The herald., 1895-04-30
Senator Voorhees, Jumps Into a
Great Big Breach
THE AGITATION ON SILVER
The Statesman Thinks the Tariff Is a
Great Bugaboo
Some Side Remarks That Will Cut Little
Figure in the Case as Sent Out
From Washington

D INDIANAPOLIS, April Ex-senator |
Voorhees,, in a talk today with the Senti-
nel's Washington correspondent made the
following statement of his views in re-
gard to the free coinage of silver:
II do not regret the agitation of the
silver question. Sooner or later it has to
be definitely settled whether the labor
producing people of this country can be
bulied out of one-half of their debt paying
money or whether they W II stand up like
free men and protect and defend the
money named aand provided in the con-
stitution-gold and silver both-not one
of the precious metals alone. but both.
and on terms and conditions as to coinage
and use on absolute equality. That Is
the question Immediately before us, and
no better time than now will ever be
found for it's settlement.
1.-The tariff will not return to plague u
again for years to come. 1t has been so
widely and equitably adjusted that no at
tempt at general revision isnow in con-
temptation in any quarter. There is no
longer any issue in regard to the federal
election laws and the threat of the bayo-
net at the ballot box. No great national
question is at this time in the way of
free, fair discussion of money, currency,
precious metals, ratios, standards OF
value units of account and payment and
the bearings which all these things have
on the general welfare of the American
people. The silver question itself is also
palmer to the view, less obscured by the
craft of its enemies, than at any time
since the ssassination of silver money
took place in 1878. There are no legisla-
tive switches now in existence to lead the
people away from the main track. No
cowardly makeshifts or insincere shams
any longer darken discussion or betray
honest councils.
1.-The Sherman act, which was con-
ceived in rancorous hostility to silver
and brought forth into law by an iniqui-
tous betrayal of slver's free coinage. has
been buried in AN unhonored grave, over
which no lament will ever be heard.
II have never been willing to admit
that our system of currency should be
dictated by England and other foreign
countries. and l repeI that idea now.
1.-The real and vital issue now presented
to the American people is the proposed
elimination of silver from our currency,
it's total overthrow and destruction as
This is what is meant now by the move
ment against the free coinage of silver
whatever disclaimers may be made to the
contrary. This movement means the de-
struction of one-half of the debt paying
money of the United States and of the
world. If it should be so it would double
the burdens of every debtor and multiply
the gains and income of every creditor
wherever the sun shines.
1.-The debts of the American people at
this time, both public and private, are
appalling in amount. They have been
contracted on bimetallic basis, and it
is now proposed to make them payable
on the basis of gold alone. The Gwo met
ais also constitute the specie basis for
such paper currency as may be put in cir
cultalon. If silver money is destoyed,
paper circulation must be contracted in
that proportion. Every form and kind
of money must become that much scarcer
and harder to get in exchange for labor
and the products of labor. Such policy
is to my mind simply horrible. I have
not a particle of doubt as to the result of
the contest now going on. The enemies
will be driven to the wall. Silver money
will not only survive, but it will be fully |
restored to its old place as leading and
controlling factor in the development and |
the progress of the country Nor have l
any fear for the future strength and har-
mony of the Democratic party. Some
men may discard it's principles and
abandon its organization, but others will |
take their places.
II have been in favor OF the free coin
~f a+ Toce
all my life. and whatever others may do
shall neither abandon my principals or
my party. l am not unmindful of the |
vague cry now raised about sound money,
honest money, and it Jauses me to glance
back over the career of silver in Ameri- |
can history. l discover that Washington,
Jefferson. Hamilton. Madison, John Mar
shall and Monroe endorsed silver money
as sound and honest and that the same !
views were entertained throughout the |
most important epochs of our country's |
trials, growth and glory, by Jackson, |
Clay. Webster Calhoun, Silas Wright,
Marcy. Horatio Seymour, Benton. Chase
Douglass, Hendricks. Morton and Lin
coin.
1.-The truth is that the danger from |
the coinage and use of silver as money in I
this country never occurred to sane |
mind until greed. avarice. unholy specu-
lation reared its serpent head and aimed
vicious, deadly blow at the honored dol
ar Of the fathers OF 1873. Since that time
we have had nothing but financial dis
trust, depression and ruinous panics.
The five years which Immediately fol-
lowed the demonetization of silver in 1873
were freighted with more calamity and |
suffering OH the part OF the laboring and
producing people than was ever before
known on this con tinent in the same
length of time. A wave of confiscation
swept over the country, annihilating val
ues, deprivng labor OF it's reward, de-
stroying all market prices for property
except such as were bid at sheriff's sales
Nor did this wretched condition of affairs
show any signs of improvement until
the partial restoration of silver to its
money functions took place in 1878.
If am told of hissquestion that sill !