The herald., 1893-08-12

upon THIS QuoetlOus 70 aUuuuou Aei -
portion Of voters who aided IN giving
them the seats they occupy; to turn
their faces to the east, their backs to the
west
ssAs to the declarations in the Demo
cratic platform" Bland asserted, II
was the understanding that free coinage
of silver necessarily meant the repeal Of
the Sherman law; the two are go antag-
onistic that they cannot exist at the
same time. but we are met now with
suggestion that we are to legislste piece
meal to repeal the Sherman law ana
take our chances in securing anything
In it's place which shall meet the pledge
of the platform to coin both silver and
gold; this because panic was upon us.
The voting masses of the country may
become panic stricken on election DAY.
If they do l am afraid those ike the
gentleman from Indiana will feel the
force OF that panic"
Bland sketched briefly the history OF
the finaR cial legislation OF recent years,
and asserted that the same cry OF going
to q silver basis" had been raised against
the bill of 1878, with which his name
had been connected. He sent to the
clerks desk and lad read an extract
from a report of the British parliament
tsry committee on Indian currency, 10
the effect that in its opinion the repeal
of the Sherman purchasing act would
be followed by further depreciation IN
the price of silver.
s'And vet we are deliberately asked
here" continued Bland. ITO vote to
bring about decrsare OF 10 cents an
ounce in the price OF silver before pro-
viding for the restoration OF its coinage.
No man can defend that vote before his
constituency who is in favor OF free coin
age"
Bland having occupied an hour, and
not having finished, unanimous consent
was given for him to conclude without
respect to time limitation.
THE QUESTION OF RATIO.
Upon the question of ratio, Bland
argued in favor Of 16 to l. He said it
the United States would maintain the
parity of gold and silver ON that ratio,
the world would buy onr products. We
have property to sell, and should induce
purchasers to come France main-
tanned gold and silver at a parity on
ratio of 15}a to l for 70 years. because
she had property to sell. <"If we do
tul6, b8lU Diduu, WcdbriA IuiOPo
must come to our standard"
At that ratio France has been able to
maintain the parity of the two metals
all over the world. That was the proof
that the government OF the United
States could do 30 at the ratio OF 16 to
/. If Europe refused to accept that
ratio, the effect would be to divert from
Europe ell the trade of every silver
producing country in the world. Gould
England, he asked, Withstand this with
drawal of trade? Certainly not.
1t was bimetallism that made the
manufactures of England so strong and
prosperous. Western Europe would
have to come to the American standard
or abandon its commerce with the
United States and with all civilized
countries. The money requirements of
the United States with the wealth, in
dustry and energy of its people, were
equal to those OF England, France and
Germany combined, and the whole
civilized world would have to look to
this country for its future monetary
supply, land yet." said he with veha-
mence, 1--WE are asked here today to lay
the bloody hand of confiscstion on mill
lions of our population in order to sat
isfy the greed of England.
WILL CONGRESS DO IT?
"Will congress do it?" continued
Bland. "Will you trample down the
interests OF your own people and de-
stroy the value of one of the precious
metals simply to crafty the interests of
Wall street, the mere agent of Lombard
street? 1t cannot, it shall not be done.
Speaking for the mass of
the people of the Mississippi valley and
of the people west of it, l cay you shall
not do it (renewed applause), and any
body or any party that undertakes to do
it will, in Gods name, be trampled, as
it ought to be, in the dust of condemna-
tion now and in the future. Continued
applause on the floor and in the gal
leries.l I speak as Democrat but yet
as an American above Democracy"
[Cheere.
Here Bland dramatically spoke the
words at the opening of this dispatch.
In conclusion Bland said, addressing his
words to the eastern Democrats: "If
you demonetize silver, the responsibility
be yours, not ours." fApplause.l
PoPULisT PENCE SPEAKS.
Pence, Populist, of Colorado, was the
next speaker, and with his opening SEN
tences he attracted the close attention
of the house and retained it to the end.
No other man has succeeded in go i'm
pressing himself upon the favorable con-
alteration of his associates on the floor
at such an early period of his me m ber-
ship. Referring to Rayner's remarks as
to the government acting the part of
for the silver miners of
Colorado and Nevada, he said it might
be that the gentleman knew more of the
business than he (Pence)
did, or 1t might be on account of
the practice of the treasury de-
partment to Jew down the men who
brought silver there to sell, because it
was now beyond question that such was
the policy OF the department. Ali the
reasons assigned for Democratic success
but one were incorrect. 1t was because
1t declared unequivocally for the remon-
etixation of silver that it had succeeded.
The people of the west were brave. buoy
ant and hopeful, bu. their industries
had been prostrated by the course of the
last two administrations by the base
surrender of those who had been elected
on q silver platform and on silver
pledges.
Wheeler OF Alabama closed the dis
cussion for the day with a plea for a
larger volume OF currency, and the
house adjourned.
THE FINAL CONFERENCE.
How the Opposing Forces Came to an
AgroemenE