The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-30
SENATOR HILLS SPEECH.

There is so little in the political prac-
tees OF Senator d. b. Hill which com
mends itself to the appreciation of
The Times that we had hoped we might
find something agreeable TO us in his re-
cent studied and elaborate speech On
silver. So we got the official record Of
It and have read 1t carefully TO find
disappointment still and nothing bat
disappointment.
Why was 1t necessary for Senator Hill
TO say that he and his colleagues would
vote for the repeal Of the Sherm1n
act "unawed by power and uncorrupted
by Federal patronage" We cannot sup
pose that this was put into his speech
without meaning and as a mere make
weight. 1t was intended 10 carry some
meaning with It, and what meaning can It
carry but an insinuation that Mr.. Cleve-
land is coercing the wills Of Congressman
by unlawful use Of the appointing power
so as to force them TO vote for repeal
when they would prefer TO vote against
It? Every mans common sense teaches
MIN tAdN ~ was bON cttAh btNdhot lit NC
iieved Mr.. Cleveland was actually do
Ing this or was pursuing any course
that involved danger TO the public. II
was said TO cast a shadow upon the ad-
minlstration and bring II, as far as he
could into disrepute. Fortunately. the
attempt was as vain as the motive
was malignant.
In giving his views OF the cause Of
the trouble now prevailing, Mr.. Hin had
this 10 say:
Some portion OF the present panic may
be traced 10 a cocerted effort on lhe part
OF numerous monometallists TO produce
it.in order 10 further discredit silver as a
part Of the standard money of the coun-
try. That fact is apparent everywhere we
turn. We observe 1t in their senseless ar
guments constantly used against free BIZ
metallic coinage ana their cedseless en-
deavors to confuse the present issue 10y
characterizing IL as a contest between mo-
nometallism aud bimetallism. They seem
ed TO be delighted when the first ray Of
financial trouble appeared. They hailed
the recent action Of India with ill-conceal-
ed satisfaction. They talked against silver
morning, noon. and night.
lUey OtnOuHCeu not SIMPLY the SnCl-
man silver-purchase bill, but the future
use of silver money. With ghoulish
giee they welcomed every bank failure,
especially In the silver States little
dreaming that such failures would soon
occur at their own doors. They encour-
aged the boarding of money; they inaug-
urated the policy OF refusing loans 20 the
people even upon the best OF security;
they circulated false petitions, passed alb
surd and alarming resolutions, predicted
the airest disaster, attacked the credit of
the Government. sought 10 exact a pre-
MUM upon currency, and attempted in
every way TO spread distrust broadcast
throughout the land.
The best financial 81 stem in the world
could not stand such an organized and
vicious attack upon II. These disturbers-
these promoters Of the public peril re-
present largely the creditor class, the
men who desire 10 appreciate the gold
dollar In order TO subserye their own sell
FISH interests, men who revel IN hard
times. who drive harsh bargains with
their fellow men I'm periods OF financial
distress. and men wholly unfamiliar
with the true principles OF monetary
science.
II Mr.. Hin had intended these remarks
TO refer 20 the land sharks who infest
stock Exchanges and seek to bring on ca
families by circulating lies, no one would
have had any objection to make 20 what
he said But these are not the people he
had In his mind. He had In mind Just
those who he named-tho creditor class
and the "monomesallist". Not many TIVE
Feel that We might safely say the majori-
sy). OF the best minds OF the country, are
earnestly monometallists because they be-
heve bimetaiiism an impossibIlity. Mr..
hill knows this. and he knows these men
tut their theories out 10 the world. not
10 "diseredit silver as a part of the stan
dard money OF the country. but because
they conscientiousiy believe that the
true interests Of the people demand a sin
gle instead OF double standard OF value.
But NJ. Ain says ehat these monometal-