New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-08
MR.. WINDOW AND THE SILVER BILL.


AS SHOWN BY HIS SPEECHES.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRTBUNEl
WASHINGTON, March 7-COnsiderable misappre-
bension exists in regard to Secretary WINDOWS
views upon the silver question, growing out OF the
fact that he voted for the Silver bill. An examl-
nation of his record develops the fso'
that his views singularly in accord IN many re-
spects with those of Secretary Sherman, and 1t Is
remembered By those who have talked with MN
since the passage of the Silver bill, that his motive
in voting for that measure was chiefly a pOltlcal
one.
By the passage Of the Silver bill, he said, the ne
publcans drove the Democrats from one posiuoh
where they would have had great advantage
There was widespread sentimentin favor OF the ~
mopetizaon of silver in some FORM and had Republl-
cans denied IT, Democrats would have made it their
chief grievance in the next campaign. By passing
the bill the issue was wiped out, and they were IN
fact forcsd over on TO the imitation platform. A
sneecb delivered by Senator Window on February
Is. 1878, from which the following extracts are
taken, will be convincing upon the polut re-
ferred to- He seemed to b"vo worked hard
to amend the bill in accordance with sound views
and failing in thatvoted for 1t for the reason stated
The amendment under discussion was On'reu ny
Senator Wallace as iOlOWS:
One hundred millions OF such dollars shall be coined
during three years from this date. and II me average
monthly GOLD paid Tor sucO silver UulllOn uulhk
te last twelve months thereof shall Oe less than ninety
seven one hundrcdths OF gold dollar the secretary OF
the Treasury may suspend sCch coinage until further
action ny Congress
Mr.. Window sad
approve of tho amendment offered by the Senator
from Pennsylvania tMr. Wallace; the only cruclsm
v0uid make is that the time shall cease 70
coin deprecated dollars ts postponed too long w0ui
much prefer that the coinage should cease at the end
of two years II this dollar does not prove
10 be equal TO the standard dollar OF the commercial
world ANY vote that shall give to-day upon this Dill
and amendments shall be given with the hope at east
gold dollar am in favor OF the remonetLation OF
silver provided that the dollar Is equal
10 the gold dollar. Senators declare Their
belief that Il viii be. Let then give the world an
expreRson not only Of fDih IN It, but OF our honest
Intention 70 make hereafter. n we fan tcnigh TO
provide the right quantity Of silver 10 accomplish that
object am Therefore, ready 10 say by this amendmcut
thai f 4l2e grams OF silver viii not make dollar which
snail be TIC equivalent Of the commercial dollar Of tue
world, will add enough silver 10 make II 80.
After some further discussion, and after the
amendments had been voted down, Mr. Window
made another short speech. in which he said:
We are now brought face 20 face with the ques-
aiDRlo standard favor the former. behave in the
OF syor but most deeply regret that the
Senate IA UNIV ng 10 make dollar Of AGO grains, or at
least give the country assurance that n Al2s
grains will make dollar worth 100 cents IL snail DO
made 80 by future legislation, From the causes Just
mentioned, and many others. public sentliIent mas
been created which Will only be satisfied with the tr!ai
~ ihe thing n dgmAnds IL VIII continue 10 deinapn
this or some measure like IT, until has been faltly
tested and, as lear, found wGnuu@'