Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-03-31
Free Silver Coinage.
Speech of Hon. D. w. Voorhees,
of Indiana.
Mr.. VOORHEES,: 1 send to the desk

THE CHIEF CLERK: Apetition of p
members of Stillwell Post, No. 375, Of
the Grand Army of the Republic, of
Colfax, Ind, praying for the defeat Of
the free coinage of silver.
MIR. VOORHEES,: Mr.. President: In
presenting this petition l desire to say
that it is the first communication of the
kind ever received by me from the citi-
Zens of Indiana. My respect for those
who send it induces me to submit by
way of reply and explanation some OBJ
servation ofmy own and of Il somewhat
personal character to myself.
1t is now nearly fifteen years since [
became member of this body. At the
very beginning of my service l was as
signed to a position on the Committee
on Finance, which position have ever
since been allowed to retain. A few
weeks after took my seat l addressed
the Senate, fully and in detail, on the
condition of the finances of the coun-
try. advocating the free coinage Of sill
YER, and denouncing it's decentralization
in 1878. This was in January, 1878. In
the approaching State election of that
year in Indiana [ was made the candi-
date Of my party for return to the Sen
ate, as distinctly and explicitly as if l
had been nominated by each and every
democratic convention held in the state.
The most prominent question at that
time before the people of Indiana was
the restoration Of silver money to the
lawful condition in which it had stood
from the foundation of the Government
to the year 1878. A popular majority
OF more than 80 900 votes was cast at
that election for the members Of the
Legislature who honored me with their
their support. Gen. Benjamin Harrison
being the opposing Republican candi-
date. Since then have been twice re-
elected. each time by an increased ma
jority; each time without opposition in
my own party, and each time over the
most prominent Republican leader in
the state for the time being. On all
occasions, whether Il candidate myself
OF laboring for the election of others, l
have advocated the free coinage of sill
yer, and have always been known as it's
open supporter.
My position. whether at home in In
diana or here, has never been moment
in doubt. have not obtruded the issue
upon the public mind needlessly. nor. I
trust, in an unbecoming manner. but
neither have relegated it to the rear
or tlinched from its support to accomo-
date the interests Or aspirations of thoe
who are opposed to it. Sir,I make this
brief personal reference and this eta
ton of my own record for the purpose
OF again saying that no one class Of ci-
tiZens, and, indeed, no one citizen of
Indiana has ever heretofore placed in
my hands a petition hostile to silver
money in my hands or demonstrated
with me in regard to my own position
on that subject. Indiana is Il very full
and porulous state. The are two mill
ions and a quarter of inhabitants with
in her borders. She Will cast next fall
at the Presidential election. nearly
100000 votes. Those who live in that
that state are also Il very intelligent
people, and especially politically.
For more than the third of century
parties have been very evenly divided
in Indiana. Elections have been close
ly. vigiIantly and stubbornly contested.
Able and careful discussion has perva-
ded every neighborhood. Thoroughly
trained and highly educated party lead
ers, such as Thomas A. Hendricks and
Joseph E. Mcdonald on the one side.
with Oliver p. Morton and BENJAMIN
Harrison on the other, besides many
more that might be named, have left
no political issue in obscurity or Of any
doubtful meaning in the great State to
which they belonged.
No Democratic platform has been
adopted in Indiana since the demoniti-
Zation Of silver in 1873 which did not
favor its restoration, and no Republi-
can platform in that State has dared to
ayew distinct opposition to it. In fact
if the question could be Invested of it's
political bearings and disassociated
from the interested ambition of indiyi-
duals, sincerely believe, from repeat
ed canvasses Of the state, embracing
every county in it, that there is not five
per cent of the adult population of In
diana. irrespective of party, opposed to
the coinage and use of silver currency
as it was authorized by the trainers of
the constitution hundred years ago.
Such petition, therefore, as have
here presented today at once caused
me to look for some new and Or esum-
ably illegetimate and unnatural elemen
at work among the people. But slight
Investigation has been necessary to dis
or,ro,. ram orIr 1,1o