Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-21

While we ire having the views OF inds-
yiQuais 70 entertain tho American people
tboneht II not out Of place TO give my
colleague an opportunity 20 speak as he
did sneak from his heart and judgment
wnnn he gave those eloquent uttcrances.
Jo.pd amendment.
Nj. Weaver irenew IL, Mr.. Chairman.
~ Niil be seen the dste OF those 60
called speeches
A member Con the Republican sids>
You are pleading the statute OF Limitation.
are youe
Dir. Weaver No, cir, never. want to
saS those remarks we're uttered In years
past whom the situation YVES entirely diff
fefont from what II is now and are the old
est kind OF chcstnuts IN my district and in
Iowa. tperisivo laughter on the Republic
can side.l No matter. gentlemen; they
laugh best who laugh last. Wait until
get through.
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa. VIII the gen.
tlsman yield for question?
wEAyrR's REPLY.
Mr. Weaver: No; cannot. will give
the gentleman oil be wants.
was az ardent opponent OF the Demo-
cratic party during the anti-slevery on the
issues that rose out of the war. IL relates
90 the distant past and IT ~ wholly un-
uttttrniys lVtOWtu ttlt ttHulNIU vi tl0
Republican party because | believed
whilst was doing II that they were right
and were the friends OF the poor. the
lowly, and the down-trodden; but when
learned that the Republicanism OF 1877
was not the Republicanism of 1860; when
] found that they had demonetized silver.
which bad been good enough for
everybody from the time of Washington
down TO the time Of General Grant;
when further learned that the Republican
party had passed the net of January IA,
1878. TO convert the greenbacks into in
st-bearin2 dobt. and another act 20
refund the public debt and make IL pay
able IN gold coin, thereby robhing the
people of fully 5000. 600. 900 in this single
enactment; when found they had
given away hundreds of millions of acres
Of the public lands and were making no
efforts to reclaim IL; when I learned fur
national debt. and intended to make it
the chief cornerstone of national bank
ing, and that bank notes were TO be SUBJ
stitnted for greenbacks as our sole paper
circulation, with the monstrous attendant
evils OF expansion and contraction at the
will of the banking corporations, and
when read the speech of John Sherman,
delivered at Mansfield, o., that such was
to be the settled policy OF the hepubli-
can party, concluded il was time for me
And although had been member of
the convention in 1877 that nominated my
colleague (Mr. Gear for Governor OF Iowa,
and had supported him in that convention
for the nomination. when | BECAME ac-
quainted with these facts wrote him an
open and frank letter saying that / could
no longer act with the Republican party.
/ could not do so because | found they
were no longer the friends ot the Door.
and that whilst we had emancipated four
millions of human beings, they were now,
through vicious legislation, pursuing q
policy which would, unless arrested. en-
slave many more million OF the white peo-
pie of this country. The events OF the
fears. Applause on the Democratic side.l
left them then and challenged them TO
open combat. and have never asked for
Quarter nor struck my colors. ] have de-
liyered blow for blow, ever trying to keep
within the bounds Of proper political war
fare.
left the Republican party when 1t had
80 900 majority in Iowa and 1900 majority
in my congressional district over all oppo-
sition. Does that look like hunting for an
Office Does IL not rather look like was
following nv conylctlonsi | leave this
House TO Judge of that matter. When L
began with the little baud of Greenbacsers
TO denounce these PTent wrongs found
the Democratic party Of the West, which |
had so vigorously fought in the past. under
the leadership Of the gallant gentleman
from Missouri [Mr. Blandl and others.
were leading in the good work of renone-
tization of silver. and they passed bill
through this House for its full and free re-
instatement. Applause on the Demo-
cratic side.
found, furthermore. that when the bill
for the free recoinage OF silver reached the
Republican Senate they emasculated 1t.
and that q Repu olican senator from my
own State CIR. Aliison) was the gentleman
who accomplished the result. Having
stabbed every greenback note in the back
with the word " except" they now sought
to send silver forth manned and crippled,
only TO be coined IN limited quantities.
and then only on government account.
found the Democracy OF the Northeast
and Of many other sections OF the country
bitterly opposed TO the destruction of the
greenback currency and its wicked con-
version into interest-bearing debt. and
early in the winter of 1878 thev passed n
bin through this House which put stop
TO this destruction. The little band OF Pc
ter Cooper Greenbackers had aroused the
country and many staunch old jackson and
Jefferson Democrats rolled up their sleeves
and went to work in their own party with
Democratic side.l Many Republicans, in
defiance of their party leaders, Joined in
the good work also. As the battle for
equal rights and fair play waxeG hot !
sought affiliation with the Democrats OF
INV district and State, and we have ever
since in my district, and often in the State
co-operated. and We have made 1t very
lively for you from that day to this. And
advise You 10 keep your ewes open, Tor
there Ia still more fun ahead. have never
Joined the Democratic party.
1 am a member to-day OF the Union
Labor party. into which the Greenback
party has practically merged, along with
some other labor organizations. While u
is true that have never joined the Demo
cratic party, have felt 1t TO be my duty 10
affiliate with that party in this House. IN
my State, and IN my district, whenever it
was practicable. through tho actions OF
separate conventions, because / believe
the Democratic party Is nearer TO the peo-
Pile than the Republican party. and be-
cause | find more friends there for the
principles which / represent than in any
other party outside of tny own.
But while thus aaiiating 1t has beeu
done in the frankest possible manner, and
with the distinct knowledge that reserve
nv independence and the right TO strike
at wrong wherever found, and the gentle
man knows that have been fearless in the
exercise Of my independence. | have no.
thing TO conceal here. Those old extracts
have been read in oil the campaigns in
Iowa for the past decade until they sound
like extracts from ancient history. The
Democrats there have said Yes, he did
hit us hard. but we hit him Just as hard.
and tho account il square; and we prefer
him TO any monopoly Republican that can
be put up in the State" Applause on the
Democratic side.
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa: desire to say
few words.
MIR. O'Neill, of Missouri; move to strike
out the last word.
Mr.. Henderson. of Iowa: l rise to OPP
pose the amendment Of my colleague.
Mr.. 0'Neill. of Missouri: The gentleman
has already spoken. want to know, MIR.
Chairman, whether It il possible to have in
telligent, colnmon-sense business done IN
this House whether II is not time to end
this interjection INTO tho tarln question OF
this political twaddle which is only wasting
the time of the House,
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa; Mr. Chairman,
am not recognizedl
Mr. Mills: would like.to have an end OF
this political discussion. Let us vote.
Mr. Townsend: Let us so on and work.
The Chairman; The Chair recognizes
the gentleman for that purpose.
PLEADING THE "BABY ACT"
Mr.. Henderson. of Iowa: .'How have
the mighty fallen!D My colleague Mr..