The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-01
4 H00SIER Talks.
Senator Voorhees, Comes
Out Boldly for
Silver.
UnhesitatinqIy Declares His
Views of the Monetary
Question.
International Agreement Not Neces-
sary for Free Coinage OF the
White Metal.
The Adoption BY This Country Of a
BimetaIlic Standard Will Ale
yiate All Suffering.

Indianapolis, Ind, April Ex-senator
VOORHEES,, in a talk today with the Sen
tiners correspondent, made the following
statements of his views in regard to the
free coinage of silver:
Il do not regret the agitation of the
silver question. Sooner or later 1t had
to be definitely settled. Whether the
labor producing people Of this country
can be bullied out Of one-half of their
debt paying money, or whether they will
stand up like free men and protect ana
defend the money named and PROVIDED IN
the constitution-gold and silver, or
both-not one Of the precious metals
alone, but both, and on terms and cond1-
tions as to coinage and use OF absolute
equality; that is the question immediate
ly before us, and no better time than now
will ever be found for its settlement.
1.-THE tariff will not return to plague US
again for years to come It has been SO
wisely and equitably adjusted that no
attempt at any general revision is now
in contemplation in any quarter. There
is no longer any issue In regard to led
eral election laws and the threat or the
bayonet at the ballot box. No great
national question is. at this time, IN the
way of full free and fair discussion OF
money. currency precious metals. ratios,
standards of values, units Of accounts
and payment and the bearings all these
have on the general welfare OF the
great body Of the American people. The
silver question itself is palmer to view
and less obscured by the craft OF It's
enemies than at any time since the as
sassination of silver in 1873. There
are no legislative witches now in exist
ence to lead the people away from the
main track No cowardly makeshifts.
or insincere shams can any longer dark
en- discussion or betray honest counsels.
1.-THE Sherman act which was con-
ceived in rancorous hostility to silver
and brought forth into a law by an in
iquitous betrayal of free silver 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 or other foreign
countries and repel that idea now.
1.-THE real and vital issue now present
ed elimination Of silver from our curren-
CIV, it's total overthrow and destruction
as a money metal and the use Of gold
alone This is what is now meant by
the movement against the free coinage
of silver, whatever disclaimers may be
made to the contrary. This movement
means the destruction Of one half Of the
debt paying money of the United States
and of the world. If it should be sue
cessful it will double the burdens on
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
concentrated on bi-metallic basis, and
1t is now proposed to make them paya-
BILE on the basis of gold alone. The two
metals also constitute the specie basis
for such paper currency as may be put
in circulation. If silver money is de-
stroyed. paper circulation must be con-
tracted in that proportion. Every form
and kind of money must become that
much scarcer and harder to get in ex-
change for labor and the products Of la
Dor. Such a policy is to my mind SIM
| ply horrible.
II have not a particle Of doubt as to
| the result of the contest now going on.
| The enemies of silver will be driven to
| the WALL Silver will not only survive
but IT Will De 1ulIy 1GSlOICu W It's OlO
| place as leading and controlling factor
| in the development and the progress Of
| the country.
| "Nor have I any fear for the future
strength and harmony of the Democratic
party, Some men may discard it's primo
iples and abandon Its organization but
others will take their places. I have
| been in favor Of the free coinage Of sill
| yer at the ratio fixed by Jefferson all
| nv life, and whatever others may do,
shall hereafter neither abandon my
| principles nor my party. I am not un-
mindful OF the vague cry now raised
| about sound money, honest money, and
| it causes me to glance back over the ca
| reer OF silver in American history / dis
/ cover that Washington, Jefferson, HAM
| ilton, Madison, John Marshall and Mon
| roe Endorsed silver money as sound and
| honest. and that the same views were
| entertained throughout the most impor-
| tant epoch's of our country's trials,
| growth and glory, by Jackson, Clay,
| Webster, Calhoun, Silas Wright, Marcy,
| Horatio Seymour, Benton, Chase, Doug
las. Hendricks, Morton and Abraham
Lincoln.
1.-The truth is that danger from the
| coinage and use of silver as money in
| this country never occurred to a sane
| mind until greed, avarice, unholy specu-
lation, reared its serpent head and aimed
| vicious deadly blow at the honored dol
lar Of the fathers in 1873 Since that
time we have had nothing but financial
| vexation, distrust, business depression
and ruinous panics. The five years which
Immediately followed the domonetiza-
ton Of silver in 1873 were freighted with
more calamity and suffering on the part
Of loboring and producing people than
was ever before known in this continent
in it's life time. A wave of confiscation
swept over the country, annihilating val
ues, depriving labor of it's reward, de-
stroying all market prices for property,
except such as were hid 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 1873.
IF am told on this question that sill
| yer bullion as marketable commodity
| at this time commands low price, my
answer Is that If gold had been conspired
against, persistently assailed by foul
means as well as fair stabbed in the dark
and in the daylight, and in the back, and
under the fifth rib, and wherever else a
dagger could be placed for nearly quar-
ter of century past. it would be in a far
worse crippled condition than silver. Nc
other form Of money on the face Of the
earth could have withstood, as silver has
done, such a malignant unsparing cru
SADIE, as the last Is years has witnessed
in this country. It still holds its place In
the affections and confidence OF the peo-
pie Battered, bruised anr tattered as II
has been, yet 1t will buy today all that
gold will buy, and pay all debts that gold
! .rin naaz nnIasa 2 anccial contract has
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