The advocate., 1892-04-06

this result. Even with the speaker voting
10 sustain the bill, had Rockwell been
recorded in favor of having it tabled the
silver bill would have been killed. But
the other Flew Yorkers-DemOcrats and Re-
publicans-voted in solid phalanx against
the measure, and three New York Demo-
crats- s-Bourke Cochran, Ashbell Fitch and
Gen. Tracey-bore the brunt of the master
ly filibustering fight.
cocKRAN's BRILLIANT LEADERSHIP.
Bourks Cockran's leadership in parlia-
mentary warfare was exceptionally brilliant
and won him the highest cOmmendation.
In all the excitement which prevailed Mr..
Cochran was cool and self-pOssessed. He
was faithful in resource. He. was
earnest in urging points. Through the
mist of contrary motions, which were fred
at effective moments from all points as
from Gatling gun, Mr.. Cochran loomed
with a clear, straightforward proposition.
Once he was overruled by the speaker,
although the question he had advanced was
frank and fair, but Mr.. Crisp was persuaded
to accede to his request by unanimous con-
sent.
Hour after hour he made the stubborn
fight Again and again he forced the chair
into straits to put Mr.. Crisp on record as
siding with the free silver men.
The first vote for tabling the bill, which
required the vote of the speaker to prevent
it's prevailing, convinced him that the free
coinage leaders had over estimated their
strength. The majority of forty which all
along has been confidently claimed by Mr..
Bland had dwindled to nothing. change
Of sentiment had taken place. The advan-
tsge had been transferred to the opposition.
Only one vote was necessary to compass the
defeat of the bill. Then Bourke Cochran,
who hereto for has deferred to the leader
ship of others, jumped into the breach. He
led the reinforced column in attack after
attack. Not for one minute did he desert
his post. That the silver bill was not killed
in the early hours of the engagement was in
no way attributable to any lack of ability in
his leadership. Filibustering as powerful
weapon in parliamentary warfare was never
better exemplifed.
PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS.
The proceedings Of the afternoon, which
led up to to-night's series of exciting eli
makes, were marked only by two incidents,
which forcibly illustrated the temper of the
opposition elements. The Speechmsking
was prosaic until Mr.. Cochran rose to make
q fifteen minutes argument. The public
galleries were crowded TO the doors, and
few seats were vacant on the floor. The
din Of conversation ceased as if by magic
when he arose. He arraigned in vigorous
rhetoric the fallacies Of the Bland bill, and
repudiated the claim Of its author that it
was free coinage measure.
"If the gentleman's prophesies should
come to pass" said ne, in a burst of elo-
quence, ~ would vote for his bill. But
against the prophecy of the gentleman l
must contrast the experience of the
civilized world for 1900 years past. Which
are you prepared to sccept--s prophecy
which is to be fulfilled or the experience of
history This bill means mOno-metalism.
If he should frame his bill with this design
openly disclosed in its provisions, a cor
pOrars guard could not be mustered to
vote IN it's favor"
Mr.. Bland tried several times to inter
rupt the speaker, but Mr.. Cochran refused
to yield, and continued his broadside
against the bill. Mr.. Bland hoarsely yelled
that this was free coinage measure as to
both gold and silver, but Mr.. Cochran
answered back excitedly: "You know
that's not so."