The record-union., 1893-08-12
Special to the RrooRp-UNroN.

It.''
Special to the REcoRD-UNION.
WASHINGTON, Aug. live do not
intend that any political party shall sur
vive that will Law a confscating hand
upon America in the interest of England
and of Europe and demonetize 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 P.
Bland in the great financial contest that
opened in the House of Representatives
to-day, and the applause that followed
the determined utterance demonstrated
that the great silver leader had with him
the material element of the Democratic
party. 1t brought every member of the
House to the realization that the most
serious crisis in the Democratic party
since the dissensions of slavery was at
hand, and that tine division OF 1898, like
the division of 1861, would be largely on
sectional lines.
In accordance with the programme last
night agreed upon, Wilson, Immediately
after the meeting of the House, intro
duced a bill unconditionally repeating
the Sherman purchasing law, and Bland,
on behalf of the free coinage men, fol-
lowed with resolution providing for the
immediate consideration of the bill and
allowing four days for general debate
before vote should be taken.
Immediately after reading the journal
Wilson of West Virginia offered for pres
ent consideration bill to repeal the pur-
chasing clause OF the Sherman Act.
Bland offered an agreement made this
morning governing debate. 1t limits the
talk to total of fourteen days from II
\. N. to P. NJ, with night sessions for
debate only, if desired.
Bland demanded the previous question
on his order. but it was antagonized by
Republicans under the leadership of Can
non, who wanted to debate the question.
Finally q vote was taken, resulting:
ayes 217, noes 100, so the previous ques-
ton was ordered. The Republicans gen.
orally voted with the Democrats in sup
port Of the motion. The resolution was
then adopted.
Bland then presented the following bill
OF the silver men, which provides for free
coinage and the repeal of the silver pur-
chasing law:
BE it enacted, ETC., that from and after
the passage of this Act all holders of sill
Yer bullion to the amount of 500 or more,
standard weight and fineness, shall be
entitled to have the same coined at the
mints of the United States into silver dol
lars of weight and fineness provided for
in Section of this Act.
Section ?. That the silver dollar pro-
vided for in this Act shall consist of 4l24
grains of standard silver. said dollar to
be legal tender for all debts, dues and
demands. both public and private.
Section 8. Holders of silver dollars
herein provided for shall be entitled to
deposit the same and receive silver GER
tihcates in a manner provided by law for
the standard silver dollar.
Section I. SO much of the Act of July
II, 1890, as requires the monthly purchase
of 4.500,00 ounces of silver be and the
same is hereby repealed.
Att P. NJ. Rayner (Dem.) of MARYLAND
began debate in support of the Wilson
bill for the unconditional repeal of the
silver purchase clause in the Sherman
Act.
Rayner said the adoption of free silver
coinage would tie the United States to
the tail of any bankrupt nation of the
world. The opening of the Mints to sill
Yer might, for time maintain ficti-
tious value of coin, but the value of bull
ion would always be regulated by the
market price. As long as the Sherman
Silver Act remains on the statute books,
so long will it be impossible to effect in
ternational arrangements; so long will
monetary conferences result in failure.
Rayner said that what kept silver and
gold at a parity was the misplaced conf
dence of the people. Ifthe real condition
of the Treasury were known there would
be no necessity for the repeal of the
Sherman law: it would repeal ITSELF
The Constitution nowhere establishes
gold and silver as the money of the couu-
try; there is no obligation to coin silver.
nor purchase and store it for the benefit
of the miner. While referring to the
Democratic platform, Rayner said in
closing: ~ know the declarations OF
that document have been differently con-
strued, according to the views of the gen
tlemen expoundIng them. As for me, in
this supreme hour of my country's need,
l am not blinded nor intimidated by the
glittering words of the convention declar-
alton"
Brown (Dem.) of Indiana followed
Rayner. He favored the coinage of sill
yer; but, in view of the havoc wrough;
by the Sherman law and the demands OF
the Democratic platform, he would vote
for repeal with or without conditions.
''In addition to repeating the sherman
law the Democratic platform promised to
coin both gold and silver without dis
crimination against either, and that prom
ise must be redeemed Brown. said. He
would not attempt TO speak for the Presi-
dent. but if he were 10 do so he would
say cleveland was III favor of the coming
OF both gold and silver in accordance
with the terms of the Democratic platform.
Bland, rising to open the debate for free
coinage. expressed regret that "a number
of gentlemen. of whom the speaker who
had lust sat down was Que Of the most
capable, had seen fit to change their posi-
ton upon this question, to abandon q
large portion of the voters who aided in
giving them the seats they occupy, and to
turn their faces to the East, their backs tc
the West. AS to the declarations in the
Democratic platform, Bland asserted il