Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-08-25
Sibley's Great Blast.

The long expected and much advertised
s,eech of Congressman Sibley of the Erie
district in favor of free coinage of silver
was delivered in the House at Washington
last Friday morning, and from that stand
point was a complete success. Commenc-
ing at IL am, with less than seventy-hVe
members in their seats, he continued Tor
two hours and half, and long before the
close every seat near him was occupied
while the aisles and well in front OF the
speaker were crowded. His remarks were
more on the order of the demagogic STUN P
speaker, who relies upon the ignorance oil
his audience rather than upon a candld
discussion Of the grave issues at stake. HIS
speech was replete with anecdotes, Wnien
were heartily applauded.
Mr.. Sibley spoke from his seat near tne
front of the Democratic center. He seem
ed entirely at his ease from the outset ana
was entirely free from the embarrassment
that generally characterizes the first speech
of a new member Mr.. Sibley commenced
in low tone, but as he warmed up TO MS
subject his voice rose in proportion. un-
fortunately he had pitched his voice TOO
! high, and before half an hour had passed
it was SO husky that the water on his desk
| " odld not clear it. His friend, Mr.. Hatch,
of Missouri, was equal to the occasion ana
supplied him with glass of amber colored
liquid that probably would not meet tne
approval OF the Prohibitionists who vo'eo
for Mr.. Sibiey last fall.
In commencing his remarks MI. SID ley
announced that he was bimetalhst. ne
| then proceeded to attack the bankers OF
New York upon whom he placed al tne
blame of the present panic. Inelr uesise
at mar in order that they might reap pre-
m;nm of 70 per cent, Mr.. Sibley contended
was the cause of the present distress.
Failing to force the issue of bonds, MI
| S;hlev asserted Wall street brought on
| this pauic as revenge and also to secure the
nresent session of Congress with the nope
| that the issue would be ordered as meas
nre of relief. He then intimated that van
street was the power that induced tne caii
| for the extra session
Ash ha launched forth his TRADE against
tbe Nav York bankers, Silver Dollar Bland
| and his followers showed their JOY, and
| when he denounced them as blood suckers
| and vampires they applauded Voclferousiy'
| MI. Sibiey's versatility was remarkaole.
4 In one breath he traced true Democracy
back to the beginning of the Christian era
and in the next discussed the great Anei'l
can game of poker and talked hnentiy d %
erake offs" ''bluffs," "bobtails" and
"kittys.~ Later on he pictured the Amer
;can farmer and mechanic as having been
0round down SO low by the money sharks
That their feet were blistered by the hre,
wh;la the fumes and oders of inferno en-
circled them.
But probably the sensational point was
when Mr.. Sibley openly bid defiace to tne
president and administration. he saia
that if to secure patronage he must sacri-
fice his belief in free coinage he would ask
for no patronage. But moment later ne
stated he believed the great man IN tne
| White Hosse would much rather give pat
Ironaee to men who stood by their prln'
cinles than to milk -and-water men VINO
were willing to bow the knee and sacrlhce
everything for little spoil. THESE re-
marks, of course, were cheered by the Tree
coinage men. ,.;o
The general impression in the deiegatlo1
lB that MI. SlDley spcooh 10 WV -
the gubernatorial nomination next year OF
| ticket indorsed dy the Prohibltonlsts
IPopulists and Democrats. 1t is an oPetL
secret that Mr.. Sibley believes that VIII
such an Endorsement he can carry tnt
state against any man except Charles w
Stone. He frankly states he would no
run aginst Mr.. Stone. But he believes
the Republicans will not nominate stone
and so he is laying his plans on this 30 con on,
tingency and proposes to circulate loo,oV'
| copies Of his speech throughout the stat'
| as soon as they can be printed.
| Among those who listened to the wh0l'
speech was Representative Charles w
Stone, of Warren. Mr.. Stone Will spear
lnext week from the standpoint OF an hones
dollar and no doubt will pay some atten
ton to his erring colleague. kepresenta
| tive Dalzell, who will speak on Tuesoay
also paid close attention, while nearly al
the Pennsylvania delegation did likewise
| As Mr.Sibley concluded his speech every
free-coinage man called and congratuiatel
him. Others on the opposite SIDE Oh I'M
question did also, not because tney lndors
ed his views, but because from the lree
coinage view he made an excellent pre-
sentiment.