Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-02-23


Agricultural Departments passed the
House with but slight delay. ALPHA.
CIRCULATION OF NATIONAL BANKS.
Speech Of Hon. Richard P. Bland, OF
Missouri, in the House of Representa-.
tiyes, Thursday, February 8, 1888.
The House having under consideration
the following resolution:
"Resolved, That Immediately upon the
adoption of this resolution the House
proceed to consider II. r. 1O143, a OIL
to increase the circulation of national
banks, and for other purposes, and II
such bill shall not be disposed OF on SAID
day, then the consideration thereof shall
be Continued during the next legislative
day.
Mr.. Bland said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: 1t will be curious
thing for the country and the members
Of this House to observe the vote upon
this cloture resolution, to ascertain how
many men upon this side of the House
who, last summer, when the free coinage
bill was up for consideration in the inter
est of the people, planted themselves
upon the high horse of Democratic prin-
ciple, declaring they would not vote for
cloture. 1t will be interesting, l say, to
ascertain how many of those gentlemen
are going to come down from their high
horse to-day and vote cloture, in the
interest of Wall street, to demonetize
silver.
We will watch the roll to see how
gentleman can in one instance raise
himself above the people in professed
Democracy and vote in favor of Wall
street, and yet forsake his avowed princi-
Piles when it comes to bill of this char
acter. What is this bill, Mr.. Speaker?
The gentleman talks about coming silver.
Why does he not report bill to coin all
the silver purchased instead of bill to
stop the purchase and the coinage both?
A bill, sir, processing to carry out the
Democratic platform-a platform which
demanded the repeal of the sherman
law" misnomer, for Sherman never
liked the bill himself, and is now trying
to have it repealed, which is one good
reason why this side of the House espe-
cially ought to stand by it and sustain it.
That part of it which may be in the inter
est of Safeguarding and bond bulling
in Wall street must come here with a
cloture rule.
But what becomes of the rest Of it?
The free coinage proposition in that
platform is utterly ignored the peoples
voice is not heard in the introduction OF
that bill. The measure is a monstrosity,
yielding to the national banks further
privileges, increasing their circulation in
the interest of the bondholders, to defeat
the monetization of silver in behalf OF
the gold gamblers and spectators.
1t is hardly susceptible of amendment,
Mr.. Speaker. We will meet them on that
proposition. When we want silver legis-
ton in the interest of the people we will
take action upon it here and not at the
dictation of the gold spectators. When
the Democratic party in the last cam
paign, and especially gentlemen on this
side presenting this bill now, went before
the people they said that the free coinage
of silver and the silver question was
nothing in comparison to the tariff ques-
ton. That was the overShadowing,
paramount issue which the people had
to face.
But as soon as the election is over we
hear nothing of the Committee On Ways
and Means They have absolutely sub
sided. The tariff question is reiegated
to the rear in this body. If We do that,
we will have betrayed every promise
made to the American people in that
campaign or the tariff and silver ques-
tons, and up to this moment, sir, in this
House, the people of this country will
have been deceived in the last election.
Applause. We promised, first of all, a
reduction of the tariff. Now, let the sill
yer question alone until we get little
tariff reduction. Let it so where it was
said that it ought to go until we revise
and reduce the tariff.
Let it remain until we reform the Fed
eral election laws, and take action upon
other measures upon which we all agree.
Applause. If gentlemen wish to press
the silver question in the Democratic
party you are in danger of losing tariff
reform; you are in danger of losing
reform in your election laws, nd reforms
in many other directions which are
demanded by the people. This was
preached to US when we tried to pass a
free coinage bill.
hope there is no hand in all of this
government strong enough to thrust this
matter in this House and to keep it here
as menace to tariff reform and other
necessary reforms; nor is there hand
in this country strong enough to compel
the repeal of this law-the so-called sill
yer law-until some other measure is
instituted equally satisfactory, or better,
to take its place. [Applause.]
And l give notice now that you can
divide and disrupt the Democratic party
and defeat all reforms, but you cannot
accomplish the purpose of legislating
solely in the interest of Wall street on
this question. Renewed applause
We do not intend that it shall be done.
No threat held over US will deter us for
moment from the performance of our
duty on this floor. Renewed applause.
Now, sir, l hope that the previous
question on the report of the Committee
on Rules will be sustained, and that no
cloture amendment will be allowed to
this rule. The bill itself is subject to
consideration in Committee on the Whole,
and if it IS brought up for consideration
let it 90 there, and let every gentleman
have al opportunity TO debate 1t and dis
cuss it and offer his amendments.
l say it ought never TO have been
brought before the House, and especially
it ought not to be proposed now, when
we know that the other end-the Senate
have voted down proposition to con-
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