Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-03-23
THE SILVER ISSUE.
Battle Has Begun in
Earnest in the House
THE BEHRING SEA MIDDLE
Salisbury's Reply Said to Be Unsatis-
factory to Our Government.

WASHINGTON. March 3--The house yes-
terday, after several days of unusual dull
ness, presented "a decidedly interesting ap-
pearance. The galleries were more than
comfortably filled.
The opening OF the Gght on free silver
was the magnet which attracted the
crowd Recalling that when the order
from the committee OH rules. setting
aside three days for the consideration Of
the bill. was adopted, 1t led to very
lively fight, there were people who hoped
to witness n similar contest In the psrlia.
mentary arena.
They were somewhat disappointed; but,
while there was no fight, the visitors were
gratiGed by hearing several good speeches.
The debate was opened by Mr.. Bland,
the great champion OF the silver men.
Scarcely had Mr.. Bland reached his seat
than Mr. Tracey, who has assumed the
direction Of the anti-free-siiver fouBs, rose
to point OF order and tried to ksUzA out
the bill with one blow.
II looked for about thirty secou1S as II
the visitors, who came TO see Q fight.
might lie gratiGed. but when the speaker
overruled Mr. Tracey. that gentleman re
retired and left the field to his opponents
Mr. Bland spoke for an hour and twenty
minutes. aud was listened to with great
attention by b 9th sides of the house.
Mr.. Bland was followed by Mr.. Will
Jams. who only used thirty minutes Of the
h our to which he was entitled.
In his opening remarks Mr.. Williams
said he trusted he would be found To rep
resent not only the minority Of the com
mittee but "the majority Of the minority
of the committee" as we'll. II am acting"
he said, in behalf of cause which, 80 far
as know, knows no party. but Is q mere
question OF patriotism on both sides. A
man who now draws the party line upon
the merits Of this question does not repre-
sent his cause. He represents himself or
his party, but he does not represent the
true Interests Of the great American COM
monwealth.
Mr. Williams said that many members
Of the house would feel Obliged TO vote for
free coinage. although they did not be-
lieve in il, because their constituents have
Instructed them. Considerations which
now weigh with members, would not
weigh in local conventions and local
committees. He believed that an apprc-
ciated standard Is better than n huctuat-
ing standard, better than constantly
falling standard. II has been argued that
as We had the free coinage of silver before
should disaster now follow this bill?
He desired to remind the American
people that the monetary conditions
Of the world have entirely changed
since 1873, and those conditions are
now beyond our control. Gold is the stand.
ard Of nearly all the nations of Europe.
and when we declare for the free coinage
of silver where will gold go9 II Will GO to
n premium, and premium upon gold is q
discount upon silver. The rest Of the
world will fix the depreciation upon silve
according to the markets Of the world,
and our standa rd will then be 20 cents 10
81, that means repudation, IL means the
throwing of this country into dishonest
settlement of every debt contracted upon
our present gold basis.
/. In concluding. Mr. Williams presented
the substitute bill Of the minority, pro-
viding for an international monetary con-
ference.
Representative Harter spoke In opposi.
tion TO the bill, and insisted that the
Bland bill, instead OF increasing the vol
ume of money in circulation, would, in its
results, actually decrease il. The day az
ter the president signed free coinage
bill, instead Of having 81 800, ,000, 600 In cir.
culation for the use of the people, we will
have 81 200. 900 600. for money will be de-
preoiated to this extent. Democrats are
opposed to protection, vet many Of them
desired by this to give the silver producer
the benefits Of protective system