St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-01

WASHINGTON, Aug. 81. As soon as
the first tones of MIR. Wolcott'S voice
rang out conversation ceased through
out the hail, and senators settled them
selves to enjoy the oratorieal treat. The
sarcastic illusions in the opening para
graphs to the sudden and remarkable
conversion of Democratic statesmen to
the monometallic views of the president
amused senators OH the floors and spec
tators in the galleries, but there was no
demonstration beyond general smile.
Mr.. Sherman listened with keen atten-
quietly withdrew. Mr.. Vance left his
own side of the chamber and took a
chair near the speaker; but'he followed
Mr.. Sherman's example and went back
tobis own. Mr.. Voorhees, and Mr.. Cor
man sat beside each other and OCCASION
ally conversed in whispers. But the
Maryland senator also retired from the
chamber.
Mr.. Wolcott began by saying that 1t
was unfortunate that this financial panic
wss unaccompanied by the widespread
religious revival which invariably. it
was said, followed panics The ready
and complete change of heart, however,
on the financial question which had
been witnessed in the senate chamber
gave evidence that it was time when
men were especially open to conviction.
And if the administration with its petty
spoils and patronage had been able to
make so many converts, what might we
not hope when the assurances of future
happiness would be not for four short
years, but for eternity? The misfortune
under which the silver cause suffered
was the administration conversion came
first, for if the hearts of senators
had first been impressed with
the littleness Of the things of
this world and the glory of things eter-
nal, the people, who were to be the suf-
ferers. would not have been deserted by
their representatives. Except as patron
age might be used to affect congress
there was no criticism to be made re-
spectlng the policy of the administra-
ton. Criticism of the secretary of the
treasury was also misplaced, because he
was a member of the presidents house
hold and committed to his policy. Nor
was the president open to structure be-
cause of his message, for he had always
been a consistent and persistent OppO-
nent of silver coinage. The West knew
last year that, whoever was elected. its
reliance must be placed in congress,
which had more than once risen above
the personal wishes of the executive.
Senator Wolcott sarcastically referred
to the great number of senators who,
protesting to be
Bimetallists.
held that an international agreement
was necessary, and pointed out that
thereby they accepted the single gold
policy of England. He said that the
friends Of silver were not carried away
by such utterances as those of Senator
Hill of the other day. Who was not
for them was against them, and his
speech would have been as logical if
made against silver and in favor OF un-
conditional repeal. The senator knew
that free coinage by separate act was
impossible during this administration,
and that any assistance he desired to
render must come now or not at all.
Silver had been compelled to bear every
body'S burdenS-fOr many months, and it
seemed now to be involved in some
fashion with the Democratic factional
differences IN New York.
Senator WOlcott next paid his re-
Spects to Senator Voorhees,, and said
that his change of front was one of the
most remarkable and omnous occur
rences. He attacked the senator's
record on silver and national banks, and
said that all his past utterapces as was
shown by the record, were ''words writ
in water" He quoted from the SEN
ator's article last year in the North
American Review to show his lack of
consistency, and asserted that now for
tha first time he {VoorheeS), supposed
to represent the masses, and Sherman,
supposed to represent the classes, were
in complete accord in financial matters.
The wolf was dwelling with the lamb
and the leopard was living down with
the kid. This harmony. he feared,
wonld not continue long, and when
they arose they would be fewer in num-
Der. There could be but one chairman
of the finance committee, and without
undertaking the abilities of the
Senator From, Indiana,
he looked forward to the resumption of
the control of the committee by the SEN
ator from Ohio, aud recalled the Pha-
raoh's dream of the lean kline. He ad-
jured the senator to remember Solo,
mons admonition that sit is better that
thou shouldst not VOW than that thou
shouldSt VOW and not pay" referring to
his advocacy of silver.) No man could
be bimetallist in the sense that he
believed in the further coinage of gold
and silver by the United States and ad-
INil ~
undoubtedly veto, any independent
measure for the free coinage of silver,
and there was not senator in the body
who did not believe this to be true. ANY
man who vouched for Mr.. Cleveland as
a bimetallist would vouch fOr the man
in the moon. Why not act now on
the whole financial question? 1t
was glibly said that we could have fur
ther legislation later. We should never
know less about silver than we know
now, and congress was in session to deal
with the subject. 1t might be true, as
Senator Hill prophesied last week, that
the purchasing clause would be uncOn-
ditiOnally repealed, but it was equally
true that he might find it necessary
after time to review his prophesy. If
this act should pass and silver be, as it
must. absolutely dethroned and de-
senator who believed in free coinage
should ever cast another vote in favor
of protection in any form. This was an
era of experiments; let US experiment
all around. Even if it were true that
our abandonment of silver would in
time compel other nations to its use, the
step would be ruinous and unnecessary.
We could absorb all the silver offered
for coinage
Without Imitation
of the currency and without impairing
our financial credit at home or abroad.
He had demonstrated q few days ago
the falSity of the statement that the
repeal of the Sherman act would restore
confidence. This was bankers panic.
and if you asked a banker today how
the repeal was to restore confidence, he
could not tell you. The depositors who
drew some one hundred and eighty
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