Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-01-15
OUTGENERALED.

In the contest that has been going on
in the United States Senate since the
opening of this session and for some
weeks before the close of the last session
the Republicans have been clearly out
generated by the Democrats. On the
start every advantage was on the side of
the Republicans. The bill governing
federal elections had the cordial support
of the administration and the moral
support of an endorsement by majority
in the House. 1t was strongly recon-
mended in President Harrison's last
message and has had the approval of
the majority composing several caucuses
of Republican Senators. With these
advantages in Republican Senate, it
would surely seem that the friends of
the bill ought to have been masters of
the situation. But they allowed their
respect for the dignity of the Senate,
their reverence for antiquated form, to
neutralize their advantages. Instead of
bringing debate to timely close on the
tariff bill last July and then doing the
same with the Lodge bill they observed
a custom which has been abolished in
all other legislative bodies, and per-
mitted the Democrats to obstruct bust
ness and make political capital by
delivering buncombe speeches. They
must have known that the silver men
were on the lookout for a trade, and
that the Democratic Senators, the per-
sistent sticklers for the dignity of the
Senate, would stoop to any kind of un-
principled huckstering and bargaining |
in order to defeat the fair election bill |
By entering into this combination |
with the Southern Democracy the silver |
men have greatly injured their cause in
the estimation of the people. The
pending finance bill gave them all they
ought to ask. 1t provided for increased
purchases of silver, and for free coinage
in case silver reached and remained at |
par with gold. But the silver men were
afraid this last provision could not be
fulfilled. They dared not take the risk
IF waiting for silver, upholstered by
to reach par with the more
precious metal. Their experience had
;aught them that this could not be
,ealized. Under the Bland bill silver
lad steadily deprecated in value as the
amount slowed away in the Treasury
1aults increased in bulk. After the
passage of the bill last summer there
vas rise in silver. We stopped ex-
porting that commodity and began
it. Chairman Conger, of the
House Committee on Coinage, Weights,
ind Measures, foretold in the House
,arly last July that boom would follow
purchases of silver. He re-
minded the House of the pools formed
o boom silver, saying that shares in
hem had been offered to him and other
members. Prices advanced under the
of legislation and they soon $
ell again. Now the silver men want
mother boom and free coinage is called i
or. 1t is asked for solely by the great
liver millionaires and their agents and
representatives. 1t is purely matter {
f business with them, a selfish question
f dollars and cents. Chairman Conger
aid in a speech in the House that free
oinage meant the virtual gift of about q
100000 to the mine owners and still c
nore to the silver spectators. And the
rave Democratic Senators, while boast
ng of their superior honesty, patriotism,
nd wisdom, are chiefly responsible for
be danger the country is in of having :
his wrong perpetrated. But the scheme
as not yet been executed. The bill will c
ndergo the fire of strong Republican
pposition in the Senate and House, Q
nd then it will run the risk of being
etoed by the President.