Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-05-17
HE Lecture on The Free G image
of S liver.
THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY
Independent Action by the United States
VIII Libcrate the World From
Colds Grasp.

opened his Colorado lecture tour in
this city tonight. An audience that
filled the spacious Broadway theater
greeted the silver champion, who was
introduced by Senator Teller, with long
continued applause, and gave the clos
est attention throughout his address.
the delivery of which occupied nearly
two hours. 1t was a notable fact that
fully half of those in attendance were
women.
II have chosen for my subject" said
Mr.. Bland. "the fight of 20 years in con-
gress for the free coinage of silver and
the fight is yet to come.
'"This is the first time I have ever
visited a silver mining state since this
years battle began. l have no interest
whatever in the states producing the
precious metals and no sympathy for
them beyond the interest and sympathy
l have in our common cause. The losses
your silver producers have sustained
on account of the characterization of sill
yer are not to be compared to the losses
of the farmers in Missouri in the fall
of prices of farms and the products of
the soil, consequent, as we believe, to
the demonstration of silver
Bland prefaced his review of 20 years.
battle for silver with an account of the
manner in which it's decentralization was
accomplished and said established as
the unit of value by the act of 1873.
while it is evident" he said from
the manner in which this revolution in
our monetary system was accomplished
that 1t was done in an indirect and
stealthly manner, yet it was the most
important and far-reaching legislation
on money ever enacted by our govern
ment."
The lecturer then reviewed fully ali
the attempts made in congress to re-
monetize silver, after the effects of the
act of 1873 became known. He said
the free coinage bill of 1877 which was
vetoed by President Hayes, was voted
for by Mr.. Carlisle of Kentucky; Mr..
Foster. who was secretary of the treas
ury under Harrison's Administered ton:
Mr.. Herbert, who is now secretary of
the navy; Mckinley, now governor of
Ohio Mills of Texas and Morrison of
Illinois, now interstate commerce COM
missioner
THE fact" added Mr.. Bland, that
most of these gentlemen, If not all of
them, have changed their views upon
this question. should be attributed to
the uncertainty of human opinion and
| the action of public men. for surely the
| necessity of silver restoration Is as meri-
torious and urgent as it was then"
SHERMAN REPEAL LAW
| Regarding the repeal of the Sherman
silver purchase law, Mr.. Bland said:
Impartial history would show that this
result was secured by methods most
| reprehensible and deplorable. The
money power of this country and Eu-
rope had sought to bring our people
and their representatives into complete
subsection.
1.-THE vast debts throughout the coun-
try were pressed for collection and
when debtors went to the banks to Sc
cure terms to meet their obliga tons
they We're coolly told that it was not
safe to lend money until the repeal of
the purchase clause of the Sherman
act. The friends of gold monometal-
lism insisted that the repeal of the pur-
| chase clause of the Sherman act would
restore confidence throughout the coun-
try. invite an inflow of gold to our
shores and would bring universal pros
| perity. Just the reverse has occurred
We have sold bonds to the amount of
SIP, 100000 since the repeal in order to
| check the flow of gold from our shores
and to maintain the single gold stand
given the people an object lesson indeed,
one they will not forget, an object les
son that has been the best educator in
favor of bimetallism that could have
possibly taken place.
I'm all the great battles in congress
on the silver question, the southern peo-
pie, while enthusiastic for silver have
had the sympathy and enthusiasm
clouded with the dread of force bills
or federal interference with their local
self-government. Fortunately, however
In the great battle over the force bill
in the senate, the senators of the west
and especially of the gold and silver
mining states in their opposition to this
measure, which resulted in its final over
throw and defeat, have given assurance
to the people of the south that their po-
utical reliance both for the safety of
their home government and their pros
perity on economic questions point to
the west.
BATTLE OF METALS.
1.-THE day has now come when war
issues can not longer domineer our pol
itics. The battle of standards is the
greatest battle to be fought in this
country and the world over This vast
country of ours, of A independent states
and other vast territory. with over $780,
OO0,0O0,0O0 of wealth and population of
100000 people, increasing at the rate
of million annually. Is strong enough
to maintain its own monetary system:
to open the minis to the free coinage
of gold and silver and thus again re-
store not only to ourselves but to the
world the old order of things, by which
gold and silver will be circulated side
by side, aiding and suDportipp eocb