The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1893-08-19
BLAND OPENED FIRE
FIRST GUN OF THE SILVER MEN
He Does Not Intend That Any Political
Party Shall Survive That Make
LAWS for England.

intend that any political party shall sur.
vive that will lay a conaseating hand
upon America in the interest of Eng
land and of Europe and demonetire
silver In this country, and, my
friends of the eastern democracy, We
bid you farewell when you do it."
These were the words of Richard y.
Bland In the great financial contest
that opened the house of representa-
tives today, and the applause that fol
lowed the determined uttrance demen-
strated that the great silver leader had
with him a material element of the
democratic party. 1t brought every
member Of the house to the realization
that the most serious crisis in the dem
ocratic party since the dissension on
slavery was at hand, and that the divis-
ion of 1898, like the division of 1861,
would be largely on sectional lines In
accordance with the program agreed
upon last night MIR. Wilson, Immediately
after the meeting of the house, intro
duced bill Internationally repeating
the Sherman purchasing Law of 1890
and Mr.. Bland, on behalf of the free
coinage men, followed with 4 resolu-
tion providing for immediate considera-
tion of the bill and alloting IL days for
general debate before vote is taken.
Immediately after the reading OF the
journal Mr.. Wilson of West Virginia
offered for present consideration bill
to repeal the purchasing clause of the
Sherman act.
Mr.. Bland offered an agreement made
this morning governing the debate,
which limits the total amount of talk
to IA days from l l 4. m. to p. m, with
night sessions for this debate only, If
desired.
Mr.. Bland demanded the previous
debate, but it was antagonized by some
of the republicans under the leadership
of Mr.. Cannon, who wanted to debate
the question. Finally a vote was taken
resulting: Ayes, 2l7; noes, 100.
The previous question was then or
dered. The republicans generally
voted With the democrats in support of
the motion, and the order as TO the de,
bate was then adopted.
At p. m. Raynor (democrat) OF
Maryland began the debate in support
of the Wilson bill for the unconditional
repeal of the silver purchase clause OF
the Sherman act.
Mr.. Blind then presented the follow.
ing bill Of the silver men, which pro
vides for free coinage and repeal of the
silver purchasing act:
Be it enacted, ETC., That from and
after the passage of said act all holders
of silver bullion TO the amount Of 500
or more standard weight and fneness
shall be entitled to have the same
coined at mints OF the United States
into silver dollars of the weight and
fineness provided for in section two of
this act.
Sec. THAT the silver dollar provided
for in this act shall consist of 4l2 grains
of standard silver, said dollar to be a
legal tender for all debts, dues and de-
mands both public and private.
Sec. THE holders of silver dollars
herein provided for shall he entitled to
deposit the same and receive silver
certificates In the manner provided by
law for standard silver dollars.
Sec. $50 much of the act of July IA,
lsyO, as requires the monthly purchase
of 4, 5OO.OO ounces of silver, shall be
and the same is hereby repealed.
Mr.. Raynor OF Maryland opened for
the anti-silver men, claiming that the
adoption of free coinage would mean
BANKRUPTCY for the United States. IL
referring to the democratic platform
Mr.. Raynor said in closing:
II know that the declarations of thai
document have been differently con
strued, according to the views of the
gentlemen expounding them. AS fol
me, in this supreme hour of nv coun
try's needs, am not blinded or intiml
dated by the glittering words of con
vention declaration"
He was followed by Mr.. Brown o.
Indiana (3emocratl, who said he would
vote fer the repeal of the Sherman Law
with or without conditions The prom
ises of the democratic plat form, he as
serted, must be redeemed.
GLANDS GREAT SPEECH.
Mr.. Bland, after expressing regret a,
the number of gentlemen, of whom the
one who preceded him was one OF the
most capable, who had seen fit to change
their position upon this question, to
abandon large portion of the voters
who aided in giving them seats to be
occupied, faces to the east and backs TO
the west commented on the declarations
in the democratic platform.
SIT was the understanding that free
coinage OF silver necessarily meant the
repeal of the Sherman law. The two
are SO antagonistic that they cannot ex.
ist at the same time. But we are met
with the suggestion that we Hesitate
out Of existence the Sherman law and
take our chances of securing anything
In Its place which shall meet the
pledge of the platform to coin both sill.
yer and gold. This is because a panic
Is upon the United States. The voting
masses of the country may become
panic stricken OH election day. II they
do, am afraid those like the gentle
man from Indiana will feel the force
OF the panic.
Bland sketched briefly the history Of
the financial legislation Of recent Years
and asserted that the same cry Of go
ing TO silver basis" had been raised
against the bill Of ISIS, with which his
name had been connected. He sent to