The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-11
THE TRUTH OUT AT LAST.

There was very spirited debate in
the Senate Of the United States on Tues
day last upon Mr. Lodges resolution to
vote on his bill to repeal the Sherman
law Oil August 22d. Senator Hale, Of
Maine, wanted the Senate to meet at IL
A. NJ. each day to hasten action on the
resolution, and thcie by Strengthen the
Presidents hands" Mr.. Voorhees, ridl-
culed the idea that a Republican senator
really wanted to Strengthen the Presi-
dents hands," and he declared that bis
committee (the Finance) would not be
hurried In their work of undoing the mis-
chief that a Republican measure Qhe
Sherman law had done the country
This brought Senator Sherman to his feet,
who said that he was no more responsible
for the measure than others. That the
act had been adopted to save the coun-
try from free coinage, with which the
Democrats threatened IL. Senator Vest
said that the assertion that the act had
been passed to prevent free coinage i'm
piled that IL free coinage bill had been
passed Mr. Harrison would have ap-
proved Of IL. Senator Sherman replied
that he hoped the time would never come
when the Senate would leave 1t to the
President to stave off a calamity which
it was in the Senates power to avert
This discussion of party responsibility
for the act brought out Senator Teller,
Republican senator from Colorado, who
said:
This claim that the act was done to
relieve the President is an after
thought. IT was done 10 quiet agitation
and TO keep the States of the Northwest
in the Republican ranks, because ne CTel-
ler) and every one else knew that things
had reached point where the passage
OF free silver act was impossible. The
act was founded on no financial principle.
1t was monstrosity, but he voted for
1t, thinking II might raise the price of
silver in his State"
Senator Teiler's statement has the
merit Of frankness at least, whatever we
may think OF It's morals.
Mr.. Teller was a distinguished Repub-
lican member Of the United States Senate
when this act was passed. and he knows
as much. therefore. Of the influences that
brought II about as any other living man.
He tells us that IL was Republican job
adopted 10 hold the silver States in the
Republican column. What do the people
OF Virginia think OF this? Are they will
ing To see their senators and representa-
tives voting 10 keep on the statute book
"monstrosity" founded on no financial
principle" that was put there TO keep
the Northwestern States voting with the
Republican parry? Are they willing 10 zee
their senators and representatives voting
TO keep on the statute book law which
one of the men who had most TO do with
putting II there admits is "monstrosity'
founded on no financial principle" and
only put there, so far as ne was con-
cerned, because he believed IL would force
us In this part of the country 10 buy
from the people OF his State some Of
their product at much more than il was
WORTH These are questions which it be-
hooves the people Of Virginia to think on.
Ihey have seen this baleful measure
paralyze business all over the country.
they see ruin and disaster staring them I'm
the face as consequence OF following in
the track Of this ''monstrosity'' founded
on no financial principle" Are they going
TO allow their representatives 10 take
part In perpetuating this measure so hurt
ful to them that It's sponsors now tell
them. while laughing in their faces. was
only intended as a cats paw with which
to make them pull chestnuts out OF the
hre? II behooves them 10 instruct their
senators and representatives on this
point and. IL they have one spark of
the spirit OF Virginians Of old. they will |
not allow themselves to remain one hour
longer In their present state.