The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-05
A COMPROMISE URGED.
MIR. BUTTLERsAYs THIS Is THE WAY
OUT OF THE sILVERDIFFICULTY.
Senator Blackburn Also Favors a Compro-
mise-senator Call Opposes Re-
peaI-House Proceedings.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. 1.-TWO OF
the most eloquent and exciting speeches
that have been made in the Senate cham
ber since the debate on the silver pur-
chase bill began were delivered to-day by
Democratic Southern senators-Messrs.
Butler, Of South Carolina, and Black
burn, Of Kentucky Each speech lasted
about two hours and each speaker had
large and sympathetic audiences, both
on the floor and in the galleries
They were both against the repeal bill
and in favor of such a compromise as
would result In the permanent establish
ment OF bimetalism. Mr. Butler referred
to the rumor connecting President Cleve-
land with attempts to influence legsla-
ton; and proclaimed his belief that there
| was no truth in them. AS to the sugges-
| tion that the minority was trying to
coerce the majority, he asserted that It
was neither coercing nor would it be
! cOerced.
| Mr.. Blackburn made an appeal for
| speedy action on a compromise measure;
| and said that he would offer one himself
| tomorrow. He declared emphatically
| that he would have no part in deferring
| or delaying a settlement of the question.
| He appealed TO Democratic senators to
disprove the insinuation that the Demo-
cracy was unable to govern the country.
The third speech of the day was also
made by a Southern Democratic senator.
Mr. Call of Florida, and was also in
opposition to repeal
Seven members only were present to
hear the chaplains prayer and the usual
roll-call was resorted to before quorum
was secured.
Mr.. Morgan reported back from the
Committee on Foreign Relations, without
recommendation, the bill referred to. it
making appropriations to enforce the
ChiIese exclusion act.
Mr.. Dolph, who had introduced the bill,
and who is also member Of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. said the
report was not unanimous He himself
was in favor Of making a favorable re-
rort.
The bill was referred to the Committee
on Appropriations.
Mr.. PETER offered a resolution, which
went over till tomorrow, for the appoint
ment Of a select committee of three sem
ators to consider and report whether any.
and what legislation is necessary to
improve the banking system of the GO n
try, to the end that greater steadiness
may be maintained i'm currency circula-
tion. that there may be less interrupt
tion in business exchanges, that deposit
tors may be better secured against loss,
and that the savings Of the people may
be safely kept.
Mr. Morgan offered a resolution in |
structing the judiciary Committee TO /
inquire and report what provisions Of the |
act Of January 1887 the free coinage
acD are now I'm force, and to report by
bill or otherwise. Mr.. Allison took eX-
ception TO the last clause Of the resolu-
tion, as transferring the financial question
to the Judiciary Committee, and the
resolution went over till tomorrow.
The silver purchase repeal bill was
taken up at II 30 A. NJ, and Mr.. Butler |
addressed the Senate I'm opposition. lie |
began by critlcising some Of Mr.. Pal |
mer's statements last evening-particu- 1
larly the one Insisting that the Senate /
should be put in a position TO govern it
self. He would say TO that senator that /
the minority was nJt attempting TO |
coerce anybody, but he thought he might |
safely say that the minority did not in
tend 60 be coerced by anybody. The
Senate was not a town meeting. 1t was
great delberative body, intended TO
put veto upon hasty, unwise and inn
proper legislation.
The senator from Indiana CTurpie) had
spoken of the Senate as being the refuge
OF mnorties. In his (Butler's) judg-
ment IL was the last refuge of minOrities
I'm this country. This was not a gOv-
ernment of orities-unrestrained ma
jortles. 1t was a government of writ
ten law, to which the majority I'm the
Senate was as amenabe as the minority
was to which the President of the United
States WAS as amenable as the humblest
citizen Of the republic. The Senate was
not a body where the political hustler
could crack his whip and compel the
minority to conform to the will Of the
majority 1t was a body in which the
minority could protect itself I'm pursuance
and by virtue Of the constitution and
laws. The minority in the Senate ON
the pending bill represented millions bf
American citizens and billions OF Ameri-
can property and were they to be told
that that minority must yield TO the de-
mands OF the majority. because the ina
jority had concluded that the time Tor
debate has ended, and that the time Tor :
the vote had arrivedI He heard IT often
asked: What is TO be doneY Il re-
ply, Mr.. President" he said, with strong .
emphasis. compromise" Compromise ,
IS the solution Of the struggle here to-
iay But" he added I'VE are told tha<
means defeat: means rur-
render to the minority Why, Mr.. Presi- ,
lent, the very government under which
ye live is the result OF compromise. There {
9 not contested measure in this House
,r in the other which does not become
aw or at alb as the result OF COM
promise. And so I feel inclined TO pro-
est against the assumption OF fenators
Who have said that the minority is defy
ng the majority, obstructing legislation
and causing delay unnecessarily.
Then Mr.. Butler spoke of the supposed
Interference Of the President with legis-
alton, and said:
III am not here to defend that great
american citizen. but ] think | may be
permitted to say that think that great
njustlce has been done him. cannot
conceive that the man who has such an ,
xalted opir ion OF his high office, who has
uch q correct conception or the relation
which should exist between the different 4,
OF the government, would /,
,ermit himself TO interfere with an In !,
leDendent. CO ordinate department, by 7
N in, rorer exercise Of his official posi- /,
ion. The President Of the United states :
as the same right TO his opinion about ;
he legislation OF this body that any =
rivate citizen has. But II has beer whis-
cred around when a suggestion or COM >
romise has been made. that the Presi- 81
ent will not accept a compromise. VINO a
yer states that, does that high official >
- f,t,.fgoa hacaug.. N Ia Of -