The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-27
TO TALK NO MORE.
Close of the Debate OH
Silver.
TOM REED A HARD HITTER.
Hammering the Sore Spots of
the Democracy.
HE WILL VOTE FOR THE REPEAL
But President Cleveland Has Not
Struck Upon the True Cause of
the Present Trouble.

The Speaker announced that deoate in
favor of the bill would be closed by its au-
thor. Wilson of West Virginia, and the op-
position by Bland of Missouri.
Clarke of Alabama was the first speaker
He believed 1t the duty OF Congress to fix
the ratio of 16 to 1, still he would not cast
vote that would continue the paralysis
of the industry of the country. The neces-
sity was for immediate action TO restore
con fidence. The trouble was due to the
purchasing of silver under the Sherman
law. as the people believed, and whether
that belief was correct or not be would
vote to repeal the law or do anything 20
restore confidence.
Then Hon. Thomas B. Reed of Maine
took the floor, and, after sketching briefly
the financial condition of the country and
declaring he had no desire to deal with the
situation from a political standpoint, pro-
ceeded 10 say the Democratic party was
brought into power by a curious com bina-
ton OF circumstances. but in large meas
ure by the apathy of the American people.
The consciousness of this fact, he said,
underlies the entire situation. he would
not raise the question whether protection
was wise or not, but the Tact remained,
CNfu II tuc duHAlltu pIODOsillUDS Ol lHt
Democratic platform were entirely correct,
that the system upon which the manufac-
lures of the country were regulated for
thirty years was threatened with a total
change. Whether that change will be for
the better or not no man can know. What
the Democratic party proposes to Go no
one can say; they do not even know them
selves.
The speaker did not believe the Demo-
cratic party utterly reckless, nor that they
would be permitted to be so if they so
desired. If the reformation OF the tariff
were in the hands even of its friends who
favored protection instead of those who
denounced ii, business would be staguant
or at standstill; but when its reforma-
tion is in the hands of men opposed to the
system of manufactures the country is
built on, the manufacturers must neces-
sarily call halt. If their goods are to
come in competition with the manufactures
of other lands where production Is on a
different basis. and where labor is differ
entity regarded. no manufacturer will dare
10 manufacture more than absolute neces-
sity requires. He characterized in this
one phrase the cause of the present cOnd-
ton of affairs-ths undiscoverable uncer-
tainty of the future of both the currency
question and the question of protection
and revenue tariff.
He considered the Sherman act and the
accumulation of silver IS the earliest indi-
Gator of approaching isaster rather than
the chief cause. He did not believe the
Democratic Congress even under the
pressure of the people would revise the
tariff 80 that the workingman can be brought
back even to the condition Of workingmen
under the Walker tariff. but he had no
doubt there would be doubts and difficult
ties attending reductions. 1t was not to be
expected that the Democrats after thirty
years OF the criticism OF the acts of others
should be lifted a Ouce to the high level OF
responsibility and performance. Time
only could do that. Until that time came
they could rely on the assistance of the
Republican minority in the direction Of
sound government and honest administra-
ton.
The speaker was sorry the Democratic
majority would not permit the Repub-
iicans to exhibit their wisdom in the way
of amendments, but confined them to
Democratic propositions. He would waste
no time in showing that the rights of the
minority are outraged, according to the
Democratic position when the Republicans
were in power, for he recognized now, as
then, the necessity and duty of the party
in power assuming responsibility for its
action. He was only sorry the question
could rot be settled within the bounds of
the Democratic party itself. But every
body knew the majority of Democrats
would decide against the good sense of
the nation.
Though he did not believe the repeal of
the Sherman act would give immediate
prosperity he would vote for it because,
whether justly or not, it is believed to be
the cause of the boarding of the currency,
and because only by its repeal could the
nation hope to attract foreign capital. He
characterized the charge that the law of
1878 was trick as lone of the most stu
pendous fabrications which ever existed
in political life."
The pathway of duty is unconditional
repeal. If thatdid not give relief we must
try something else, and the sooner the bet
ter. The Republicans found themselves
in a peculiar position. The newly chosen
Democratic President has found himself
powerless in his first great recommends
tion to his own party, and is forced TO ap-
peal to the patriotism of another party
whose patriotism never has been appealed
to in vain.
The speaker selected the salient points
in the financial history of the Republican
party, and closed by saying that when the
day came, as it surely would, for that party
to lead the country back to prosperity. it
would take back with il our ancient
glory. undimmed by adversity. and our
ancient honor unsullied by defeat"
Reeds closing words were received with
prolonged outbursts of applause.
Reed was followed by Dearmond of
Missouri, in opposition to unconditional
re cal. He took Carlisle to task for fol-
lowing the ruinous financial policy of his
predecessor. Had the Sherman law been
properly executed the parity would have
been maintained. 1t might be true, but
be did not believe the story that Demo-