Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-19
Philadelphia Ledger editorial.

How far Mr.. Bayard was right in
saying that Mr.. Sherman should have
moved the repeal, at the present session
of Congress, of the silver act which
bears his name, the Ohio Senator's
position regarding il should determine.
At the last session Of Congress, in July,
Mr.. Sherman introduced a bill for the
repeal of the Silver Purchase act. This
bill was referred to the committee on
finance, upon which Mr.. Sherman
holds the second place. From the day
of its reference TO this day its author
has made no visible effort to
get that bill before tho Senate.
1t lies now buried in the committees
vaults, dead or comatose, and, il is fair
to assume, with the consent Of Mr.. Sher
man. The official report of the pro-
ceedings Of the Senate shows that on the
day that the Mcpherson joint resolution
was called up Mr.. Sherman was in his
seat and that he introduced number of
petitions, among them one from the
Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce "pray-
ing for the repeal of the law providing
for the purchase of silver bullion by the
government" which was referred to the
tomb in which has laid since July MIR.
Shernan's own bill to repeal that
law. But the Congressional Record
does not show that the Senator from
Ohio took any part in the proceedings
in connection with the Mcpherson reso-
luton; it does not show that he did any
thing or said single word during the
entire prolonged debate TO secure the
virtual repeal of the Sherman act, which
the passage of the Mcpherson resolution
would have promptly effected. In his
letter to Major Carson he says that he
and a large majority of the Republican
Senators 'are decidedly in favor of the
repeal or suspension OF the purchase of
silver bullion. They are ready to-day,
tomorrow or at any moment to vote for
such repeal" While the country is graft
fled to have that assurance from the emf
nent Senator from Ohio,t Is also curious
TO know why, on the 9th instant, when
Mr.. Mcpherson moved to take UP and
pass his resolution for the suspension OF
the purchase Of silver bullion, Mr.. Sher-
man, instead of using his powerful in
tluence as the most distinguished tinan-
cier in the Senate, as the Republican
leader of the Senate, stood mute in his
place, and, without a word of dissent,
WIN Allb GlAt4GG NllAIlA cEtIltD W SlNG
consent, made no protest on behalf of
himself and his Republican colleagues
against the AldriCh amendment, which,
according to popular belief and report
and MIR, Aldrlch's own alleged statement
was intended not to help the passage OF
the resolution, but to SOW dscord
among the Democratic Senators and 50
prevent its passage.
No public journal in the country has
more frequently or in more unreserved
terms than the Ledger expressed its
admiration and respect for Mr. Sher-
mans ability as linaucier and stNtes-
man, and in doing this it has only ex.
pressed the very common sentiment IF
MS countrymeu. Because of the com.
handing position his high character and
attunments give him; BECAUSE of his
powerful influence in the Senate, and
because he is SO largely responsible for
the existence of the Silver Purchase act
of 1890, the Ledger has felt and
feels that upon him, more than upon
any other member of his party or The
Senate, the responsibility for the speedy
repeal Of that act rests. The entire com
muulty OF business, alarmed lest tile
continuance of the purchase Of silver
should impair public and private credit,
and so destroy national prosperity, looks
TO Senator Sherman, as the LETTER does,
to "move," as Mr., Bayard says, the re-
peal OF the silver act which bears his
name In view of Mr.. Shcrman'S own
declarations to the Ledger'S correspond
ent, this does not seem to be an un-
reasonable expectation.