The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-11-04

the power of the Senate to pass i'll do
not mean the power to reach a vote, but
the power to pass an unconditional repeal
bill, in the very midst Of the fight, in the
hottest of it, when Senators on both sides
were desiring that something might be done
to relieve the great distress in commercial
affairs, the first note of warning that we
had publicly in regard to it, came from the
Senator from 0hio-from the Senator who
led more than half of the repeal column
saying that it was impossible to pass it.
Here is an interview published in the Gin
cinnati Inquirer of October ), 1898, in
which the Senator is represented as Stat
ing, frankly and directly, that the bill
would not pass that the Republican Sen
ators were passive, while the Democrats
were endeavoring to arrange compromise,
which the Republican Senators were solidly
against.
SHERMAN $ RETORT.
Mr. Sherman-The reporter represented
me there more accurately than usual And
believe that the bill would not have
passed but for the abortive attempt to com
promise, which left nothing to be done but
to pass the bill.
Mr. Gorman-The Senator knows per-
fectly well Gas every man in the chamber
knows that he was laying down a condition
for the Democratic party to unite on. He
knew that that was as impossible as it is to
f1y-except the agreement went to the
extension of the purchase of-silver to some
future period. He knew that the clamor
in this country for the unconditional repeal
of the Sherman act (gotten up by the press
and trade organizations in every centre),
was such that the Senate was hesitating,
and men were being almost driven to vote
for its unconditional repeal. He knew
another thing, that, with the difference of
views upon this financial question between
the East and the West, the North and the
South, it was impossible to pass what we
call in the Eastern States sound financial
bill, with bonds, unless We had your CO.
operation and the cooperation Of those on
that side who thought with us; and when
YOU placed the conditions upon the Demo-
cratic party (as you had the power to do,
holding the key of the situation, with your
% or 20 yotes) you forced us into posi-
ton to take a measure that would not be
satisfactory to the people HON the Sena-
tor from Ohio speaks for and for whom l
speak. But, Mr. President, there has
been from the beginning Of this session an
earnest desire on this side of the chamber
to promote such legislation as might re-
dound to the interest of the people of this
country Sharp as the division was upon
this particular measure, there was not a
Democrat who was not impressed with the
desire to harmonic his party, to sustain
the only Democratic administration we have
had, to make sacrifices of opinion, to set
aside their convictions of life and unite
in doing something which would relieve
the business stress and save their admins
tration. They tried to get together. They
tried to do what was right. There were
many of them who thought-and l share
that conviction-that it was extraordinary,
unusual and unfortunate to strike down
summarily and without an hours warning
any great interest that had been built up
and made possible by laws, no matter how
vicious and bad the laws themselves were.
do not complain of the Senator from
Ohio for making any suggestion as to
bonds, except as to the time and manner
of doing it; for I, from the beginning, not
of this Congress, but of the last, under
Mr.. Harrisou's administration, believed
that, with the extravagant appropriations
that had been made, with the growth of
expenditures for pensions, and otherwise
that could not be eliminated, there was not
revenue, and there is not revenue, enough
to pay the current expenses Of the govern
ment.
LESS PARTIskNSHIP.
During the last Congress | voted with
the Senator from Ohio TO authorize the
Secretary to issue bonds for all these pur-
poses. Mr.. President, there should have been
l.. tk,c obnmbar Wban