The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-07
THE THEME WAS SILVER.
Teller, Morrill, ard Vest Address
the Senate on That Impor-
tant Subject.
Good Reasons Why the Farmers
Voted With tho Demo-
cratic Party.
Compilations Over tho Route oT the
Nlcaraguan Cnnai--Sature Of an
Unratifed Treaty.

WhbHiNGTON, jan. 1.--WnIie addressing
the senato upon tho financial bill to. day,
Teller said Inc supposed the slanders that
had been perpetrated for the last eight or
ten months would be renewed, at least out
side OF this chamber, to the effect that the
friends OF the free coinage Of silver bad
entered into an alliance with the opponents
OF the elections bill for it's defeat, in return
Tor their votes ir favor of free coinage.
There never WAS more unfounded slandcr
published than this. Teller proceeded to
criticise Sherman's speech, which he de-
clarsd consisted of nothing but assertion rs
to what would follow the passage Of the
pending bill. The senator from
Ohio had declared tho country was on q
gold basis. The senator had attempted to
pnt the country on that basis bat had been
unable to do SO. The senator had
the wonderful facility of being on
all sides of all financial questions.
Referring TO the condition of the Ameri-
can farmers, and showing it to be less pros
porous than that Of the farmers of France,
Teller said the farmers Of America made
themselves heard last November TO his
re0rtt and the regret of the senators ON his
sidepf the chamber. They had been found
voting almost unanimously with the demo-
cratic party. They had not changed their
politics. but they had been dissatisfied
with the republican management of fnan-
cIal affairs, and for one, he did not wonder
at 1t. He had tried last year to have the
senate listen to their voice. He knew they
wanted free coinage Of silver. Proceeding
to discuss the section of the bill providing
for the purchase of twelve millions of
silver. Teller said he washed his hands of
any responsibility for that. He had no
interest or sympathy with men who
speculated in silver. He denies any
Of the alleged silver pool. The
pending bill WAS not brought forward in
the interest of the silver states. If the
twelve millions of silver were in the hands
OF the miners of Colorado there would not
have been any anxiety to buy it up: but it
was in the hands of political and financial
circles in New York-and that was the rea-
son why there was 10 much anxiety about
1t IL e. -tein quarters. He said the yropo-
sition had come from New York and not
from the silver states. They we're indiffer-
ent about it. and thev were indifferent to
the price Of silver. They had some inter
ead 1 course in n,bpr puttmg uE the price Of
produced. Bnt their great interest in the
question was that silver should be used as
money. He opposed the fourth section of
the bill. which provides for the issue of
s2O0. 100000 worth of two per cent.
bones; tha Entail. IT. was was Teller asserted, in
the silver spectators of Now York and the
bankers OF the country. 1t absolutely ig-
nored the people Of tie United States and
their demands for more money. He allud-
ed to the silver legislation Of last. session as
q mere makeshift and said that there was
but one sure method and that was the free
coinage of silver.
Sherman said he would Mt some future
time reply to some of Teiler's observations.
But he did not care to do SO now. Morril:
then addressed the senate. In view of the
late financial panic in New York and of the
rather popular demand for some increase
OF the currency, nc had been willing TO
stretch point in order to keep step with
the senators from Colorado and Nevada. |
But the appetite grew by what it fed upon. !
1t had not been enough to assent. without a |
whimper, to the purchase Of $12,OOOOOO |
worth OF silver, supposed to be in the !
hands OF spectators. nor to the |
provision for the issue of treas
NY notes to the extent of $lS0.OOO, 900 |
to purchase silver bullion; but it WAS pro-
posed whenever the market price of silver |
bullion should be dollar or over for BIZ |
grains of pure silver. that the purchase of
silver should cease and that free coinage of
silver should take place; and get all these
propositions. tipped with silver. promised
10 finality but were to 'stretch ont TO the
rack of DOOM" He was, and ever had
oeen. sincerely and heartily disposed to
support any fair and reasonable measure
ending to advance the market value of sill
'er, but it appeared to him that his silver
friends were asking too much, and he had
o halt before pluuging into a shoreess and
sea. One Of the most potent
in the march of civiliza-
ion was an honest and unalterable stand
Ird Of money.
Vest argued in favor of the free coinage
# silver. He replied to Morrill,. ard in the
curse of his remarks allnded to the state
nent that he had received n letter from ex-
resident Cleveland, recanting some of his
Jews on the silver question, as not having
he slightest foundation. All that he (Vest)
ad ever said was that he had reason TO be-
eve that Cleveland had, after further ex-
modified to some extent his
pinion In regard to the free coinage of
liver. As to the alleged combination be-
ween democratic senators and silver sena-
ors, lie denied its existence.