The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-05
Peppery Tits Between the 0hioan and Mem.
bers Who Wanted 10 Enter Into an Everlast-
ing Debate on the Free Coinage Question.
Mr. Morgan Speaks for Silver and Incl.
dentally Sticks knife in Cleveland.
The Alabamian's Resolutions Sent TO the CAL
ndar-President Harrison Will Take q
Few Days Rest After His Arduous Labors.
BREEZE IN THE SENATE.
Mr.. Sherman and the Siiverites Engage In .
Tiit-Mr. Morgan Attacks Cleveland.

snap to it, and. though the resolutions go
upon the calendar. they are liable TO be
called up and the discussion renewed by
Mr.. Wolcott on Wednesday. Mr.. Teller
and others insisted that the resolutions
should not be dOwned. and Mr.. Sherman.
in q vigorous little speech. denied that no
had any intention of suprressing the do.
bate, only he wished 1t to proceed In an
orderly manner and with some definite end
in view. The entire day was occupied by
the discussion, to the exclusion OF the cal
endar and tho appropriation bills, which
would have had the floor but for senatorial
courtesy.
When the resolutions were taken up Mr.
Morgan said he knew that the subject was
one which struck the attention of Senators
In an alarming way, because the people of
the United States were very earnest in
their desire to have some relief from the
existing financial condition and embarrass-
ment. He knew that the behest of party
stood in the way of q free expression OF
opinion in the Senate OF the question OF
free coinage of silver. He proposed TO
strip the mask Oft the faces of these party
men and 10 make them look the matter
dead in the face. Mr. Morgan criticised
the silver act of 1890, and Ar. Sher nan re-
marked that there was not the slightest
doubt as TO what was meant BY the silver
act of 1870.
Mr.. Morgan-I know that when the con-
ference committee made its report on that
act l rose and wanted to know what we
were doing. but | was told that | must not
inquire into the secret performances of the
committee. What lingering reservation
the Senator from Ono. VINO made the con-
ference report, may have had for tho pur,
pose of qualifying it. | do not know. All
i can say Ia that there is not u man of ordi-
nary common sense in the United States
who would not believe that it was the pur-
pose of Con gress that the two metals should
DO kept in parity In their circulating form.
Mr.. Sherman-Undoubtedly. Tho Ian
guage of the law is SO plain that / don't
see how any body can doubt IT. 1t declares
that the government of the United States
will maintain the parity of gold and silver
coin.
Mr.. Stewart-Oh. no; gold and silver
metals.
Mr.. Sherman Well. gold and silver
metals.
A WIDE DIFFERENCE.
Mr.. Sherman-They are not different.
Tho act also provides that for every dollar
certificate issued there shall be behind it q
dollars worth of silver. and that the Sec
rotary of the Treasury shall not coin this
silver dollar except as they are needed.
Mr.. Morgan-That clause is not In the
law by expression or Intendment, or infer
ence. or the guess Of any man. although 1t
may have been understood by the Senator
Mr.. Shermsn-I understood it.
Mr.. MOrgan-Youmay have understood it.
The c~olloquy between Mr.. Morgan and
Mr.. Sherman continued at some length. |
Mr.. Morgan. in the further course of his
argument, remarked incidentally that one
of the consequences Of the defeat of free
silvor LEGISLATION would be the nomination
OF MIR. Cleveland. but Mr.. George inter-
posed the remark that he had his doubts
about that. He also referred to Mr.. Sber-
man as being in the lead of o large fraction
of the Democratic party Of the United
States as we'll as of the Republican party.
AT 2 o'clock the presiding officer lMr.
Plattl laid before the Senate the unfinished
business. being the bill in relation to courts
of appeals. But Mr.. Morgan was permitted
to 20 on with his address. In the course of
1t he referred to Mr.. Cleveland as having
come to the presidency with o sort of WALL
street cOngestive chill upon him. as com-
mencing to prophcsy evils, and as throwing
tho whole weight of his administration
against silver. beginning with Q letter
which he addressed TO members of Congress
before his Inauguration. in which be begged
thom by all tho saints In the calendar to
suppress and destroy silver coinage. He
brought the charge that Mr.. sherman was
responsible for the characterization of sill
YER In 1873; but Mr.. Sherman was probably
not in the chamber at the time. At all
events be paid no attention to this So often
repeated and this so-often.denied charge.
If. continued Mr.. Morgan. Senators could
only forget Cleveland, and Hill. and Car
liSlr, and Cull0In. and Allison and the
other great and good men who were aspir-
ing to the presidency of the United States.
and the honorable Senator from Ohio Mr..
Shermanl. IT he had not discarded all such
pretcnsiOns; it Senators could discard this
To- 49, ~
would come together. and lock their hands
on the silver question anu say that they
would do all tina wisdom and n devoted
love of the country suggested. there would
ton. Then the Senator from Ohio would
have the right to rejoice. contrary to his
will. ut being led up TO such q high posi-
ton.
MR.. sHERMAN's DISCLAIMER.
As soon as Mr.. Morgan resumed his seat
Mr.. Sherman rose and said that be did not
intend to enter on the discussion of the
silver question, but he wished to have tho
sense of the Senate whether Senators were
to have q silver debate. and in order TO
have that question settled definitely he
proposed to move to lay the resolutions on
the table.
Mr.. Teller-The Senator can hardly take
advantage of MS in that way.
Mr.. Sberman-I do not propose 10 take
advantage.
MIR. Allison asked the Vice-president. as a
point of order, whether the resolutions had
not passed from the consideration of the
Senate and had not gone 60 the calendar at
2 o'clock, the Senator from Alabama having
been allowed BY courtesy TO proceed with
his remarks.
The Vice-president expressed tho opinion
that under the rules the resolutions had
gone 10 the calendar.
Mr.. Sherman-Then they can't be taken
up except on motion.
Mr.. Harris remarked that as a matter of
courtesy any senator could call MP the
resolutions from the calendar and address
the Senate upon them.
MIR. Sherman-les. as q matter of
courtesy.
Mr.. Teller said that he wanted TO say TO
the Senator from Ohio. who, being flushed,
perhaps. with the victory apparently
achieved In tho House against silver.
seemed TO think that be could down n de-
bate In the Senate III that subject. that
Senators at the last session had prevented
him. and Others who ihOu2lit with him. in
securing o rule that wOuId cut off debate:
aud that Senator's might rs we'll meet the
question now as at any time. because the
question would he debated. Ii not debat-
&c on these resolutions il would be detat-
ell on somo other resolutions. or on some
bill. and the friends of silver would sake
Just as much time as they wanted, unless
the senate could be driven into adopting