Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-17
MORRILL, ON SILVER
The Venerable Senator Wakes
Humorous.
THE "BOMB-PROOF" SMOKING ROOM,

Where Presidential Possibilities Find
Refuge When Record on the Cues
tion Is to BE Made-Siivery Contentious
That the Vermont Statesman Cannot
Agree With-Connection Suggested
Between Silver Ideas and the Green
bach Theory-Parting Shot Before TAX
ing a Rest
WASHINGTON, June 17.-Morrill of Yer
mont, the venerable chairman of the sem
ate finan ce committee, obtained an indef-
mite leave of absence yesterday, but be-
fore he took his departure from the sem
ate chamber concluded to help along the
oratory on silver and get in a few drives"
at Palmer and Hill-especially Hill-and
thereby reinforce Morgan at the sena-
torial bellows. He said that the free coin
age resolution which opened the debate
was evidently pushed by the distinguish
ed senator from Alabama (Niorgan) with
some comic hopefulness that the seua-
torial Democratic candidates for the presi-
denCy would remain in the senate TO have
their votes counted, and not seek by flight
outside into the "boom-proof smoking
room" to escape from all harm. But the
skilled marksman from Alabama" said
Morrill,, must have been sadly disap-
pointed, as | was, that he did not wing a
single presidential bird, and he was APP
parently not unwilling that the brave SEN
ator from Nevada, nothing loath. should
jump on board of the rudderless coinage
craft as the pilot to steer it on its perilous
voyage
Means Goodbye to Gold.
when the partiSans of free coinage of
silver talk about bimetallism," said Nor
rill, they mean goodbye to all but silver.
All else must get out Of the way. No pre-
vision is ever suggested in behalf of an
increase or extension of gold; but we are
asked to believe that when the govern
ment purchases silver at the coming price
the owners ask for it, and declare that
the public shalltake at that price, that then
its value will miraculou>ly mount up to a
parity with gold. MIR. President, that
declaration would not go unchallenged by
the freshman class OF a woman's village
school in Way back
Makes Fun of a Contention.
The contention that we can add 50 per
cent. to the value of silver throughout the
world by the free coinage of silver dol
lars containing 57ll+ grains of pure silver
to the fun extent Of whatever silver bull
ion may be attracted to the United States
minis or be presented from all parts of the
world to be coined and held forever i'm
pri>oned in the tombs of the United States
treasury, and thereon sustain legal ten
der paper circulation with the full value
of any other dollar Is IA feat of hardly less
extravaganza than would be patent pro-
ject to warm the moon hy setting fire to A
wood pile on Pixies Peak"
The Demand for Cheap Money!"
Morrill, contended that the silver law of
1890 was constantly increasing our paper
currency At the rate of 81, 0O0, 900 yearly.
With more money in circulation than ever
before the silver orators stretched their
consciences to make the American people
unhappy by persuading them that there
was an alarming deficiency They de-
manded greater abundance of what they
called cheap money Apparently a o.
cent silver dollar was not cheap enough
and they put forth the lofty demand for
an increase of our circulation from 81 to
so per capita, TO be wholly propqed ous..-
Yer in order to make assurance duublv
sure by enormous initiation that the silver
dollar should become still cheaper.
The Fiat of the Government.
Continuing he said some silver par
tisans insist that the free coinage of silver.
when made "A legal tender by the fiat of
government, would bring it to a parity
with gold on the old ratio and declare
there i no proof to the contrary. They
well know that not for twenty years, not
since the sudden and growing deprecia-
ton of silver, has any nation, enlightened
or Unenlightened, been so fO0Ihardy as to
attempt the rash experiment; and yet they
appear to insist that the United States
shall alone accept it without trial. take
the leap in the dark, and cut off all chance
of retreat.
The Greenback Doctrine Suggested.
If, however, the fiat Of the government
should exhibit the magical power to give
a 60 cent silver dollar by coming it and
making it a legal tender, as much current
value year after year as a I00-cent dollar.
how long would it he before some Green
back party, or before the honorable SEN
ator from Kansas IPefferl in behalf of the
Farmers Alliance, would be pushing some
measure to drive all silver out of the field
by declaring with irresistible logic that if
the fiat of the government saves one
third of the cost of money by the use of
silver, why not save it all by the use Of pa
per? The silver men will find in the belly
of their argument half-grown, lustv
Greenback party, that it will not be pos
sible to underbid.'
The Typographical Union.