The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-08-31
modities, by sinister or unwise legisla-

HloulIleS, Wy SiiiiSCeI VI uilWlSe leSlSla-
| tiOn.
1t would doubtless sound strange to
some ears that there were nine differ
ent currencieS transacting the busi ness
OF this country, and to large extent
the business of the world, SO uniform
in purchasing and debt paying power
were they, SO in harmony with each
other and interchangeable, that hardly
one half of them were generally known
to exist. The national credit had been
tested by the smooth and harmonious
Circulation OF those nine curr encies
and had met the ordeal in a manner to
awaken the pride of every patriotic
Americans heart. Never was a part
OF it discounted or discrcdited except
by the government itself. That hap
| pened once, and will never happen
again.
Mr.. Voorhees, said he had referred to
these things to illustrate the power and
duty Of the government in furnishing
sound, reliable and constitutional
money for the people. At this point he
said he was confronted by a law with
out precedent Or parallel in American
hlstory-a law which for months past
| had been the theme of all tongues and
pens, and in whose name financial pan.
| &c, alarm and distress had been invoked
an1 for whose repeal this Congress had
been convened. Mr.. Voorhees, briefly
sketched the birth of the law, which re.
suited from a compromise, and said
that in an evil hour, the worst and
darkest that ever befell the cause of
blmetallism or the honor and existence
OF silver money, this pernlcious com
promise was accepted and fastened on
the country.
The act, he said, was not intended in
good faith for the coinage of silver at
all. On the cIntrary, it cmanated
from the enemies Of silver money, and
| It's purpose was to degrade, diShonor
and disgrace this, one Of the precious
metals, and it could no longer hold its
place with gold us a part Of the specie
! basis OF the country and of the world.
n reducing silver to a merchantable
commodity on level with the products
OF the field and farm, and issuing treas
! ury certificates on it according to its
market value, there could be but one
effect on the dignity and stability of
that great money metal. IL staggered
| under the blow, until now it's enemies
predlcted with JOY its speedy ana total
destruction.
| MIR. VOORHEES, said that he spoke in no
partisan vein, but yet twas with great
satisfaction that he quoted from the
record that not a single vote on his
side OF the chamber was cast for the
act which bore the name Of the Sena-
tor from Ohio to such Il peculiar emf
nence. AS firm, mtal:ering believer
IN blmetalllSm and rs an undertaking
supporter Of the coinage and use of
both gold aud silver as the standard
money OF the country, without diScrimi
mating against either metal, Mr.. Noor-
heeS said he voted against the passage
or the Sherman act, and for its repeal
| lne outcry IN certain quarters at this
time that those who vote for the re-
peal or this measure are enemies of
silver as money and in favor of its de-
mOnetiIation was not only false, so far
as he was concerned, but, in the light
OF what had helped in the past it was
| absurd.
And now In this, the darkest day ev-
er known to silver, he avOwed his un.
| shaken faith that it would remain for
| ever one Of the worlds great and DO-
tentlal factors Of finance, commerce.
traIlic and daily business transactions
II would neither be demone,iznd nor
driven away from the habtations of
ihr laboring IN tss"S Of mankind. It
had come down from immnmOriai Il sseS
and would continue to cxis";, as one of
the precious metals, uphnlding the
credit Of nations and bringing bless
when the scenes through winch we
were now passing had grown dim in
the light and progress of distant centu-
rleE. lie should vote to repeal the
Sherman act as he would remove dead
fly from box of sweet ointment, as he
would abate a nuisance and wipe out
an obstruction to rational, wholesome
legislation. 1t tainted and violated
the entire financial system and de-
slroyed confidence In all business
transactions every hour it remained a
! part OF the law.
The question had been asked whcth-
er vote should be given for its uncon-
ditional repeal, or whether, before, a
substitute must be agreed upon. lie
| |(N0orheeS) would at once eradicate
| this confessed evil from the bOly OF
our laws, with no other condition than
| MS right and free agency to support
and to secure, IN connection with it's
repeal or afterwards by an Independent
measure, as the success of its immedl-
ate repeal, the primary duty of the
hour might at the time dictate, a
sound financial system, embracing the
coinage or silver on an equality with
| gold. In making this statement he on
~ repeated tbs declaration Of the Chi.
cagn platform on which the American
people restored to the Presidency one
OF the stsong ,nst, abIcst, purrst and
| most patriotic characters ever known
| to American history.
Mr.. voorhees, at this point quoted the
| financial plank of the Chicago platform
and, saying that the record did not
stop at this pOlnt. quoted from prcsi.
dent Cleyeland'S letter Of acceptance,
which he said was in no wise modified
or contradictcd by the sngularIy able
message delivered a few days ago. lis
SAD that it contained in four brief
sentences every sound, wholesome,
enduring principle of finance ever
knoWn In the history Of the most pros
porous nation Of the earth VINO dared
In the lace Of the clear, explicit words
,S wmicn ne read, to charge that their
auCiGr q naI;l was monometallist I'm Disguise,
a. !" pelieVer In the use Of gold and gold
alone, but wearing for The sake Of an
mask? "'''i''"'ilC
oinn 'o 81 iGaiiess Ga. trankness, in the express
SlOll Oh nlS views on all NJ, I,I;, ,,,,,...''