The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-17
Mr.. BRYAN'S GREAT EFFORT.
Hs Makes an Eloquent Appeal for
BImetalliSm In The House,
WILSON BILL DISCUSSED At LENGTH.
Mr.. Henderson Argues in Opposition to
free silver-The Discussion In
the Senate.

The Wilson repeal bill began with but
little preliminary. 1t was started by
Mccall Rep.. Mass) in favor of the re-
peal Of the purchasing clause Of the
sherman bill. and was closed by Moses
pem, Ga) I'm opposition thereto. Sand
viched between these two speeches were
remarks by Coombs Dem, n. ", Bryan
aem, Ncb) and Henderson Gtep., Ia.).
The first named made an address from
business standpoint in favor Of the re-
peal Of the Sherman law. Bryan made
he speech Of the day. and although he
occupied more than two hours N its de-
livery. he commanded the earnest at
teutlOn Of his colleagues throughout. lie
was one OF the apostles OF bimetallism,
and ms sympathizers regarded his ar
euments as unanswerable. But the same
thing was said Of the speech OF Hender-
son by the opponents of free coinage,
and taken altogether. the days debate
might be put down In the category or
"a drawn battle.
MIR. Bryan said that he would fully
accomplish his purpose II he were aDle
10 impress upon the members OF inns
House the Importance Of the question
which was now under consideration, ana
20 quicken their appreciation Of the grave
,esnouslbilty which pressed on them.
ON the action OF this Congress might
depend the welfare of the South ana
West. not only the welfare OF the United
States. but the welfare Of humanity It
self for ages 20 come Some outside Of
this hall had assumed that the cornmenda-
ton of the President imposed some obh-
cations upon Democratic members 20
do as he desired and some had even been
a a failure
TO fan iu with the recommendations
There made would subject the dissenter
10 administrative displeasure But those
persons did the President great injustice
The President would not for a moment
forget the independence Of the two
branches Of Congress. Let the Presi-
dents own language Tebuke those who
would from false featy change their
convictions upon the subject in order
t0 conform to his suggestions.
In the message of 1855 20 this Con-
erass at the beginning Of the first ses-
sion there would be found these words
.rbe Jealous watchfulness Of our con-
s.ituents. great and small, supplement
thslr suffrages, and before the tribunals
they establish every public servant shouid
be judged.
Among the many grand truths felici-
tlusly expressed by our President none
disclosed a truer sense and clearer con-
ceufon OF official responsibility, or spoke
iu clearer terms Of our duty 20 our con-
sHtuents. In 1856 the same forces were
az work as were at work now The same
rressure was brought 10 bear then as
now But he called attention 20 the tact
that the Democratic party al that time
in rower recognized fits duty TO its con-
e,.tvancv. and be Il said 20 the credit
of that party that I'm this House only
fI.rfr-three Democrats voted to sustain
be recommendation and 1870 stood by
fha interests Of their constituents. IT
proved that the Democratic party at that
time recognized that the suggestion OF
tha President came for consideration ana
NOT for control And time had demon
strated that these representatives,, fol-
lowing the wishes Of their people, reflect
ing the sentiments Of their constituency,
were wiser than the President, who re-
commended suspension
III he could understand the language
of the message IL meant but one thing
If meant the burial Of silver with no
promise Of resurrection. 1t was the ar
rument Of the gold standard. IL led TO
universal gold mCnOmetallism, TO the
realm over whose door was written
abandon hope an We who enter here
There was but one way Of bringing gold
from abroad texcept the issuing OF gold
bonds and that was TO sell our pro-
lf We established a gold standard, gold
would be put upon the auction block.
Every time gold went abroad the farmers
of the United States must lower the
prices Of their products Then the farm
ers OF England would lower their prices
in order TO get the gold back. Then we
must again lower ours and no one
could tell the price at which at last our
products would settle down.
l. gA
~ value. be IL gold or silver, and was IN
favor Of a double standard. The ques-
uon now presented was whether the
United states was going to say that IL
was an English colony or an independ-
ent nation (Applause) If there be
some persons living on the Eastern shore
who vera better acquainted with the
beauty OF the Alps than with the gram
deur Of She rockies. better acquainted
with the sunny skies OF Italy than with
the lnvgorating breezes Of the Missis-
sippi Valley. let them know that there
are people VINO are willing TO cast their
all on the fate OF this republic and rise
OF fail with Sc. tApplause)
Bryan SPOKE in favor OF the retention
az the ratio Of l6 20 l. arguing that an
Increase Of that ratio would be detri-
mental 10 an international agreement as
o. the coinage OF the two metals. The |
trouble now was not a lack OF confidence |
iu Great Britain. The lnited states nae |
got along before without the confidence |
OF England. and. thank God IL could do |
SO again. Applause) He wanted 70 re- |
store confidence among the people, but |
he did not believe in curing headache |
by putting "a mustard-plaster 20 the feet |
ot the patient (ApplauseJ Let some |
Dn De- passed here which would make
the banks safe places Of deposit IL was
fear of the banks, and not OF the gov
crament. that had caused the present
r.rugency. II was asked that there
should be peace There could be no peace
SD long as there were people here who
would chain this country TO a single gold
standard
There would be war here. and eternal
war ApplauseJ II the Democrats plat
form meant anything % meant that the
affrman law WAS "a makoshift: but Il pro-
posed something better than that, and
mat something was silver aud gold coin
ate The question was not whether the
President was honest or not rhe ques-
ton was whether ne was right. The
resident had Won the confidence OF the
pe.Ile but he had been deceived. He
BAD said IN his message that the pcople
demanded the repeal Of the Sherman act.
ie had heard from the boards Of trade
ana from the chambers Of commerce. hut
Do had not heard from the farmers or the
U NHH ..HNa al