The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-21

WASHINGTON, Sept. *. Especial. The
declaration Of Senator pugn Of Alabama,
made on the flcor OF the senate the other
day. that he and those y 10 AGREE with him
viii stand in opposition TO the repeal bill
until physical strength Is exhausted and
they have lost the power of speech, gives q
cue to the spirit OF tue bitter struggle now
raging in the upper branch of congress.
Not since the memorable fight over the
force bill has such s situation been seen in
the senate, and this situation is infinitely
more interesting than that produced by tie
force bill, because that measure affected
only section OF the country and had bat
little bearing upon the prosperity of the
people even there, while this measure az
fects directly or indirectly every family in
the country.
If you were to come to Washington and
talk conhdentially with senators on one CT
the other side of this combat. you would dis
cover an earnesJness Of feeling, sincerity,
almost a fierceness, that have not been seen
IN congress perhaps since the days of the
war. This earnestEess is as strong on one
side as on the other Most of the senators
who favor repeal believe such action to
be absolutely necessary for the welfare OF
the country Unless this bill is passed
they think the recent financial and business
troubles will continue indefinitely and be-
come even verse. On the other hand, the
leaders of the silver fight just as sincerely
believe the passage Of this bill will bring
the country to rack and ruin.
Appeals From the People.
One of these senators, Mr.. Wolcott OF
Colorado, stood today in the lobby of the
senate talking with some friends. In his
hand he held large bundle of letters, and
with a quivering voice, while there was a
suggestive moistness about his eyes, he
spoke OF these missives, their writer's and
their contents.
"Why," said he, ''this is the sort Of testi.
mony that comes to me and other senators
from the south and west every day. People
are telling US that if we pass this bill and
strike down silver they will be plunged in.
to straits fearful and desperate. The land
will be filled with suffering, and starving
men, women and children will be seen ev-
erywhere. Gaunt want will walk the streets
and byways. We believe the instinct of
the people whom we represent is right.
We believe they know what they are talk
ing about, and as their representatives in
this body what else can we do than stand
as long as our strength will permit us to
stand and raise our voice in opposition to
this iniquitous bill?'
What the Struggle Means.
With a state of feeling like this, with the
power OF the administration and the lead
ership of the Democratic party in the house
and senate ranged on one side and The most
determined opposition from the represent
atives Of certain sections of the country on
the other side, it is easy to see that we have
now in the senate situation of surprising
interest and uneXampled Importance. 1t is
not a mere political struggle, but it is a
warfare of ideas and convictions. In fact,
party lines are more or less broken down,
and we find both Republicans and Demo
Gratis on one side as well as on the other.
No one here attempts to disguise the fact
that this Is a struggle whose result viii.
have most tremendous consequence, no
matter which side may-win. The ablest
men here irrespective of their views on this
question, believe the result viii settle Tor
many years to come the status of this coun-
try in the monetary system Of the world.
The fight on the one side is for gold stand
ard OF values, and on the other side for the
preservation of at least form of bimetal-
Ism. These men say that the country is
now going through a process of leveling;
that we are coming down to the European
or gold standard of values; that as goods
and products fall in price, labor must also
suffer reduction of wages, and that while
this tremendous and farreachiny process
continues conditions viii be unsettled, val
ues disturbed, industry clogged and times
hard.
Party Foundations Shaken.
Furthermore, these men who sit here on
Capitol hill with their eyes on the whole
of the country, with their fingers upon the
pulse of the people, perceive that even
political parties are likely to go down in
destruction before the mighty forces now
at work On this continent So far as one is
able to discover, there is as much trepida-
ton among the leaders of one party as
among those of the other as regards the
future. The shrewdest OF these observers
would not be surprised to see either the Re
publican or the Democratic party, or both,
dismembered and scattered during the COM
ing few years. There are men who believe
one or the other of these two parties will
cease to be a quantity in our affairs, no
matter what the result OF this present leg
islative struggle may be.
For the present this question of the cur
rency and monetary standard is of inf
nitely greater importance than the tariff, or
the federal election laws, or any of the old
questions about which our politicians and
stump speakers have beaten the air in the
past. for this is more than question Of
opinions-it is a question of values, Of
wages, of savings, of income.
Playing Politics IN a Crisis.
While this is going on, il is humiliating
to be compelled to confess that there are in
the senate men Of great influence and high
standing who see in this situation no high
er duty than mere scheming for personal or
party advantage. There are at least six or
eight presidential aspirants in the senate.
They are on both sides Of the cham Der.
They are watching every phase Of this mo-
ulentous struggle and improving every OPP
portunity 10 advance their political for
tunes therein. Some day il may be propef
to name. characterize and analyze these am
bilious men. some Of whom are not acting
In good faith. and who are proceeding By
indirection and intrigue rather than by
those frank and manly methods Of true
statcsEaanship which crisis ike this de-