The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-27

the Democrats had been sen; TO congress
TO deal not alone with the currency ques-
tion. bat with the tariff question and with
the question OF the force bill They were
called upon TO revise the tariff and they
we're called upon TO reform the currency.
The latter ought TO be done without un-
necessary delay. then the Others could be
taken un.
Gear said that in his Judgment the Sher-
man law had been enacted TO prevent the
enactment by Democrats Of The free coin
age bill He should vote for repeal OF the
Sherman act He could not vote for free
coinage with the ratio of Is to l. The
ratio Of - TO would be something better.
but even then. in the markets of the
world, silver dollars would be So cents be-
low par.
Wilson of West Virginia, the author Of
the bin. closed the debate with q speech
In support Of the measure. BY universal
consent he said, the so-ealled sherman
act had failed 10 justify the expectations
of those who framed il. Ii had been ex-
pected TO raise the price OF silver bullion
throughout the world. That expectation
he'd proved n false one. IL had been ex-
fF~~<<4 sef6t S& fdA&SA0A VI tut [0ftNstCN AIQ
renewed prosperity would follow enact
ment of the Law. That expectation had
been equally falsihed. Instead of pro-
ducing expansion Of the currency il had
produced contraction of il. No one could
doubt that the Sherman law was largely
responsible for the panic that had sud-
denly overspread the country. IL
had been argued from the first speech
to the last made against the pending
bill that IL would, while stopping the pur-
chase of silver. throw the country upon q
gold basis. The bin proposed here would
not demonetize single silver dollar today
circulating in any part of the country.
The bill had come no. to destroy but TO
save. IAppiause. It had come not to
strike down silver. bat TO place 1t at once
and forever on an impregnable basis with
gold in the circulation Of tho country.
Applause
Martin in quired whether the passage of
the bill would necessitate the sale of bonds
in order to secure gold. Wilson said he
would merely repeat his remark that the
passage OF this bull would at once and for
ever restore silver to parity with gold
and there would be no necessity for the
government to Issue bonds for any pur-
pose IApplause.l 1t carried with it not
only promise of maintenance of parity
between gold and silver. but carried parity.
IApplause.
McMiilin inquired whether the gentle
man proposed to follow this bill up with a
proposition for free coinage. Wilson re-
joined that he was satisfied it was the
earnest desire of the Democratic admins
rf IT, 80, kA
silver circulation in this country, but to
increase the issue of silver currency to the
utmost extent. IL was safe 10 do so and to
keep silver on parity with gold. ZAP
piause.l The speaker then declared that
the first benefit to accrue from this bill
was the restoration TO the people of their
own money. A recess Was taken until 8
o'clock.
At the evening session Tracey Of New
York sided with the president on the ell
yer question. and Stone of Kentucky
favored the equal use OF gold and silver.
The speech of Congressman Ftthian Of
Illinois had been awaited with considera-
BILE interest, because Il had been known
strong efforts had been made to induce
him TO. support the administration pol
icy. Fithian grievonsly disappointed
those who hoped he would support the
xApsaling bill, and reiterated his loyalty 70
the silver cause. He said:
by the last national platform The DEM
ocratic party Is pledged to the coinage of
both gold and silver into money. This
platform was the last declaration of the
party in national convention upon this
great. important question. lie who 10 q
good Democrat must honestly and faith
fully keep the pledge. He is not good
Democrat who repudiates IT, Bi-metal-
lism is therein so explicitly and plainly
declared for that no tortured construction
can cloud Its meaning. This is the plat
form upon which the Democracy won be-
fore the people last November. This is
the platform upon which Grover Cleveland
accepted the Democratic nomination for
president: this is the platform and these
are the principles upon which the national
Democracy fought the battle. expect to
keep faith As Democrat ! will not be
blindIy led into casting my vote in the
direction of placing this country upon a
single gold standard. We should so adjust
the ratio between the two metals as to
maintain parity, and coin both freely
without discriminating against either
metal or charge for mintage. When that
pledge Is fulfilled no free coinage Demo-
cras will refnse 10 vote for repeal of the
each and every amendment fixing
the ratio between the two metals,
beginning with rs to and ending with %
TO 4. If all shall be defeated shall vote
to restore the Bland act. and IL that should
be voted down I will feel ii my duty TO
cast nv vote against unconditional re-
peal. The platform Of the Democratic
party must DO fulfilled in whole and not
In part" (Applause.l
At IL :o5 the house adjourned until Mon
day. August %, nc noon. when the first
vate will be taken