The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-08-29
THE GILMAN OF THE DEBATE.

The climax of the two weeks of
debate in the halls Of Congress was
reached Saturday when the acknowl-
edged leaders of sarcasm, eloquence
and humor in the House of Representa-
tives took the floor and delivered them
selves OF their mightiest efforts. 1t
resembled somewhat the old days when
Webster and Calhoun clashed swords
over the principles they then advocated
and yet it was dissimilar for on Satur-
day Reed and Cochran, though repre-
senting the two opposing political
parties, could not work themselves into
fever heat of argument against each
others views, for in the main point at
issue they are practically agreed.
The ex-czar, whatever may be his
fallacies in other questions at issue be-
tween the Republican and Democratic
parties, made some strong arguments in
favor of the repeal of the Sherman act.
His whole speech, carefully com mitted
to memory, showed deep thought and
careful preparation. The Vice President,
Cabinet members and Senators were
among the large audience who listened
to every word he uttered. He could not
have expressed better the view the
country should take of the present dis
cussion when he said: THAT, while
doubling the wisdom of any individual,
he (Mr Reed was, nevertheless, con-
fdent that the combined wisdom OF
l.
emergency"
That suspicion and doubt were re-
sponsible for much of this calamity,
MIR. Reed cited the fact that out of the
United States banking houses alone
sl90.000,000 Of deposits were drawn by
depositors from all parts of the country.
"Hcw much was drawn out of State
banks, trust companies and savings
banks may" he said, never be known.
but so much has been drawn, so much
has baen boarded, so much has been
kept out Of circulation that we are
suffering all the calamities OF a re.
stricted circulation in the midst of an
abundant supply of money"
The banks" he sad later, '.are at
this moment doing as thoroughly pat
rotc duty toward the country as any
man in front OF me-
Bimetallism for a single nation does
not seem possible to Mr.. Reed, but
bimetallism by all the nations of the
world seems not only possible, but
feasible. He closed by declaring for
Immediate repeal oi the purchasing
clause of tine Sherman act.
Private" Allen, of Mississippi, the
humorist of the House, only was care.
fully listened to while relating some
amusing story, for the inimitable telling
OF which he has become justly famous.
But it was not until the Hon. Burke
Cochran, aof New York CITY, had spoken
that the halls resounded with the ire
mendous applause that justly followed
his bursts of oratory. In place Of the
irony which characterized Reeds efforts
issued forth from the lips Of the great
son OF Ireland, strong, convincing argu-
ments clothed in the most brilliant Ian
guage which carried conviction with
every utterance.
His speech was chiefly confined to
the opposition OF free silver coinage,
but his masterful effort came when he
declared that there should be no sec.
tional feeling and that this country
was not so vast that legislation which
Is favorable to one section would be
disastrous to another. He pleaded for
equity and justice and asserted that
national growth unacconplished by
the growth Of moral grandeur would be
neither permanent nor desirable
One or two such logical arguments as