Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-07-27
TAKING THEIR OWN DUST.

Republican Responsibility for the Passage
OF the sherman Law.
The reluctance of the republicans to
accept the credit for the passage of the
Sherman law is wholly ex post facto.
In the fall of 1890 some of them were
alarmed lest the democrats would at
some time or other lay claim to 8 part
of the credit.
1t will be remem bered that after the
bill was passed speculation in silver be-
came very active and the price was run
up to S1.21 per ounce, with possibly q
few sales at a higher figure. For the
moment 1t appeared as if the prophecy
of those who had predicted that the
bill would bring the bullion value of
silver to a parity with its coming value,
or s1.29e9, was gong to be fulfilled
Accordingly, on September 10, 1890, the
repu blicans of Indiana in their plat
form pointed with pride" in the fol-
lowing expressive fashion:
1--WE cordially commend the sction OF the re-
publicans in congress on the subject Of silver
coinage Ex-President Cleveland, by messages
to congress, strongly opposed ali legislation
favorable 70 silver coinage, and the Law recent
~ enacted was passed in spite OF persistent
democratic opposition Under its benencens
influences silver has rapidly approached the
gold standard of value, farm products are ad-
yancing price and commerce is feeling the
impulse of increased prosperity. It viii add
more than $50, 00o0, 900 annually OF sound cur
rency to the amount in circulation among the
people. and is q long yet prudent step toward
free coinage"
We do not find in this resolution any
evidence that the republicans of Mr..
Harrison's state regarded the Sherman
act as necessary to head off free coin
age, but on the contrary that they re-
garded it as wise legislation and a long
step toward free coinage.
The Indiana republicans were not
without some good reason for making
these assertions A leading republican
congressman, Mr.. Conger. of Iowa,
when he offered the conference report
on the bill in the house, had spoken as
follows:
This measure viii be given TO the country,
am happy TO say. by republicans II was agreed
upon in conference By republicans only. Il Was
passed in yonder chamber only py republican
votes. and suspect that IL may pass here only
by republican votes II VIII then go where IL
will be signed by a republican president and
from there il will go TO the country, which, IN
November next. will give such o republican in
dorsement that many Of you gentlemen viii
not be found here TO pass upon the next silver
measure that may come before congress It Is.
Mr.. Speaker, in line with republican judgment
and republican policy"
Mr.. Conger was quite right In saying
that many of the members of the house
who then heard him would not be mem
beers of the next congress. In this he
proved himself true prophet, albeit
one of those who keep the word of
promise TO the ear only Mr. Conger
meant that the popularity of the Sher-
man law would be so great that many
democratic congressman would fail of
reelection. It turned out just the other
way. 1t was the republicans of whom
so many failed to get back, and Mr..
Conger was one of them, though candor
compels the admission that the silver
bill was not the principal cause of their
failure.
This is by no means all the evidence
available on this subject, Various other
republican conventions held IN 1890
commended the Sherman act Califor-
mia Endorsed it Arizona complimented
it, but demanded free coinage Idaho
called it "a splendid victory over the
enemies of silver" Kansas called it q
step in the right direction. Michigan
the thanks of the American people to
congress for passing the bill and to Mr..
Harrison for signing it Tennesses
congratulated the country in the wise
solution of the silver question West
Virginia congratulated congress on the
passage of the bill There were more
of the same sort, but these will suffice
until the republican organs do some
| more denying on the subject.-Louis-
y1lle COurier-JOurnal,