The herald., 1893-08-12
THE GREAT BATTLE BEGUN,
Silver and Anti-Silver Guns
Are Booming.
Opening of the Financial De-
bate in the House.
A Mode Of Procedure Adopted that
Suits Both Factions.
Bland Opens With q Broadside for Free
Coinage-He Makes a Mastery
Presentation of tho
Silver Issue.
BY the Associated Press.l

obEoT 1bbuos
By the Associated Press.]
WASHINGTON, Aug. live do not
intend that any political party shall sur
vive that will lay confiscating hand
upon America in the interest OF England
and Europe and demonetize silver in
this country, and, my friends OF the
eastern Democracy, we bid you farewell
when you do it.'
These were the words Of Richard P.
Bland in the great financial contest that
opened in the house of representatives
today, and the applause that followed
the determined uttersnce demonstrated
that the great silver leader had with
him material element OF the Demo-
cratic party. 1t brought every member
OF the house to a realization that the
most serious crisis in the Democratic
party since the dissension on slavery,
was at hand; that the division of 1858,
like the division of 1861, would be
largely upon sectional lines.
THE BATTLE BEGUN.
In accordance with the programme
agreed upon last night, Wilson OF West
Virginia Immediately after the meeting
of the house this morning introduced q
bill Internationally repeating the Sher-
man purchasing law, and Bland, on be-
half of the free coinage men, followed
with a resolution providing for the i'm.
mediate consideration OF the bill and
alloting IA days for general debate be-
fore vote should be taken. It limits
the talk to a total of IA days, from III a.
m. to B p. M, with night sessions for
debate only when desired.
Bland demanded the previous uuee-
tion on his order, but it was antagon-
lied by the Republicans, under the
Leadership of Cannon of Illinois, who
wanted to debate the question.
Finally vote was taken. resulting:
Yeas, 2l7; nays, 100; go the previous
question was ordered. The Republic
cans generally voted with the Demo-
Gratis in support of the motion. The
resolution was then adopted.
BLAND's FIRE. COINAGE BILL.
Bland then presented the following
bill OF the silver men, which provides
for free coinage and repeals the silver
purchasing law:
Be it enacted that on and after the
passage of this act all holders of silver
bullion to the amount OF 100 or more
ounces of standard weight and fineness,
shall be entitled to haye the same
coined at the mints OF the United States
into silver dollars of the weight and fne-
ness provided for in section of this
act.
Section 2. That the silver dollar pro-
vided for in THE act shall consist of 412K
grains oil standard silver, eaid dollar to
be legal tender for all debts, dues and
demands. both public and private.
Section 8. Holders of the silver dol
lars herein provided for shall be entitled
to depceit the came and receive silver
certificates, in the manner provided bv
the law for standard silver dollar.
Section 4. So much of the act of july
IA, 1890, ss requires the monthly pur-
chase of 4, 100000 ounces of silver, to be
and the same is hereby repealed.
RAYNER OPENS THE DEBATE.
At p. m. Rayner, Democrat, OF
Maryland, began debate in support OF
Wilson's bill for the unconditional re-
peal of the silver-pnrchase clause of the
Sherman act,
Rayner said the adoption OF free silver
coinage would tie the United States to
the tail of any bankrupt nation of the
the world. Opening the mints to silver
might for a time maintain fcticioua
value of coin, but the value OF bullion
would always be regulated by the mar
ket price. AS long as the Sherman act
remains on the statute book, go long
will it be impossible to effect interna-
tional arrangements, so long will mon
etary conferences result in failure.
Rayner said that what kept gold and
silver at parity WAS the misplaced
confidence of the people. If the real
condition OF the treasury was known
there would be no necessity for the re-
peal OF the Sherman law; it would re-
peal itself. The constitution nowhere
establishes gold and silver as the money
of the country. There WAS no obliga-
ton to coin silver, nor to purchase and
store il for the benefit of the miner.
While referring TO the Democratic
platform, Rayner said. in closing: II
know the declarations of that document
have been differently construed, accord
ing to the views of the gentlemen ex-
pounding them. AS for me, in this
l.
am not blinded nor intimidated by the
glittering words of convention declara-
tion."
A SILVER TURNCoAT.
Brown, Democrat, of Indiana followed
Rayner. He favored the coinage of sill.
yer, but in view of the havoc wrought
by the Sherman law, and the demands
of the Democratic platform, he would
vote for repeal. with or without condi-
tions. In addition to repeating the
Sherman law, the Democratic platform
promised to coin both gold and silver
without discrimination against either;
that promise must be redeemed. Brown
said He would not attempt to spesk
for the president, but il he were to do SO
be would say Cleveland favored coming
both gold and silver in accordance with
The terms OF the Democratic platform.
BLAND TAKES UP THE CUDaELs.
Bland, rising to open for free coinsge,
regret that number Of gentle
men, OF whom the speaker who had Just