The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-08-27
AMONG RUPERTS OF DEBATE
Bland and Wilson Talked to Packed
House Galleries.
REEDS SPEECH WAS oHEERBD
Wilson Makes a Splendid FGort and
Arouses Ills Audience to High Pitch
of Enthusiasm.
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
Washington, Aug. 26.-The galleries
Of the house were filed this morning
by the people being attracted by the
fact that this was the last day of the
great silver debate and that it would
be signaliZed by battle between or
atoical giants The speaker announced
that the debate in favor of the bill
would be closed by its author, Repre-
sentative Wilson Of West Virginia,
and that it would be opposed by Bland
of Missouri. The debate, was opened by
Thos. B. Reed of Maine. After sketch
ing briefly the financial condition Of
the country, and declaring that he had
no desire to deal with the situation
from a political standpoint he said:
"The undiscoverable uncertainty of the
future both of the currency questions
and the question of protection and q
of the present condition of affairs >
He considered the Sherman act and the
accumulation Of silver as the earliest
indication of the approaching disaster
rather than the chief cause. He was
only sorry that the question could not
be settled within the bounds of the
Democratic party itself. The pathway
of duty was unconditional repeal. II
that did not give relief, we must try
something else and the sooner the bet
ter. The republicans found themselves
in a peculiar position. The newly cho-
sen democratic president found himself
powerless in his first great recommend
alton to his own party, and forced to
appeal to the patriotism of another
party whose patriotism had never
been appealed to in vain."
Cochran of New York, was the next
speaker. He said that the democratic
platform did not declare for the free
coinage of silver. The proposed debase-
ment of coin would reduce the debts
As per cent. The silver men assumed
that the loss, would fall on the banks
but the fact was that the banks and
corporations were debtors of the coun-
try and the loss would fall on the work
inymen. He closed with an eloquent
appeal for equity and justice as bas-
is of a governmental policy, awaklng a
wmrlwind of applause. and cries OF
''vote." The speaker was overwhelmed
with congratulations. The excitement
on the floor was so great that the
speaker had to call on the officers of
the house to restore order. Bland tnen
began the closing. argument on behalf
of the silver men.
Wilson, cf West Virginia, the author
of the bill, closed the debate in the
house with a speech in support OF the
measure. BY universal consent. he
said. the so-called Sherman act failed
to justify the expectations of those
who framed it. 1t had been expected
to raise the price of silver bullion
throughout the world. That expecta-
tion had proved false. 1t had been ex-
pected that an expansion of currency
and renewed prosperity would follow
the enactment of the law. That ex-
pectation had been equally falsified.
Instead of producing an expansion OF
currency, it. had produced contrac-
ton of it. NO one could doubt tnat
the sherman law was largely RESPONSE
BILE for the panic that suddenly over
spread the country. 1t had been ar
gued from the first speech to the last
made against the impending bill that
it would, while stopping the purchase
of silver, throw the country upon a
gold basis. The bill proposed here
would not demonetize a single silver
dollar today circulating in any part OF
the country. The bill had come not
to destroy, but to save It carried
with it not only promise of the main
tenance of parity between gold and
silver, but carried the parity itself.
(Applause.) Mcmillan inquired wheth-
this bill up with a proposition for free
er the gentleman proposed TO follow
Wilson rejoined that he was
satisfied that 1t was the earnest desire
of the democratic administration not
only to support the existing silver cir
in this country, but TO increase
the issue of silver currency to the ut
most extent. 1t was safe to do so
and to keep silver on a parity with
gold.
At 11:O5 the house adjourned until
Monday, August %, az noon when The