Huntsville gazette., 1893-08-26
THE SILVER DEBATE.
Inc General Drift of Argument on the
Silver Question In Congress Gathered
from the Daily Speechmaking on the
Subject.
IN THE HOUSE.

ctNer question In Congress Gathered
from the Daily speechmaking on the
Subject.
IN THE HOUSE
WASHINGTON. Aug. 20-The silver debate
was resumed yesterday after the reading of the
Journal and Mr.. McCreary tdem, Ky1 took
the floor in advocacy Of the repeal Of the pur-
CHASING clause OF the Sherman act. An extra
ordinary financial situation, he said had in
duced the president to convene the congress in
extra session. They all agreed that the pres
ent trouble was widespread. far-reaching and
full of peril to the whole country. They agreed
also that it was their duty as representatives
SO find remedy. 1t might be that
the Sherman act, so-called, was the
prime cause of the trouble. 1t might be that
the nuctuation of silver in Europe, the shrink
age OF values in many parts of the world, the
failure of Barring Bros, had helped to bring
about the serious monetary condition which
now existed. He had voted against the pas
sage of the Sherman act That act had been
colossal failure and curse. The Purchasing
clause of the bill should be Immediately re-
pealed and Internationally. Let the free
coinage bill stand on its own merits. He was
not in favor of holding the Sherman act as
hostage of the free coinage of silver. He was
heartily in favor of the Wilson bill. Let the
purchasing clause be repealed. and then
other legislation would follow. The Will
out the double standard. He (Mr McCreary)
was here friend of silver and not as it's
enemy. He was in favor of international bi-
metallism. He was in favor of the repeal of
the Sherman act because this action would be
the best that could be done to help on an inter
national agreement. The United States could
not afford to adopt a free-coinage policy now
The only path to free coinage was through in
ternat1ona agreement aud the only way to
reach that path was to repeal the purchasing
clause-of the Sherman act. AS bimetallist
he did not wish to see this country relegated to
a silver basis.
Mr.. Bland inquired why the international
monetary conference had postponed its meet
ing from May until November.
Mr.. McCreary replied that it was postponed
to allow the policy of bimetallism to grow in
England. 1t had been postponed in the inter-
est OF bimetallsm
Mr.. Bland asked whether the gentleman had
said that the meeting of the conference had
been postponed for the purpose of demonetiz-
ing silver in this country.
Mr.. McCreary-I decline to yield to the gen
tleman If he insists upon misrepresenting my
position
Continuing his speech, Blr. McCreary ex-
pressed his regret that the question of change
of ratio between gold and silver had been in
jected into this discussion. He had no sym
pathy with those who now desired to change
the ratio from l6 to 20-to-1. The first duty of
congress was to act without delay Repeal the
purchasing clause of the Sherman act. The
second duty was to let free coinage alone for
the present. Its third duty was to stand by a
patriotic president in his efforts to advance the
prosperity of the people and the welfare of the
nation.
Mr.. Catchings (dem., Miss.) said he would
vote for the unconditional repeal OF the pur
chasing clause OF the Sherman act and b..
f1r
indirectly looking to the free coinage of silver
in this country at this time at any ratio that
could be suggested He had come to this de-
termination after careful consideration and
after careful study of the Chicago platform.
1t had been said tnat no democrat could vote
against free coinage. He was a democrat
His democracy was as good as that of anyone
on this floor and he would not allow any man
to question it. He was in favor of the repeal
of the purchasing clause of the Sherman act,
because it would tend to restore confidence.
He would go further and say that it would re-
store confidence and unlock the money that
had been boarded up.
Mr.. Livingston dem, Gao said there was no
reason why men should not rise above partisan
ship and discuss the disposition of the pending
question sensible men and patriots. He ia
vored bimetallism, and the plain question now
presented was between a single gold standard
and bimetallism. The Chicago platform had de-
nounced the Sherman act as a 'cowardly make
shift" A makeshift for what? For q single
gold standard? No. A makeshift for the free
coinage of silver. The bill for the repeal of
the purchasing clause of the Sherman act did
not place the democratic party where the Chi
cago platform proposed to leave it. He
denied that the purchasing clause was
responsible for the present financial
trouble. Years ago the farmers had come
to congress asking for relief and they had
been greeted as calamity howlers." He had
then predicted to the present governor of New
York that within two years the calamity
howlers" would come from another quarter
Who was now bowling for relief? The farm
ers? They had ceased to be howlers.
The howl now came from the banks and the
bankers 1t was now proposed by placing the
United States on a single gold standard to put
this country into the hands of re-
ceiver and turn it over to England
The money men and the business men of
England were getting shaky and they said
now that this gold craze had taken deeper root
than they had expected. He made the predic-
tion that if the purchasing clause Of the Sher-
man act were repealed the price OF products
in this country would not be increased. The
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr McCreary) had
spoken in favor of an international monetary
conference. Why not have an interstate none
tary conference? He that provideth not for
those OF his own nOuSenOl0 ndIH reHOuuttQ Inc
faith and is worse than an infdel"
He would hail with delight a proposition that
the governor, the secretary and treasurer of
every state should be called together in Wash
ington city there to discuss what was good
for the United States. Congress was now en-
deavoring to hitch the horse at the wrong end
of the cart.
Mr. Richards (dem. o. believed that Presi-
dent Cleveland was right in attributing to the
clause of the Sherman bill the pres
ent depression.
The house then at ) O'Clock took recess IN
til s O'Clock.
EVENING SESSION.
After the recess to crowded gallery, but to
a very small attendance on the floor Mr.. Curtis
(rep.. Kan.) spoke in support OF the Wilson
bill but in a conservative manner. He was in
favor OF ratio of 20 to /.
Mr.. Broderick rep, Kan.) spoke in favor OF
and prosperity, which terms he
regarded as almost synonymous.
Mr. Clark dem, Mo- addressed the house in
:avor of free coinage of silver. To demonetize
or not to demonetize silver was the question
that confronted congress. There was no sense
in whipping the devil around the stump.
Laughter.1 The issue was squarely joined.
After 5000 years of welded life the gold bugs
asked OF congress that the metals should be di-
vorced at the behest of England, the bully OF
all nations One hundred and seventeen years
ago this country had declared its political IN