The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-15
HONESTY AND DBMAeoeY.

That was an interesting passage between
Senators Beck and Sherman on the silver
question. It was quite like old times to see
the Kentucky Senator drag in by main force
the old raw-head and bloodY-bones of the
characterization of silver and rattle the
skeleton in approved style. Beck is a man
of undisciplined mind, extensive misinforma-
ton and loose ointed ideas. He shoots at
craftsmanship with a blunderbuss, and prac-
tices finance with sand-bae. A con slider
able portion of his speech was devoted to
revamping the old talk about the secrecy"
and dark lantern methods" by which the act
of 1873 was passed, which substituted the
single for the double standard. All the
changes have been rung on this time-honored
charge in past years. In support of his as
sertion that it was piece of ''star-chamber
legislation" Mr.. Beck quoted from
several Senators. among others from Sen
ator Voorhees,, that the provision referred
to chad crawled into the statute books
furtively and noiselessly." This highly fig
uratiye and characteristic language of the
Senator from the Wabash was his way of say
ing that he didn't understand the meaning or
effect of the provision when it was passed.
For Senator Beck to quote Senator VOORHEES,
as financial authority is about as if Dennis
Kearney should quote John L, Sullivan on
disputed reading of Shakespeare. Citing Sem
ator Voorhees, opinions on finance is like
trying to express a mathematical idea by
string of ciphers without digit in front of
them. Senator Beck's Endorsement of Voor-
bees was like bringing up the string of ciphers
with q small figure and placing decimal
point in front of all. It made an almost
enthusiastically small decimal of financial
visions
To show the extent of Senator Beck's mis-
information, reinforced by Senator Voor-
hees's picturesque ignorance, it was only nee
essary for Senator Sherman to state the facts
as they appear in the Senate records. These
show that the bill alleged to have 'crawled
into the statute books furtively and noise
lessly," was, as he said, "openly discussed,
fully considered and submitted to public
opinion in every form inside of Congress
and outside" It was under discussion and
before Congress three years, was printed thir
teen times, and debated over and over again.
"And yet" said Senator Sherman, members
of Congress had been quoted saying that
they did not know what was in the bill. If
not whose fault was itf" Whose indeed7
When Senators discuss bill or hear it dis
cussed for three years and are afforded thir
teen opportunities of reading it by as many
different publications of it, they should not
attempt to conceal their ignorance Of its pro-
visions by saying that it 'crawled into the
statute books furtively and noiselessly." AS
Senator Beck was not in Congress at the time
the bill was discussed and passed, his igno-
rance is little more excusable, but he ought
not to draw on that of others.
The discussion turned on the manner of the
passage of the act of 1873 rather than its mer-
it's. Concerning the latter, Senator Sherman
declared himself in favor of silver, as of
course everybody is, but said silver dollars
would have to be maintained at the gold
standard, either by receiving them and hoard
ing them or by increasing their weight. AS
to the depreciation of silver since 1873. he
said it was of those things that human
wisdom could not foresee nor human power
prevent. He hoped it would advance in value
and regain its former place, but this could
only be by concert of action between mercan-
tile nations. Congress and the Nation"
said Mr.. Sherman, ''are powerful in many
things, but they not powerful enough to
create values" This proposition is still a
"stumper" to statesmen of the Beck Voorhees,
school.