The Portland daily press., 1892-07-15
Mr.. REEDS SPEECH.
Free Silver and the Attitude of the Two
Great Parties.

NOoACoudy oullAS eiiO uoo's'S "AS--
preceded the defeat of the resolution
providing for the consideration of the
Stewart free coinage bill:
Mr.. Speaker: desire to say few
words to the House. L do sincerely con-
graduate the Democratic party upon its
attitude of repentance. All the time
that the gentlemen on the other side
were procl aiming how sorry they were
for the views which they have recently
entertained [laughter my mind
was occupied with a pic
ture of the Democratic party as mi
nority of this House in the last Congress
remember how fierce they were on the
subject. I remember the announcement
by the distinguished gentleman who has
since become the presiding officer of this
House, that the one thing which the
Democratic party yearned for was free
silver; and that declaration was followed
in the record by Applause on the Dem
ocratic side" Laughter l remember
when the distinguished gentleman who,
on account of his many virtues, was at
this session made chairman of the com
mittee on ways and means, and the lead
er of this House, announced that he, too,
representing the Democratic party, was
in favor of the free coinage of silver.
And we had then, swiftly following,
Applause ON the Democratic side" |
remember how leader after leader took
the floor and announced how earnest and
-, J.,x fr,, ho froo of
silver. And for moment it actually
seemed
AS If the Democratic Party
had struck level which might possibly
be called level of principle.
But the gentleman from Tennessee
mr. Patterson has cleared up all that
matter. He has explained to us the real
principle which underlies the existence
of the Democratic party-only he has
somewhat embellished that principle in
order to make a quotation. He
says the great principle which
underlies the Democratic party
is public office; and he adds that it is a
''public trust;'' and that relieves it from
the nakedness of a true principle, and it
becomes quotation as WELL Laugh
ter.
Yes, Mr.. Speaker, I well remember
when I sat in your place that the whole
Democratic party-New York and Mas
sachusetts, and all the now raging hard
money men-stood up here and voted to
override decision of mine. the sound
ness of which no man here dares to dis
pute. And not until we got majority
of our own party present against free
coinage did these gentlemen who are
now SO vigorous in their advocacy OF
'shonest currency step forward, when
their was no necessity for their bearing
the brunt and the burden.
Mr.. Speaker, whenever you come to
actual business, the Republican party
takes the front position, as it does today.
Applause on Republican Side.]
1t does not shirk the responsibility,
but leads the hosts of opposition at all
times, and under all circumstances, to
plans and methods of legislation which
would injure the currency of the coun-
try, and throw cloud over it's business
prosperity. Now, am not accomplishing
of the Democratic party, that they have
not had the courage of their bad princi-
Piles. 1 am only pointing out to them
here, and wish that my voice was loud
enough to point it out to the country
that they are ready to profess every prin-
ciple which is founded upon the want of
knowledge or assumed want of knowl-
edge on the part of the people of the
United States, catering to their lack of
knowledge in order that they may them
selves win Office by securing votes. But
/ am glad of that redeeming principle of
human nature which makes some of
them when they stand face to face with
the injury to their country, recalcitrate.
Nor do | mind the hating language with
which they do 1.-THE trembling voices
of the sinners returning home. Laugh
ter and applause].
There are different classes of men who
are in favor of silver coinage. There are
men on the broad frontiers of this coun-
try who are deeply interested, and whose
interest, believe,
Obscures Their Honest Judgment
upon this question. Controlled by their
supposed interest, they are blind to the
injury which they might inflict upon the
country and which they might do them
selves as we'll. With such men l have
reasonable degree of sympathy, for they
are the pioneers of civilization, broaden
ing the paths of empire in this great
country; and everything that could do
for them, consistently with the safety
and welfare of the country at large, 1
would gladly hasten to do. And yet they
have no right to ask of me, and of those
who believe as do, to give them tenn
porary benefit at the risk of the destruc-
ton of the business interests of the coun-
try.
But there is another class with whom
1 have no sympathy; and that is the class
of men who desire to debase the currency
of this country for the purpose of pay
ing their debts in a cheaper coinage than
that in which they contracted them. l
refer to the men who, in order to relieve
themselves of individual embarrassment,
are willing to wreck their country. And
there is still another class against which
/ have all possible objection, and that is
the class which is sometimes represented
here. of men, who, without believing for
an instant in the doctrine they advocate,
are joining in the popular clamorin order
70 rot for Themselves offices or to enable