The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-09-20

..-| - ~ LIZ " L A1l AAO-ta
Remarks by Hon. james Capeharl.
Below we publish the well-timed
and able speech on the silver ques-
tion, of Hon. James Capehart, of
the Fourth Congressional District,
delivered in the House of Represen-
tatives, August %:
@MR. SPEAKER: l believe that the
people of my State are opposed to
the demonetization of silver. 1
know of no one in West Virginia
who is willing TO say that we can
dispense with silver as legal tender
money.
l know that our people are not
demanding the unconditional repeal
of the Sherman law, but there
is general feeling that its repeal
should be coupled with a measure
that will mean something more
than a mere declaration in favor Of
bimetalism.
Lam hero as a member of this
House under instructions to vote
for the free coinage of silver. The
convention which nominated me
less than a year ago declared
almost unanimously for silver. 1
would be recreant to my trust and
fall short of my duty if did not
carry out the wishes of those who
sent me here.
We should not allow ourselves
nor the country TO be deceived as
to the real issue which, as / see it,
is nothing more or less than an
effort ofthe money lending world
aud those having fixed incomes
in short, those who live upon the
savings Of others, to increase the
value ofsdebts already in existence,
and incomes of all sorts, by maxim G
them payable in money that is
made dearer and harder to procure
than the money in existence at the
time of their creation.
1t seems 10 me that this is the
true situation, and can but believe
that such u policy will bring ulti-
mate disaster TO the whole country.
| believe that we who are counted
friends of silver are in the minority
here, and / also believe that the
unconditional repeal will prevail;
not because the people desire it, but
because the whole money power of
tho world demands ii; because the
President demands it, and because
power5honors, and rewards are on
that side.
1t is proposed now to uncondi-
tionally repeal the Sherman law,
and this means the demonetization
of silver and the abandonment of
our country to the tender mercies
of the owners of gold; all that we
are to have is a promise of some
thing in the future-a promise that
will not bind any one, a promise
that is the kiss of Judas. Power
that can make, and is making, the
fortunes of men is more potent than
the distant voice of the people. 1
favor the repeal of the Sherman
law; it is universally and justly con-
demned, but can it be that any OF
the friends of silver are SO confiding
or SO crednlous as to believe that
after Congress has demonetized sill
yer we can then enact some Iegis-
lation that may restore silver to It's
true place as legal tender moneys
1t is vain hope. The power that
is now working change of heart
in this Congress will be irresistible
when it has wrested from our hands
our only means of defense.
The friends of silver, the people
of the whole country, have been
deceived, have been betrayed into
the support of men who pretended
to stand on the Democratic plat.
form of bimetalism and who now
forsalSe this trust shameIessly, al
the command of the Administration
and of the gold owners of the finan.
cial world.
Had the question of the demone.
tization of silver been made an issue
in the campaign of 1892, how many
of those Representatives west of the
AIleghnies who are now falling over
each other in the eagerness to
destroy silver, that they may be in
line with the Administration say
how many of these meu would now
be here? No speaker in either
House has had the hardihood tc
declare that the people of this eoun.
try are ready for the demonetiza-
Ition of silver.