Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-03-26

that the action of the government OF
the United States on the free silver
question had been an invitation to Eu-
rope to 90 on the gold standard. We
began silver's decentralization In 1873
and in all our efforts to restore silver
we had been defeated by limitations
When free coinage bill was passed in
the house in 1878 by two-thirds ma
jority and sent to the senate the same
idea of an international agreement was
injected into the question. and mean
while we provided for the purchase OF
from 81, OOO, 900 to $4,000 q month.
The last congress passed an act to pur-
chase 1900, 900 of silver monthly and
its friends proclaimed that 1t was done
in the interest of silver. Sarcastical-
ly.] He opposed that bill and said the
gentlemen were deceiving themselves
and the country and that silver could
not be brought to par in any such man
ner.
The law of 1878 compelled the coin
age and use Of the silver dollar. The
law Of the last congress used the bull
lion for what? AS mere dead capital
in the treasury which might as well be
ut the bottom Of the Potomac. Was
the United States to be frightened by
the actions Of other nations? Because
they were demonetizing silver and 60
ing to o gold standard must the United
States follow suit? This silver ques-
ton was one that would not down be-
cause it was one that the American
people we'll understood.
In conclusion Mr.. Bland said: 81
appeal to gentlemen on this floor to
lay aside every idea of party exigencies,
every idea but that which is right and
lust and to cast their votes according
to the dictates of their own consciences
and to the pledges they made to the
great productive masses of this coun-
try. II they do that this bill is safe,
this cause is won" Applause.
At the conclusion of Mr.. BANDS
speech Mr.. Taylor. of Illinois, Of the
republican side, objected to Mr.. Will
liams, the democratic opponent Of free
coinage, opening the discussion in OPP
opsition to the bill 1.-THE majority of
the minority of the coinage commit
tee" said he, 'desire me to open the
discussion for the only party that is OPP
posed to this measure
MR.. WILLIAMS OPPOSES THE BILL
In his opening remarks Mr.. Williams
said he trusted that he wonld be found
to represent not only the minority of
the committee, but the "the majority
of the minority of the committee" as
we'll.
81 am SO acting" he said, 'tin behalf
of a cause which, so far as l know,
knows no party but is mere question
OF patriotism on both sides. Applause. ]
A man who now draws the party line
upon the merits of this question does
not represent his cause. He represents
himself or his party, but he does not
represent the true interests OF the great
American commonwealth"
Continuing, Mr.. Williams said that
members of the house would feel
Obliged to vote for free coinage al
though they did not believe in it. be-
cause their constituents have so in
structed them. Considerations which
now weigh with members would not
weigh in local conventions and local
committees. He believed that an ap-
preciating standard is better than q
fiuctuating standard, better than a con-
stantly falling standard 1t had been
adjudged that as we had the free coin
age of silver before 1878 without disas-
trous results, why should disaster now
follow this bill? He desired to remind
the American people that the none
tary conditions of the world have en-
tirely changed since 1878 and those
conditions are now beyond our control
Gold is the standard of nearly all the
nations of Europe, and when we de-
clare for the free coinage Of silver,
where will gold go? It will go to q
premium and q premium upon gold is
discount upon silver. The rest of the
world will fix the depreciation upon
silver according TO the markets of the
world and our standard will then be
10 cents 70 81. That means repudia-
ton: It means the throwing Of this
country into q dishonest settlement Of
every debt contracted upon our present
gold basis Applause. In conclud.
ing Mr.. williams presented the substi-
tute bill Of the minority providing for
an international monetary conference.
Mr.. HARTER's OPPOSITION.
Representative Harter. OF Ohio,
also q democrat, now spoke In oppoai-
ton to the bill, and insisted that the
Bland bill instead of increasing the
volume of money In circulation would.
ia its results, actually decrease It The
day after the president signed free
coinage bill, instead Of having 81, 500
600. OOO In circulation for the use Of the
people we will have $500. 600, for
money will be deprecated to this ex'
tant Damocrats are opposed to pro-