The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-17
ELoOUENCE IN THE HOUSE.

interest to-day than on any occasion since
the opening day of tho silver debate.
William j. Bryan. Of Nebraska. spoke for
nearly three hours in the interest of free
coinage. The debate was opened by MIR.
Mccall, of Massachusetts, who made an
elaborate argument for the repeal of the
purchasing clause of the Sherman act
and denied that suoh action could be just.
ly construed as an attack on bimetallism.
Mr.. Coombs. speaking for repeal. highly
commended the Presidents message. which.
in his opinion, had never been surpassed by
any state paper. But the President might
have said in conclusion that "it is q condi-
tion and not theory that oonfronts u.s."
In the course of his argument against the
unconditional repeal of tho Sherman law,
Mr. Bryan said: There Is no such thing
as an honest dollar. because an honest dol
lar would always have the same purohas-
ing power. and the government has never
attempted TO secure absolute stability In
the dollar. The most dishonest dollar ever
proposed 10 that child of avarioe aud ignO-
rance called the gold dollar, for it would
constantly rise In value and cheat the
debtor. The miner Is not unfair IN asking
for free coinage for such q law cannot give
back to him any more than demonstration
took away. But the miners interest is an
incidental one. He profits by the use of
silver as money just the gold
miner profits by the use OF gold
as money. or just as an undertaken
profits by the action of the county In bury
ing pauper at pu bllo expense--it makes q
market for his gooda The Sherman law is
not the cause OF our financial stringency.
The moneyed men of the East. without in
tention, of course. started the panic by ex-
aggeratlng the dangers Of gold expOrta-
han hA ~ hAU xTARn r0S
jured as much as any body else. The
trouble now Ia that depositors have with.
drawn their money from fear of the banks
and repeal of the sherman law will not
increase the solvenoy of banks. The Sher-
man law provides for O large ANIMAL in
crease Of the currency which is absolute
~ necessary. IL also keeps up the price of
silver bullion and makes the return to
bimetaliism easier. The sllvor men were
called cranks and lunatlcs. and idiots be-
cause they saw danger ahead of them:
because in tho adoption of universal
standard they saw distress, not only TO our
people. but TO all the world. Themen from
the West were r0undly denounced In the
East as Anarchists and destroy ers of the
government. The man who eaid that the
people should destroy the government was
called an Anarchist. but the man who said
the government should destroy the people
was called patriot. Applause.
Mr.. Harter interrupted with questions.
and for q quarter of an hour q running ex-
change of wit and repartee was iDdulged
by the two gentlemen. lt was clash of
In the c0lloquy pertaining TO the serious
questions und or debate the readiness of the
disputants and their perfect good hum0r
entertained the House.
NEBRASKA ELOQUENCE.
In conclusion. Mr.. Bryan said: THE
Democratic party stands to-day between
two conflicting forces. On the one side
stand the corporate interests Of the United
states. the mOneyed interests. aggregated
wealth and capital. imperious. arrogant
compassionlsss. They are able to subscribe
magnificentIv to campaign funds. They
are able TO crush. with their all pervading
influence. any who may dare oppose. and
to those who fawn and tlatter they can
bring ease and plenty. These demand that
the Democratic party shall become the
agent to execute their meroiless decrees-
On the other side stand an unnumbere
throng. those who gave to the Democratic
party u name. and for whom it has assumed
to. speak: Work-worn and dust be-
Rrimed. they make their mute appeals.
and too often find their cry for help
beat in vain against the outer walls.
while others less deserving gain ready ae-
cess to legislative halls. This army. vast
and daily vaster growing. pleads with the
this terrible conflict it cannot press
1t cannot march its phalsnxes in
grand parade. No gaudy banners float
hons sae sssfis Hsm. it, +. s Esu.
lty Before the Law Between these forces
hesitatinR in doubt which eide to turn. yet
conscious that uDOn It's decision must rest
its fate, stands the Democratic party. and
to 1t, stendinG thus. come the words of
Israeps second law-giver, Choose We this
day whom ye will serve Will the party
turn its face to the rising or setting
sunf 1t is said that Napoleon or.
Marengo. but the drummer boy replied that
he did not know any retreat, and begged
that he might be allowed to beat q charge.
The charge was ordered. and Marengo
added to the victories of the man of des-
tiny. The President was elected upon q
platform thrice-pledged TO the gold and
silver coinage of the Constitution. Nine.
tenths Of the people of the United States
are ready to sustain him in the fight. but
In the face of an enemy bold and insOlent.
he has ordered q retreat. Let him not be
dIsmayed. There is time yet tc win the
battle if he will but order a charge. Will
the party stand by the principles of Jetfer-
son and Jackson. or will it abandon its right
to its namei Will 1t choose lite or death.
whichp Tremendous applause.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Bryan,s speech
there were loud cries of vote" vote"
and the Nebraska orator was surrounded
his great effort.
PICTURE BY HENDERSON.
Mr.. Henderson. of Iowa. said that the
most gratifying thing that could reach the
people of the United States were these cries
of vote. vote. vote" The people expected
early action if Cong was going to act at
all. He would be glad to come to vote at
once. Fourteen days had been set aside 9
by the Democrats for debate; but he re.
gretted that 90 much time had been given.
The country was coDgested by distress.
Lahoring men were being stricken from the
rolls by the thousands, the treasury was
closing its vaults; banks were tum bling
their doors were closed q 9 ainst manu- ufact ur-
ing interests; exchanges were thing of
the past. Ii had been said that SIT, ,0O0, 600
had been taken from national
banks within the last two months
and the government could not estim ate
how much moro had been taken from pri-
vste banks. The doors of manufacturing Q
Industries were closing and the spindles Of
the mills were stopping. By the papers,
this morning. he cav that a great trans
continental railroad had passed into the
hands of q receiver. Little country mer-
chants were csnceling the orders they had
given earlier in the summer. In such an
hour. and IN such q condition. Congress lad
been called together in legislative session.
He tremblod when he thought that the
fever had only just broken out. He trusted
that this was only an error of Judgment.
Congress was asked to come here as q
physician to treat the alarming condition
nj q hA .fywr