Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-08-31
EX.SPEAKER REED.
His Address on the silver Question In I
House.

was intensely warm III Nllt upon NF
and more than sultry in the hall Of
representatives, the galleries and floors
were crowded IL was known that cN-
Speaker Reed would virtually open the
debate and that many OF the most
noted orators in the house would he
heard from during the day
EN.SpcalIcr Reed, in beginning his
speech confessed doubts of the wisdom
Of the house to deal satisfactorily with
the question before It, but expressed
his comfort at being able TO fall back
upon the well established belief in the
wisdom OF the decisions of congress.
Crises like the present, he said were
inscparable Accomplishments Of all hui
man progress, which was series of
upward starts aud Of falls of almost
proportionate length. The lluctua-
lions occurred almost simultan-
cously, always sympathetically the
world over. so closely was business
allied 10y the telegraph and railroad.
because Of the fact that the drain of
gold from the United States since the
passage of the sherman law in 1890
carried ont Of the country an amount
equal To the value Of the purchases of
silver under the law, people saw in Il
the cause of the loss Of gold and dis
trust was cngcndcrcd and a season ot
boarding and depression set In and to-
day the country was suffering all the
calnmitics of a restricted circulation in
the midst Of an abundant supply of
money.
I Mr. Reed then declared that the dem
ocrats won last fall because Of the
apathy Of the people. lie believed that
u large proportion Of the trouble, OF to-
day were due TO uncertainty rs to
tariff legislation. No matter how CON
scrvativc the democrats might hc their
pledges were such as 10 cause manu-
fucturcrs and business men to draw in
their enterprises lie did not think
the sherman act in itself alone was re-
sponsihlc for all the ills of to-day. but he
did believe that II and the consequent
accumulation of silver were the earliest
indicator Of disaster. lie thought
that the worlingmeu Of the country
would call halt ON the still greater
threatened dangers from tariff rcduc-
tions,
Passing to the consideration Of the
question Of repeal, Mr. Reed said that
while he was in favor Of IL hc did not
think IL would Immediately cause a
revival Of the prosperity OF the country.
Nevertheless he would vote for repeal
first, because. whether justly or not
the sherman law was believed To be
the cause Of the unreasonable boarding
of currency throughout the country
In this connection he paid
compliment to the managers
of the banks generally say
ing that in hi, Judgment they were do
ing an honorable and patriotic work.
The second reason was that only by
repeal could the nation hope to attract
foreign capital, without which it were
vain 10 hope for an upward turn Of the
country's business.
Mr.. Reed paid his respects to the OBJ
lection that proposed repeal was re-
newcd decentralization Of silver and
Of 1873 was a trick rs zone Of the most
stupendous fahricutions which has ever
existed in political life"
In conclusion MIR. Reed said
What then. Is the puthwNy of dutyi The un
or not aud Il not then Nu must try som thing
else and the sooner the better ttisamri'el
, Of deep regret to all sensible men that wu hty,
delayed 80 long Men are to-day STRUGGLING
almost against IA e and PRAYING Tor relief ~,
banks are strained almost iu tho point uf break
ing Il Is such "a pltl TINT Wr had to waste $,
much time In this weary w,ltor = talk
We stand In "a yer peculiar position, we re-
pub'icnus, tp.laE tn r.urUscntptiye Of m,
y democratic party, just chosen president, ind.
himself pOwUrlu-s IN hl- ur-t great recon
, mend ton 10 his own party We're he lott "a
their tender mHfcics ihH CuIutrf would witness
Tue spectacle ~ the pr0s,l.utUf Ills choice over
thrown by tn party chtTfl NTH this cuun
7 try'- government what auujHr then that Do
, appeal. TO the patriotism II another party
, whose patriotism has never been appealed {,
iuv vain Never say. Ice ytu
! Tho proudust part OF the uruud record Of ma
republican party has been Is st'adtl,t dcNO
'ou 20 the cause Of sound uuaucc. whoa thl
country WIS tempted 10 Ut lt7 bonds iu depre
ciatcd mon.y s., the republican party rc,pouio,
. | with loud acclaim 20 lu.. noble sentiment %
Gen HAwloy that ever. Uuu was as sacrci ~
soldiers grave II COS. us hard lighting ani
, sore struggle. But the credit Of IA country
his no superior Ia the AuHd When TN
B mc arguments heard Today were hear,
, fifteen years ago sUHul no M praises %
, | "A deprecated currruc, Hul urocam.ny tn
= gloros Of nat mpnua tu' plrty Of Abraham
I | Lincoln marched stuldu. .uNufl specie pa
70 mcnt and prosperity Wult we were II
4 our du,s Of VICTOR, 800 arc Ia gu
days ~ defeat champion. u true am
solid finance aud when NE day comes
1 as IL surely will conn. Tor us u lru
( This land back TO the y tN NJ prosperity am
= fame which we're truld". under rrpubucn
rule for so many years N" ahtll take bho
with ~ our ancient glory .ul'fumHd hV udErf
| Al