The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1893-07-28
TAKING THEIR OWN DUST.
Republican Responsibility for the Passage
OF the sherman Law.

hepubican kesponslbility Tor the Passage
OF the sherman Law.
The reluctance of the republicans to
accept the credit for the passage OF the
sherman law is wholly ex post facto.
In the fall of 1890 some of them were
alarmed lest the democrats would at
some time or other lay claim TO a part
of the credit.
II will be remembered that after the
bill was passed speculation in silver be.
came very active and the price was run
up to si.2l per ounce, with possibly a
few sales at a higher figure. For the
moment II appeared as IL the prophecy
of those who had predicted that the
bill would bring the bullion value of
silver TO parity with its coming value,
or sl2929, was gong TO be fulfilled.
Accordingly, on September 10, 1890, the
republicans of Indiana in their plat
form pointed with pride" in the fol.
lowing expressive fashion:
I'VE cordially commend the action OF the re.
publicans in congress on the subject Of silver
coinage. EK-Presidcnt Cleveland by messages
TO congress, strongly opposed ali legislation
favorable 10 silver coinage, aud the law recent.
ly enacted was passed IN spite Of persistent
democratic opposition. Under its benehceni
influences silver has rapidly approached the
gold standard OF value, farm products arc ad.
yancing IN price and commerce is feeling the
impulse Of increased prosperity II will add
more than $50 OOD0OOO annually OF sound cur
rency to the amount IN circulation among the
people, and Is long yet prudent step toward
free coinage
We do not find in this resolution any
evidence that the republicans of Mr..
Harrison's state regarded the sherman
act as necessary to head off free coin.
age, but on the contrary that they re.
garded it as wise legislation and long
step toward free coinage.
The Indiana republicans were not
without some good reason for making
these assertions. A leading republican
congressman, Mr.. Conger. of Iowa,
when he offered the conference report
on the bill in the house, had spoken as
follows:
This measure will he given to the country,
am happy 10 say, by republicans. II was agreed
upon In conference by republicans only IL was
passed in youdcr chamber only py republican
votes, and / suspect that IL may pass here only
by republican votes. II viii then 20 where IL
viii be signed by % republican president and
from there il will 20 20 the country, which. in
November next will give such republican ia.
dorsement that many OF you gentlemen will
not be found here to pass upon the next silver
measure that may come before congress. tits
Mr. speaker in line with republican judgment
and rep',aliesn policy .r,.sex<1zsz;
= fnger Sas Bite rigst-ss- 50. insA
that many of the memb ers of the house
who then heard him would not be mem.
bers of the next congress. In this he
proved himself a true prophet, albeit
one Of those who keep the word of
promise TO the ear only Mr.. Conger
meant that the popularity of the Shcr-
nan law would be so great that many
democratic congressman would fail OF
collection. II turned out Just the other
way. II was the republicans of whom
% many failed to get back, and Mr..
'onger was one of them, though caudor
ompels the admission that the silver
ill was not the principal cause of their
allure.
This is by no means all the evidence
valuable on this subject, Various other
epublican conventions held IN 1890
the sherman act Califor.
ia Endorsed IL. Arizona complimentcd
/, but demanded free coinage. Idaho
allied it "a splendid victory over tho
nemies Of silver" Kansas called il r
tep in the right direction. Michigan
ndorscd IT North Carolina returned
he thanks of the American people to
ongress for passing the bill and to Mr..
harrison for signing it. Tennessee
congratulated the country in the wis.,
olution Of the silver question. West
'irginia congratulated congress on the
aS,age of the bill. There were more
( the same sort, but these will suffice
ntil the republican organs do some
lore denying on the subject. 49, Louis
lie CDuTicr-IOurnal