New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-02
PRICE THREE CENTS.
A FREE SILVER BILL PASSED.
THE SENATE ADOPTS STEwI.RT's RADICAL
MEASURE.
HILL AND THE ANTI-cLEvELAND FACTION HAVE
SWEET REvENGE-THE DEMOCRATIC SILVER
PLANK OPPOSED IN EVERY LINE OF
THE MEASURE AND THE CANDIDATE
SET At DEFIANCE-sMALL PROS
pECr OF THE BILL PASS.
ING THE ROUSE.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIBUSE.l


anti Cleveland clique OF Democratic Senators, on
whose toes the recent Chicago Convention
trempled with such reckless indifference. took
sweet revenge to-day upon the party plauorm
and the pvty candidate, when, with the AID OF
the representatives OF the far Western silvermlnin9
States they pushed through the Senate Free
Coinage bill opposed in every line TO the decla-
rations of the Democratic Convention and obnox-
ious TO every personal opinion and expression Oh
tht Presidential nominee.
That over three-fourths Of the Democratic mem
bership of the Senate should have Joined in this
open effort to embarrass the Democratic canvass
in the East by committing the party in Congress
once more to the advocacy Of frce-coinags in Its
most naked and offensive form seems ami excess
of political folly almost impossible Of explanation
Nothing could have been more impohtic ana
more injurious TO Democratic prospects In the
States north Of the Ohio and east OF the Mis-
souri, River than the passage of a Free-Coinage
bill through either branch of Congress by the
almost unbrol<en support of Democratic votes.
The more cautious among the Democratic man.
ayers, German, Brice and Vest saw the peril
and foohardincss of repudiating a platform only
nine days old, and bushwhacking candidate not
yet informed officially of his nomination. and they
protested with the vigor OF despair against such
betrayal of party interests. But the Chicago
Convention had left behind 1t resentments deep
and rankliuf, which had to be satisfied at any
cost of par, profit or political expedience
so by tile votes of thirty-one of theforty Demo-
cratic members of the Senate marshalled by the
chief rival of the Presidential nominee before the
convention and the discarded leaders VINO went
down with him in defeat, the Chicago platform
was overturned and the Presidential candidate
set at defiance The silver plank adopted for
Democratic use in the campaign was jeered at
nd unfaoliro1v reipcte1 yyllpn offered az tall
piece to Mr. Stewards measure. and brushing
aside tie careful financial declarations drawn by
the Cleveland leaders at the convention, tho
Democratic membership Of the Senate frankly
committed the party as far as 1t could by an
almost unanimous expression Of approval to the
discredted principle of unrestricted silver inf1a-
ton as a leading if not overshadowing issue in
the coming electoral contest
Mr.. Cleveland had his victory at Chicago, but
Mr. Hill and tie Senatorial opposition have had
their revenge.
Senator Stewards hill which passed to-day goes
a step beyond his former eAtravagances and pro-
poses the actual coinage into dollar pieces, at the
present ratio, of all the silver bullion now in tho
Treasury and all which may be offered hereafter
at the mints for similar conversion Silver Is put
on exactly the same level gold, without re-
srictions limitations Of any sort, even as feeble
those embodied il the defunct Bland bill OF
last winter. On the passage of this financial
hoodlum" the vote was 80 yeas TO 25 nays OF
the 29 Affirmative votes, II, threc-fftlls, were
cast by Democrats, including Mr.. Kyle OF South
Dakota, in that category; IL, or over one-third,
were cast by Republicans, and one was furnished
by the uncassifable Mr.. PETER, of Kansas. OF
the % votes in opposition to the bill Is, or
more than twO-thirds, were cast by Republicans,
while only Z came from Democrats.
When the pairs are examined the partisan
character of the free-corage victory becomes more
strikingy apparent. The full strength Of the
Senate is eighty light. Messrs Stanford, Of Cali
fornia and Mr.. Gibson, OF Louisiana, were absent
to-day without pairs that with hfty-four votes
east, thirty-two Senators have still TO he ac-
counted for. Sixteen, of course, favored the bill
and sixteen opposed ii. or the sixteen support
ing free coinage thirteen were Democrats and
three Republicans OF the sixteen opposing IL
thirteen were Republicans and Cay three Demo-
Gratis The total vote for the bill, cast or paired,
was therefore forty -ive-thirty Democratic four
teen Republican and one unclassfed-or more than
two-thiris Democratic. The total vote against the
Stewart bill was -thirty-One Repub-
cans and ten Democrats, more than three-fourths
Republican. There Is no escape from these
figures, which show that the free-coinage strength
in the Senate is now more than il ever was over
whcmingly Democratic. The Senate has passed
many free-coinagc bills, but none slipped
through before by SO small majority. or on d
vote closely approaching a division on party
lines.
The bill, as 1t was had several hair-breadth
escapes its way 10 enactm. 1T. II Vice Presi-
dent Norton had been at the Capitol this after
noon, the free coinage men would now be mourn
ing emphatic defeat instead Of clustering around
with the self sa-l-sfactiOn of victory. AS it hap
NJ min
general pair, but who both in favor of free
coinage, were absent during the early part of the
afternoon and the silver side consequently
short two votes When Mr.. Vest, who was sorely
tried between his devotion 10 cheap money and
his loyalty TO lir. Ceyeand's candidacy, finally
decided TO abandon his convictions for the sake
Of party interest, and made the motion to postpone
the consideration of the Stewart bill until next
December. the Senate was left tic for nearly
thirty minutes
Mr. Black burns motion 10 table Mr.. Vests re-
quest for postponement lost by vote Of
% to -. The motion to postpone then voted
on and another tie resulted. II the Vice Presi-
dent had been in the chair his casting vote would
have sent the Stewart bill 10 limbo; for one On
the Affirmative side. would have asked a recon-
sideratiOn afterward. Mr.. Squire in lttlo
later and two votes were added the free coinage
side. enough to give Mr. Stewart and his friends
the hcadway necessary TO push the bill through
its legislative stages On the final vote, Mr. Vest
changed back TO the free coinage column, not
wishing to oppose directly measure which he
has advocated with vehemeIce and persistence for
many years.
Mr. Cameron of Pennsylvania, created some sur
prise by supporting ;he Stewart bill every
motion. lie voted in May against taking it up
for consideration, and the sentiment in his State
is strongly against free coinage. He merely MAIN
tains the record he made in the last Congress on
this and other questions. Mr. Hills vote for free