The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-07-21
FREE-slLvER DEMOCRATS.
A Leaf From Last Years Presidential
Campaign History.

A Leaf From Last Years Presidential
Campaign History.
President Cleveland in his recent con-
gressional call charged our silver cur
rency with bringing about "a perilous
condition" This recalls his sentiments
of December 5. 1885, when in his first
annual message he predicted that the
silver act of 1878 would speedily result
in disaster Said he in his message of
eight years ago:
THAT disaster has not already overtaken Us
furnishes no proof that danger does not wait
upon a continuation of the present silver coin
age. Prosperity hcsitates upon our
threshold because of the dangers and uncer-
tainties surrounding this question Capital
timidly shrinks from trade, and investors are
unwilling to take the chance of the question
able shape in which their money will be re-
turned 10 them, while enterprise halts ut a risk
against which care and sagaeious management
do not protect AS necessary consequence
labor lacks employment, and suffering and dis
tress are visited upon Q portion of our fellow
citizens especially entitled 10 the careful con-
sideration of those charged with the duties of
legislation"
The Bland act, which provided for the
purchase and coinage of 100000 to
1000. 900 ounces of silver monthly, was
retained five years after the above mes
sage. During that period democratic
congressman. instead of Obey;ng their
chiefs instructions to put down silver,
pointed to the prosperity which fol-
lowed it and voted to further increase
silver coinage at every opportunity.
The platforms of democracy in the
great majority of the states demanded
the extension of silver coinage by free
coinage. The only reason why the
democratic members of congress did
not favor the Sherman act was that it
was not strongly enough in favor of sill
yer. They wanted free and unlimited
coinage. One month before the passage
of the Sherman act the democrats OF
the lower house supported BANDS free
coinage resolution by q vote of 101 to
13. Six mouths after the passage of
the Sherman act the democrats in the
senate supported Vests free coinage
substitute for the Stewart bill by a vote
of - To 1. In March, 1892, again the
democrats in the house supported free
coinage by vote of $50 to'Sl.
Tine year ago last month the demo-
placed in their national platform a
plank providing for the use of both
silver and gold as the standard money
of the country" and for the coinage
of both gold and silver without dis
elimination" This was a strong re-
buke to Grover Cleveland's doctrine of
recommendation, and yet it was not rad |
ical enough in favor of silver to suit |
the democrats in congress. Therefore
when Senator Carey fortnight after |
the convention introduced in the United |
States senate bill embodying the doe
trine and phraseology of the national |
democratic platform coinage plank, the
democrats Of the senate rejected the |
bill by a vote of 10 to 6. They then |
voted for free coinage by a vote of 1G to
:. there being also Is democrats paired |
in favor of free coinage and only two
against.
One year ago the democrats in the
United States senate repudiated the
straddling position of their national
platform and supported free coinage.
90 to 0. 1t is exactly one year ago that
the democrats in the lower house on a
test vote supported the position of
their brethren in the senate by a vote
of us to "a.
1t is scarcely six months, however,
since the democratic members of both
the hOuSe and senate refused to repeal
the Sherman act, the denunciations of
the party platform to the contrary not
Democratic votes in the
senate defeated repeal, and democratic
rotes in the house repeated the de-
feat. Republican majorities in both
bodies favored repeal, as will be the
,ase. in the coming congress. The
assistance to the doctrine now preached
Dy the present democratic administra-
ion came from the democratic side of
congress, as it will come in the con-
,ress which cOnvenes on August Z. 1t
$ contest between the democrats of
he east. headed by Grover Cleveland. I
md the democrats of the south and
vest, headed by Bland in the house
md Vest in the senate. Last winter, ,
when Congressman Bland defeated in
he house the attempt of the Cleveland I
ollowers to repeal the Sherman act, ,
re defied the administration forces in T
he east to lay aside silver and
the demolition of the |
party the day it should de- I
eat silver. 1t now remains to be seen I
or not Mr.. Bland will carry
nut his threat, or will be satisfied with
he wildcat currency substitute '