The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-09-21
FIFTY THIRD CONGRESS,
SENATOR VOORHEES, MAKES AN AP,
PEAL FOR ACTION By THE SENATE.
Teusts to the Patriotism Of Senators Not to
Abuse Lenient Rules, and Dsfiss Pub
lie Criticism Of His Own Acts.
Senator Mills Speech.

was taken up and senator Foornee
sougbt TO obtain an agreement as t
when a vote would be taken. Tn
time, he said, would not be misspent
in instructing the public mind as to
the organization of the senate. In do
ing this he addressed himself to TIT
great body of intelligent public opin-
ion as we'll as in some quarters to
dense and opaque degree ofignorance
in some respects innocent, in other:
malicious. He then reviewed the his
tory of the rules of the senate from its
creation, showing that for II years
from 1889 the senate had amongst its
rules provision of previous questions
1t was tried fully and in 1906. wher
Thomas jefferson was president, it
was deliberately abandoned and
never claimed or admitted from
that hour to the present. Il am now
arraioned," said Senator VOORHEES,,
''before public opinion for not TENN.
mating this debate As well might
be arraigned for not terminating the
tide of the ocean or the northwest
winds. In abandoning the cloture rule
the government of this great body was
placed upon sense OF proprlety,
patriotism, Difference to public sentl =
ment, the public interests of each Sen
ator and the body itself, with assur-
ance in the minds of those then in the
senate that no senator would be found
to abuse the patience of this body or
outrage public business or public
interest. For 81 years this body has
been a law sufficient unto itself. 1t
has never been found wanting in peace
or war, so that the criticisms of a
certain class will fall harmless upon
this body as they fall upon me, 50
far as concerns the personal criticism
of myself | may as well embrace this
moment as another to say they are
met with absolute and stern defiance.
| have served the people OF Indiana
many years and have had no eXPlana-
tions required when have gone home,
and treat with scorn and immeasur-
able contempt suggestions coming
from New York bankers or anywhere
else as to the motives which govera
ne. respond to that kind of criti-
cism by saying it comes from class
whom the savior of the world never
has spoken of with respect nor do H.
Senator Voorhees, continued: Public
opinion is the most potent factor
under the stars in conjunction with
the press. speak of that portion of
the press which moves in lofty, pure
atmosphere, where truth and justice
prevail, not of that portion which
deals in miasmatic mendaclty and
posoas everything about it. l speak
with the utmost respect of the great
organs of public opinion, not in fear OF
them. not the slightest, but OF respect
for them as an agent in human affairs.
A vote has to come on the repeal bill.
When will vote lie agreeable to the
opposition?
Senator Dubois (Rep, Idaho said
that many senators were yet to be
heard 1t was not usual to prevent
senators from being heard when they
desired to speak nor were senators &C
customed to being hurried or threat
ened. MY own impression is" said
Senator Dubois, "the senator in charge
of this measure had better proceed in
an orderly manner and in the custom
airy way. He will reach a result
sooner by that course. Tue oppo-
nents of repeal were ready to join
issue with its friends whether it be for
longel sessions, continuous sessions or
clotu G, The passage OF the repeal
bill would sound the death krell OF
silver as a money metal. No juggelry
with words could obscure the issue.
Senators would talk sweetly about an
International agreement, forcing Eng
land and bimetallssm, bu5 when the
pending bill was passed the doom of
silver was sealed and the senators
deed if we can prevent is by any hon
orable means known to the usage OF
the senate. Our duty is plain to us
We believe we are the last hope and
bulwark of the people in this great
struggle. We therefore object to the
request OF Senator Voorhees,.
Senator Teller gave notice that
when the daily sessions were extend
ed into the night the advocates OF the
bill, as we'll as its opponents, will have
to be present.
Senator Mills (Texas), took the floor
He began by saying it seemed sin
gular that in a country blessed witt
all forms of wealth as ours is, peopl,
should be in such distress as they
were, and that while the senate wal
discussing the financial question il
theory the laboring people were dis
cussing the question OF subsistence
For this state of affairs many causes
were assigned The president in hi,
message attributed it in large meas
ure to the operations of the Sherman
law, and in his opinion a large pei
centage of the business men of the
country concurred. 1t was the gen
eral opinion that thelaw was unwise
and ought to be repealed. Democratic
senators had said it was not proper
measure when they refused to vote fo
its enactment, and Republicans who
voted for it agreed practically that i
had outlived its usefulness and should
be removed from the statute books.
Senator Mills quoted at length til,
clause of the Democratic platform o
1892, declaring for the repeal of thu
q, act and for the preservation of 1
double standard, showing that in de
handing the repeal of the law and in.
sisting upon an international agree
ment he and the president were actins
in perfect accord with the require
ments of the platform. He declared il
i ii. L