Mr. Fisher of
ponnsvlvania. new member, made long speech
ogoinst II in reply to Mr.. Warner, of Ohio and ad-
vocated single standard.
ur Mills. of Texas, then took the floor and spoke
,,ntI he had tired himself and everybody else out
II usurped the functions of Judge Kelley who fills
.bo role of jeremiah so well, and drew graphic
nd pathetic picture Of the fOrlorn condition OF the
country One tired listener was heard toremark that
the speech of Mr.. Mills was too noisy to allow him
10 sleep and too dull TO keep him awake; ana that
seemed TO be the general opinion of the few mem
hers and visitors who sat through the performance
Mr. Cbittenden followed. As soon as he began to
sneak. sleepy members woke up, the cloak rooms
were deserted and good quorum of the House dis
Dosed itself TO listen. Mr.. Chittenden's keen
tbrusts at the Greenbackers and their appendix"
os he STYLED the Democracy, were heartily TeIiShed
on all sides and he was frequently interrupted by
rounds of laughter and applause. Mr.. Chittenden
said that he regarded this measure as the most i'm
,,ortant that has come before Congress for year.
Tn replv to Nr. Warner, who, he said, had claimed
that "tbe irredeemable legal tender paper
promises to paw issued for part of the war debt
are as good money as gold and silver" MI Cltten-
den said
1.-The is right if that be true. the United States owes
no man anything to be paid. II he Is right nat money!
imitation, lmmoderate specuallon eA,IaN S asan' n, a
riotOus living, consequent bankruptcy, nohslOus pcu-
tbe diseased attendants of a cruel civil t. be cured.
But they to be respected ana exalted as lDe cHa1
OF prosperity the nominal condition ana true lhdlCeS
of American progress and civilization. If he is right,
temperance, Industry, trugdI hVlpg' the paymtho vi
property ere nereses and devices Of thieves ana rob
bes deserving Of condemnation by all good men, Ihat
knows that II Is not He cannot stand that ground
to restore assured prosperity 10 this country any more
than he bud railway on the ice OF deep river IN
Winter and hope TO operate IL securely through the
heats OF summer
Mr.. Chittenden compared the clipping of the
Roman coins in the time of the Republic with the
act of the XLVth Congress in clipping the silver
dollar in 1873 He declared that he is not opposed
10 bi-metaism but that he is for it whenever prac-
hcable, and had never opposed the coinage of
honest silver dollars He then proceeded to explain
the true meaning Of free coinage, and said that it
was in the interest of buionists and capitalists
rlusively. He continued;
Again this law s its face the most gigantic JOB in
the interest Of great capMss M ever pnopOseu IN ~ Gon 80
plain direct stmuant to speculation in the boards OF
Deprecated silver in Europe, and If our surplus gold
income were two millions per day instead OF one,
as the accounts show 1t TO have been last year. 1t would
al be invested in silver 20 long any margin Of profit
remained, however small. At the prce of silver III
London to-day the prOht in Importing It would under
be about per cent IL especially note
worthy that the bill IL stands puts nearly per cent
premium on 80 100000 of so-called trade dollars,
nearly all of which hidden at the present moment in
China, Japan or elsewhere Whose wool is thatt
Bullion value So cents. Political value, 1O2 cents.
Difference So 100000 Who will get that's
Mr.. Chittenden then called attention TO some of
the other financial measures before the present
Congress, and said:
That makes two thousand millions thus far asked
for by three members Of the party OF tie tuture,
which boldly claims the Democracy for It's tan. ltls
understood that the National" party OF TINS House
j. for the present limited 10 fourteen or fifteen members
II three members require two thousand millions, IL VIII
require ten thousand millions to 10 round. th0ut
providing for the appendix. Moreover, we have a
member from Alabama speaking through the news
papers for lega-teDders enough To pay Oh te Interest,"
bearing portion of the National debt Immediately, ana
it is understood that number OF advanced thinkers In
the House favor that idea. Finally, and TO cap the
column, myself have been requested by New YORK
Greeubacker TO push bill through the House providing
that every father OF family, who Will take the trouble
Oregster at The UDited states Treasury, snail
have In monthly lnstanents all he requires (under
OATH 10 support his family respectfully. These prOpO
stiOns may appear ridiculous but they are danger sig
nails and there are the present Congress more dis
cOrdant currency theories ard greater confusion OF
extravagant ideas than have existed in any previous Con-
gress since greenbacks were first issued.
In conclusion, he SAID: " My prayer to Congress
in the of the people is please let the currency
alone. Give us peace. rest and liberty to prosper"