Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-09-06
HON. A. A.. TAYLOR'S SPEECH
On the Repeal OF the Purchasing Clause
OF the Sherman Law.

Ahe Iiouse having unuer cOn5luera-
ton the Wilson bill for unconditional
repeal Of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman law, on the Esd day of Au-
gust, 1898. Hon. A. A. Taylor delivered
a speech on the subject, which appears
in the Congressional Record at page
494.
Addressing the Speaker of the House
Mr.. Taylor said:
With all proper respect for the opin.
ions of distinguished Republican leaders
in the House and in the Senate, I coin
eide with my friend from Iowa [Gen.
Hepburn who 30 eloquently addressed
the House on yesterday, in the helief
that the safest position for Republicans
to occupy, in this emergency, is to
stand on the Republican platform; and
I wish to place on record, as briefly as
l can, my reasons for this view and
the vote I shall give when the voting
is reached.
Some of us on this side of the House
desired to introduce a bill, or an amend
ment to the pending bill, looking to the
settlement of this question on some
middle ground, but we are deprived of
the opportunity of Offering such a bill,
or such an amendment, or any amend.
ment whatever, by the special order
under which the subject is being con.
sidered, dictated by the Democratic
caucus and adopted by the Democratic
majority of the House. In other words,
the imperial Democracy has command
ed us to "eat what is set before us, ask
Ing no questions for conscience sake"-
not for its conscience sake, however,
for it has already crucifed it's conscience
on its W platform, and is now hold
ing power under false ~preteuses. Jap.
plause on the Republican SIDE.
If the bill introduced by the gentle
man from West Virginia, providing
for the unconditional repeal of the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman law,
passes Congress without amendment
and is approved by the President, and
no legislation follows, l understand
that, so far as this Congress is concern
ed, excepting that which is already
coined, which, of course, will not be
disturbed. silver will be destroyed as a
money metal of the future, and that
the unit of value will hereafter be at.
tached to gold. 1t is true that we are
assured that silver is not to be dis
credited" and that further legislation
is to follow.
If the destruction of silver was not
intended, why did not you embody in
this repeal bill some provision for its
liberal use as money in the futurep
What reliance can be placed in prom
Uses o made by a party whose leaders
regard the declarations of the platform
on which they were elected as glitter
ing "catchwords of politicsp" And
this is the remedial legislation insisted
npon by the unconditional repeal ad-
vocates, in the interest of q restoration
of confidence and a return to better
times.
With my friend from Louisiana [Mr.
Boatnerl and my friend from Iowa
lGen. Hepburn, 1 do not believe that
all our ills are traceable to the opera
ton of the Sherman law, for we know
that under it, for two years prior to
November last, the country prospered
as it had never prospered before. Com
merce and manufactures marched hand
in hand with the thrift and prosperity
OF the mechanic arts. Labor reaped its
reward and the country was happy in
the possession of peace and plenty.
To show that this is not a false pic
ture and that another question has
played some part in bringing about the
crisis which is upon us, l { desire to read
some Democratic authorities. The first
is an admission from the New York
Sun, and reads as follows:
Last year, in a season of general
prosperity such as never blessed q nation
living in the light of civilization, the
prevailing industrial system was con-
demned with al almost revolutionary
show of disapproval. All visible facts
argued for a popular verdict directly
opposite to that deliberately recorded
by the immense majority.
The next is from the New York
World, and is as follows:
Until the financial question is settled,
and in the present condition of bust
ness, there must be no tariff agitation.
1t Is vitality important that no new is.
u should be raised that will increase
the apprehension already felt.
The third is from the New York
Evening Post, and reads as follows:
We are willing, in the first place, to
admit that anticipation of tariff changes
may have had its influence in inducing
caution among manufacturers. Ex-
p%ectation of such legislation, whether
slight or radical, must in a measure
operate thus.
Whatever may be the action of Con-
gress in this matter, I do not believe
that q full and substantial restoration
of confidence and return to permanent
prosperity can take place until it is
known, with certainty, throughout the
length and breadth of the land that
our industrial system is to be let alone
and not disturbed by hostile legislation.
Notwithstanding there is every reason
existing for the expansion instead of
the contration of the currency-for we