The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25
Congressman Bland.

Congressman Bland.
Richard Parks Bland. member OF CON
gross from the Eighth District Of Mis-
souri,. and chairman Of the Committee on
Coinage. has been for wellnigh a genera
ton one OF the most conspicuous figures IN
American public life. From the outset
Of his public career he has been the
champion Of cheap and plentiful money
I'm every form. and for many years the
recognized leader In the House Of Rep
resentatiyes OF the froe-snver wing.
Almost at the very outset Of his long
legislative career Mr.. Bland identified
himself with the cause which he has
since championed. During his first tenn
the silver q|restion had not become prom
inent before the public. The cheap-mon-
ey movement was then directed toward
an increase in the quantity Of the legal
tenders. or greenbacks. which, it must be
remembered. were then still pure fat
money. and not rodeemable i'm specie. Mr..
Blf nd voted for the famous imitation bill
Of 1874. which President Grant Killed by
his veto; and he voted against the act
for the resumption Of specie payments.
passed I'm 1915. In the next year, 1876.
the fall I'm the price Of silver became
marked. and the i~ngationist5, beaten on
the paper-mOney question. began 10 turn
tleir efforts toward the free coinage of
the cheaper silver. Mr.. Bland introduced
AZ the start what wgs virtually a bin for
the free coinage Of silver. A year later.
in 1871. Mr.. Bland introduced the bin with
which his name Will always ne associat-
ed i'm monetary h~istory-thc bill which
became the Bland act Of 1878. II IS a par.
OF the irony Of fate that this measure.
with which his name will probably he al
rrrnrru qcgnrfaf4H finally fnDE = form Hfrh-
" Objectionable to its first proposer. As
introduced by Mr.. Bland. and as passed
by the House Of Representatives IL pro-
vidcd for a perfectly free and unlimited
coinage Of silver. 1t was amended In the
Senate by making the coinage limited. a
change which took all the sting out Of the
measure. and made II. If not Objectionable
bic at least comparatively harmless. So
amended it was sent back to the House
and there passed. President Hayes We
toed II: but I'm both branches Of Con
eress the necessity two-thirds vote was
secured for passing II over the veto. It
went upon the statute-hook. and remain
cd I'm force from 1878 until fl was super
seeded bv the Sherman act Of 1870.
Mr.. Bland was far from content with
this partial success. and throughout his
long Coneresslona career has persistent
" urged the free coinage Of silver. But
he never again won a complete legisla-
tive victory. Sometimes the prize has
been almost within his grasp; but In the
end the sound sense of the people has
always defeated his inhationist schemes.
In the great contest Of last summer ne
led the forces against the unconditional
repeal Of silver purchases. and In favor
Of the free coinage OF silver. Probably
he made a tactical mistake az that time
by Offering to modify his scheme through
a change i'm the ratio. From 1873 TO 1873
he and his associates had persistently de-
cla~cd for "the dollar Of or fathers';
that IS. for the silver dollar coined at
the ratio Of 16 10 I with gold. Last sum
mer he admitted that possibly the great
depreciation Of silver might warrant a
change in the ratio. and offered 70 com
promise "a. a ratio Of II, IS, 10. even q
to /. This modification Of the original
scheme deprived IT OF any possible patri-
otic or sentimental association, and was
n DAMAGING admission Of some dlilculues
and uncertainties I'm his case. At all
events. Mr.. Bland was beaten on every
point. and with the unconditional re-
peal of the Sherman act a death-blow
was given TO the silver agitation.
In the present session Mr.. Bland. beaten
in the great battle. is trying TO win in a
belated skirmish. lie has succeeded in
passing in the House the seigniorage
bill. aptly described as an attempt 90
coin a vacuum. The Generalization OF
the Democratic party. and the desire
Of members to trim their sails so as 10
show something TO their cheap money
, nstituents. have enabled him to pass
The bin I'm the House. and has brought IL
through the Senate. But the Executive
veto still stands in Mr.. BANDS way, ard
again we may hope. effectively IN HE
Wv. and the empty passage of the seign-
bin by one or two Houses Of Con-
giess will be but a sorry consolation for
the defeat Of the main cause which Mr..
Bland has at heart.
Personally. Mr.. Bland has his cause
much al heart. He is earnest, sincere.
and horest in his beliefs. He conceives
himself to be the champion Of the debtor
class. and a crusader against a con-
spiracy Of the wicked bankers and the
gold mOnometallists lie be-
n yves. TO use his own words, that a sys-
tenn which all trained economists and
all intelligent busir ess men believe 10
be a sound one is. "a system of finance
that will enable a few controllers of gold
to dominate the currency" He has used
very shade Of argument in favor OF his
oroposale. from the trash Of the arrant
advocate Of pure fat money 20 the more
Intelligent arguments which he has learn
% especially of late years. from the i'd
vocates OF international b~imetallism; but
he has always been true 10 himself and
TO his constituents.-Harper's Weekly.