The farmers' union., 1893-08-17
A DEMOCRATIC SPEECH

MS speech III congress last flddt. DIS
appeared in the st. Loui, Republic. has
the right ring. Here it is as printed in
the Republic:
Mr.. Bland, the great silver advocate,
was then recognized by the Speaker.
His speech was the effort Of the day. It
was the speech that attracted the most
attention. The galleries were crowded
and the members seated in remote cor
ners Of the House fluttered around in
the vicinity of Mr.. Bland so that every
word he said could be heard He ex-
pressed his regret that number Of
gentlemen had changed their position
on the silver question. The gentleman
who had just taken his seat Mr.. Brown
had been regarded as one OF the most
ardent and able advocates Of bimetal-
ism. He had rctreated from a part Of
the Chicago platfOrm-frOm that part
Of all others that had cont ibuted to
give him a seat in the House. He had
turned his face toward the east and his
back toward the west. The Sherman
law was the only law on the statute
books that looked to the use of silver
as a money of the country. He knew
At the time of its passage that the
element that was striving to secure its
passage was in the element opposed to
free coinage. He knew at the time
that that element would demand its
repeal at the first moment it saw its
opportunity. The repeal OF the Shcr-
man act had been part OF the Chicago
platform. Another part had been a
declaration for the use of both gold and
silver as the money of the country.
Speaking for the people he represented
he understood that the free coinage of
in accordance with the platform neces-
surially repealed the Sherman law.
The two laws could not exist together.
They were inconsistent.
RECENT LEGISLATION REVIEWED.
Mr.. Bland then reviewed recent sill
YER and financial legislation and con-
tended that it was a cOmprc hnsOn that
the United States would repeal the
Sherman law which induced the
British government to Recommend TO
the government OF India the suspension
OF the silver coinage. Why was there
being rushed in now. he asked Il propo-
sition to repeal the only law which
sustained for the moment ut least the
value of silver:
Mr.. Bland appealed to members to
stand by bimctallism and not obey the
commands of the shylocke. France he
went on to say. had afforded medium
of exchange for all the world during
20 years at Il ratio of -! of silver to
OF gold. At that ratio France had
been able to maintain the parity of the
two metals all over the world. That
was proof that the United States
Government could do SO at the ratio of
l6 to |. If Europe refused to accept
that ratio the effect would be to divert
producing country in the world. Could
England he asked. withstand this with
drawal of trade: Certainly not: it was
bimctalli>m that made the manu-
f:,cturers of England SO strong and
prosperous. Western Europe would
have to come to American standard or
abandon its commerce with the United
States and with all civilized countrses.
WOULD HAVE TO RECOGANIZE SILVER.
The United States was the best
market Of the world for the manu-
factured articles of Europe. and that
market Europe could not have unless it
recognized the accepted silver ut the
same value AS the United States did.
The moneymetallists of Europe knew
that If this country Went into the free
coinage of gold and silver at fair
ratio it would settle the question for
the world. and hence their interests
and determination to prevent it. 1t
was not only serious question for the
United States. but the oppressed peo-
pie of the Old World appealed to this
country to settle the question for them
and for the whole world.
The money requirements OF the
United States. with the vast wealth.
industry and energy Of its people. were
equal to those Of Europe. France and
Germany combined. ami the whole
civilized world would have 10 look to
this country for its future monetary
supply. And Yet. he said. With vehe-
nance. We are asked here to-day to lay
the bloody hand of contiscation on mil
lions ofour population in order to satisfy
the greed of England. Will Congress
do it: Will YOU trample down the
interests of your own people and
destroy the value of one OF the precious
metals simply to crafty the greed of