The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-25

Solid and Effective Republican
Phalanx In Opposition to
the Bill
Kefnfo by Some Gold-Bug Democrats
These Republicans Prevent tho Pas
sage of this Bill.
WAsH1NeToN, March 24.-'rhe galleries
was resumed and there was very large
attendance on the part Of tho members.
Bland announced that he would postpone
his motion for the previous question till
hve O'Clock. to give an opportunity
for creator debate. Williams
s(lll.), democratic member of the coinage
committee, opened the debate in favor of
the bill. Williams elected much applause
when he exclaimed: 1.-THE unit of value is
a creature Of the law. and the power Of
declaring what shall constitute the unit of
value in tbs United States is vested in con-
gress nlone.'
He criticised the administration for
working against the bill. and predicted that
Il the measure passed the house the admin
.istration would exert all its mighty intiu-
ence TO force gold to premium, creating a
trepidation to prevent like action by the
senate. In q sharp passage at armR, which
now enEued between Wike (Ill.), and Will
liams. the latter maintained that the silver
coin Of Europe is already at par with gold.
and that the United States is capable of
taking care Of the bullion yet unconed,
Cochran {N. Y.) well-known Tammany
leader, orened for the opposition to the
bill, which he vigorously attacked. He
nevertheless complmented Chairman
Bland's report and declared that he had no
patience with Mr.. Hnrter. who had said:
II credit him (Blaud) with gross ignorance
as the only excuse for his attitude
Cochran said while disputinQ the con-
olusions Of Bland, he desired also to dis
pute tho statement Of Harter. If there
floor, il had not been by the gentleman from
Missouri This thrust at Harter was
greeted by applause. Cochran was fol-
lowed by Cummings IN. Y.) who said his
constituents were opposed to the bill. and
ne would therefore vote against it. Ding
ley (Maine) also spoke in opposition to
the bill, saying that it's effect would
twenty one millions annually more than
they are now receiving for their product.
In addition to this our mints would be
flooded BY silver imported from abroad
Hatch (Mo.) made strong party speech
in favor of the bill, announcing that he was
party fealty. He told Williams MASS J
that he did not know the first principle OF
democracy, and when Williams asked If he
was reading him out of the party Hatch re-
torted that Williams said the time was
conn snEs,1Eaen ths~ dempclatic party would
have to choose between democrats of New
York and the alliancs of the south. He
(Hatch1 was willing to make the choice
if necessary. and would swap the barefooted
statesman from Kansas (Simpson) for the
gentleman from Massachusetts, and if an
other swap were wanted he would take in
the erring young democrat from Georgia
(Watson) and throw over another Massa-
chusetts mugWunp. The speech created
almost a sensation.
Loud (Cal. said the first and most potent
reason why he should vote against the bill
WAS that in the platform of the republican
party there was engrafted o plank against
the free coinage of silver. Further. in the
laws of his state. in the obligations OF
most every country, and in Ill notes and
them payable in gold. 10 assume that the
people of California were in favor of the
free coinage Of silver would be to assert
that they were living lies. He remembered
when. as q mechanic, he had to take his
500 month in silver and exchange it at a
loss Of s6 before paying the butcher and
baker.
Bartine (Nev.), leader of the republican
free coinage men, made an able and COM
prehensive speech reviewing the fiscal
policy of this country and Europe on the
silver question during the past century,
and combating the arguments against free
silver. The ruling classes in eastern cities.
by special legislation, were swelling into a
white heat of indignation at the thought
that silver miners would realize an en-
hanced price through free coinage. The
only mon in Nevada ever called by the
name of money kings were engaged in pro-
ducing more gold than silver. 1t was these
infamous miners, who had furnished the
to pay the national debt and the balance of
trade. The farmers have more at stake in
this question than the silver miner. The
great bulk of wheat sold in the European
ma ket is sold in competition with
silver-usinR countries and upon a
silver basis. 1t is perfectly plain,
said Bas tine that the Indian producer has
the advantage over the American producer
i'll the English market. Both sell at the
same peice. The Indian takes his silver
home. whore it is just rs good and effective
money as it over was. The American can
obtain tho sans amount of silver, but if he
brings it to America he ussains loss of
80 per cent in convert ting it into our stand
ard coin. Rartina did not pfetand to be-
lieve that everything abnormal in the
social and Industrial conditions of the
day day has resulted from silver demonet.
ization. Never did he claim that its re-
monetization would convert the American
continent into II terrestrial paradise and
fill the land with Ethiopian bisa, but no
did believe its general results would be all
i'll the line of hene!icence; that it would
encourage enterprise and lead to the more
even distribution of wealth.
u. b. Taylor tOhiol in the course of his
epeeoh expressed surprise that Hatch had
declared the repeal of 1873 the greatest in~
fanny of the century, and that it WAS Gone
by republican congress ana u republican
president. Hatch knew that not II single
democrat voted against the measure i'll tho
senate, that Thurman nnd Hayard voted
for it. and the only votes east against it
were by republicans.
Castle (Minn.) and English IN. j. op-
posed the bill. Taylor (il.l hnd read II
proposed substitute Intended to ridicule
the pending bill. Sweet tlda,) favored
free coinage. Smith tlll} deprecated the
consideration or the measure from party
standpoint and said he should vote against
the bill. Butler (Iowal closed tho debate
by saying when the act of 1873 had brought
farmers into Il condition of suffering the
liunaite, arose and with comical substi-
n "A nH1e1 jnpplt n in, ~ 9,H Eot hp