The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-08-17
BRYANS PLEAFOR SILVER.
1 An Eloquent Address by the
Nebraska Congressman.
HE ATTACKS THE MESSAGE.
Members Are in Duty Bound to Pro-
tect Their Constituents.
Els speech Equals the One on the Tariff
Which Made Him Famous-He De-
nounces the Gold Dollar as
the Dishonest One.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16.-The financial
discussion in the House took on deeper
interest today than on any occasion since
the opening day OF the silver debate.
William J.. Bryan, the eloquent young
Congressman from Nebraska, added
greater laurels to his reputation as an
orator and made free coinage speech
which, in the opinion of many, surpassed
his great tariff speech which gave his
name to fame two years ago. For nearly
three hours Bryan held and interested the
attention of the House and galleries, and
every interruption to which he was sub
jected only gave opportunities for those
brilliant bits of repsrtee for which he is
SO famous.
The silver discussion today was opened
by Mr.. Mccall (Alassachusetts) who made
an elaborate argument for the repeal of
the purchasing clause of the Sherman
: act, and denied that such action could be
Justly construed as an attack on bimetal-
ism.
Mr.. COMBS, speaking for aErepeal,
highly commended the presidents mes
sage, which in his opinion had never been
Surpassed BY any state paper.
In opening his argument against the
unconditional repeal OF the Sherman law,
Mr.. Bryan said: ''Upon the action OF
this Congress might depend not only the
welfare OF the south and west, not only
the welfare of the United States, but the
welfare of humanity itself for ages to
come. Some outside this hall had time
to assure him that the recommendation of
the president imposed some obligations
upon Democratic members to do as
he desired, and some had even been hardy
enough to suggest, a failure to fall in with
the recommen dations there made would
subject the dissenter to administrative
displeasure. But those persons did the
president great injustice. The president
would not for a moment forget the indie
pendence of the two branches of Congress.
Let the presidents own language rebuke
those VINO would by false fealty change
their convictions upon the subject in or
Ger to conform to his suggestion. The eff
fects of our action may be as far reaching.
If the United States, the greatest silver
producing country, sbandons silver, it
viii in all probability lead to the annlhi-
lation OF silver as standard money
throughout the world. The only law
making any provision for the increased
use of silver money is the Sherman law.
The president recommended its uncondi-
under no obligation to adopt his recon-
mendation and they are responsible to
their constituents only and are in duty
bound to protect their rights and regard
their interests.
1--WE are being dragged toward uni
versal gold standard to realm over whose
door is written. abandon hope sll We
who enter here.' There is no such thing
as an honest dollar, because an honest
dollar would always have the same pur-
chasing power, and the government never
attempted to secure absolute stability in
dollar. The most dishonest dollar would
always have the same purchasing power.
The most dishonest dollar ever proposed
is that child of avarice and ignorance
called gold dollar, for it would con-
stantly rise in value and cheat the debtor.
While we cannot secure an absolutely
honest dollar, we should approach it as
nearly as possible, and bimetallic stan
dar6 oughS to be adopted, because with
bimetallism the money unit fiuctuates
less than under single standard.
international bimetallism is desirable
but not necessary and is not probable.
Other European nations wait upon Eng
land. England's interests lie in the
direction of a gold standard. To make
our action dependent upon hers allows
her to legislate for our people and is in
apdication OF the right cf half the govern
ment. We believe the restoration OF the
right Of free coinage as it existed previous
to 1873 would raise the price of silver
bullion to 129 cents per ounce throughout
the world and render unnecessary any
change in the present.
'sThe Sherman law did not cause our
financial stringency. Moneyed men east
without any intention of course
started panic by exaggerating the
dangers of gold expectation. When
Al. go,
as muck as anybody else. The trouble
now is that depositors have withdrawn
their money from fear of the banks and
3 repeal of the Sherman law will not in
crease the solyency of the banks.n
Then Bryan spoke in favor of the reten-
zion of the ratio OF 16 TO L, arguing that
an increase of that ratio would be detri-
mental TO the international agreemeds as
TO the coinage of the metals and conIinu-
ing said ''the president has been de-
ceived. He had said in his message that
the people demanded q repeal of the
Sherman act. He had heard from boards
of trade and from chambers of commerce.
He had not heard from the
farmers, or men ir workshops, and
he could no more judge of the opinion of
the people than be could measure the
oceans depth by foam on the ocean wave.
The president was elected upon a platform
thrice pledged to the gold and silver coin
age of the constitution. Nine tenths of
The people of the United States stood
ready to sustain him in the fight, but IN
the face OF an enemy bold and insolent, he
was ordered to retreat. Let him not be
dismayed. There was time y t to win
the battle If he will but order the charge.
viii the party stand by the principles Of
Jefferson and Jackson, or will it abandon
it's right TO its name? Will it choose life
or death, which?'' Tremendous APP
plause.)
At the conclusion of the speech there
were loud cries Of ssVote, vote, /" and the
Nebraska orator was surrounded by his
colleagues congratulating him upon his
great effort.
AIr. Henderson of Iowa, said the most
gratifying thing that could reach the
people of the United States were these
cries of ''Vote, F" s'vote. - The people
expected early action, and he would be
glad to come to a vote at once.
Mr.. Moses of Georgia, spoke against
repeal bill and opposed the proposition to
raise the standard from 16 to to 20 TO /.
The House tnea adjourned.