The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Jan. 16. 1891.
The merry jingle of silver is the music which
the Senate has provided for the people to dance
to, by the adoption of the free coinage substi-
tute for the Financial bill, which went through
In spite of the determined and extraordinary
opposition of the administration and the re-
publican leaders in the Senate.
The democratic party has been committed to
free coinage, as far the votes of all the Sena-
tors of the party with one exception-W flson.
of Md can do So while the republican party.
of the eastern and middle States. are by the
same token committed against it. On this
question of finance, the most important in every
country, the republicans of the west and north
west. if the votes of their Senators represent
their views. and the presumption is that they
do, seem to be in accord with the democrats
and the Farmers Alliance. which is a much
more powerful factor in this matter than most
people believe.
The most sensational feature of the debate
which preceded the adoption of the free coinage
amendment. was the speech of Senator ingalls,
in favor of free coinage. 1t was more than that;
1t was a most speciously made plea to the
Farmers Alliance legislature of Kansas to re-
elect him to the Senate. 1t was in many re-
spects the best and most brilliant Grafton ever
delivered by Mr.. Ingalls, and had he not have
allowed his hatred of the South to inveigle him
into defense of the Force bill. which, by the
way, again has the right of way in the Senate,
at its opening, it would undou btedly have made
him many friends in this section, where, as he
probably knows, he now has none. As it is.
although it was carefully listened to and all OF
its strong points, and there were many of them
against the monopoly and greed of the growing
money power, were applauded to the echo. in
spite of the efforts of the Senate officials to pre-
vent it. it is regarded as the artificial plea OF
an otfice-seeker to obtain the support of mem
bers of an Organization pledged to oppose his
reelection co the Senate. and not as represent
ing his real sentiments. Nevertheless. he told
his republican colleagues and the republican
President, who stands ready. it is believed te
veto free coinage. should the bill get through
the House over the unscrupulous opposition ol
Speaker Reed, some mighty truths about what
the people will do in the future. should theil
wishes be thwarted in this matter. But it was
castin pearls to swine. The republican party
has never paid any attention to the wishes o.
the people. unless they happened to coincide
with those of the bosses of that party
John Bull must be trying to give the dyins
republican party toom At least one woule
SO suppose from his foolish &C ion in attempting
to get the aid of the United States Supreme
Court in his controversy with the administra
tion over the Behring Sea seal fisheries. AIR
Blaine would not have asked for anything bet
ter than the latest move of the British Govern
ment. 1t has given him what he has never hat
before-the united support of the American
people. England should have learned IRON ex
perience that American dignity cannot be tri
fed with without danger. Already democrat
Representative Enloe, of Tennessee, has intro
duced a resolution ia the House resenting thi
action and declaring it to be in 6erogation O
the dignity of the United States and providin
that q copy of the resolution be sent to tn
British Government. Uncle Sam hasn't muc
of a navy. but he has lots of dignity. and no
even the Queen of the Sea must dare to ru
him the wrong way.
A rumor very pleasant to democrats is circu
lating here this week, to the effect that ex
Representative Perry Belmont may be electe
to the Senate as Mr. Evarts' successor Mr.
Belmont's aggressfVeness while chairman O
the House committee on Foreign Affairs seyera
years ago proved that he has the Capacity c
making just the Kind of Senator that the dem
ocratic party would like to see sent from til
great State of New York.
One repuSlican-Mr. Dawes Joined Senator
Berry and Biodgett in minority report on th
Apportionment bill favoring an additions
Representative for Arkansas, Minnesota. Mis-
souri, and New York.
Senator Hearst is said 10 be dying at his res
dence in this city from o cancer in his stomach
His physicians have given up all hope
Senator Quay's new Force bill providing fo
the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus an
the use of the Army and Navy at the discre;fo
of the President. is regarded too absurd fo
serious discussion, and some of his friends sa
that he introduced it :or the purpose of di:
gusting the country with the whole subject
may not have been introduced for that purpos,
but that will be the effect