The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-15

he declared that there was no difference
between moral and legal obligations; that
there was not a debt OF the government
that could not honestly be paid in silver.
BRYAN'S VIEW OF 1T.
Mr.. Bryan made half-hour speech
against the resolution. the passage of
which. he began by saying, would with
draw ss5,o0o0O0 from circulation. THE
President OF the United States he con-
tinued. as human being
.Oh. no. shouted Mr.. Walker.
1.-THE President is. therefore, liable to
err added Mr. Bryan. not needing the
interruption. He has erred. The Demo-
cratic party owes him nothing democratic
applause) 1t owes him only the gratitude
IL would owe the guardian who has squan-
dcred rich estate He seeks to inoculate
his party with Republican virus that his
party may die of blood poisoning. applause
on the Democratic side) But he has yet one
attribute of sovereignty" continued Mr..
Bryan. 'Hc chasteneth whom he loyeth."
Q-aughter.l Turning to the question at
issue. Mr.. Bryan asserted it was question
in which was bound up the welfare of man
kind. Pass this resolution, he said and
| $16.000,000 would be saved to the people in
thirty years. Pass IL and they would be
robbed OF S16co0,o00,000 in a third of that
time by the men in whose interest 1t was
passed. THE issue has come" said Mr..
Bryan, in conclusion. You have got to
meet this proposition. On these questions
we find that the Democrats of the last and
the Republicans of the East lock arms and
proceed to carry out their policy without
reference to the rest OF the country. Bus.
Mr.. Speaker, if they do that they must ex-
pect that, on the principle Of self-preserva-
ton, the rest of the country will drop party
their a welf are 4pplause The. Tbe demand s, of
our Eastern brethren, both Republicans and
Democrats, is for a steadily appreciating
standard of value. They are the creditors:
they hold our bonds and mortgages.
and as the dollars come up here and the
debts increase they gather, an unearned
md he limo will n
country when the unjust exactions and the
oppressive demands of our Eastern friends
shall heal the divisions in the West and
| South and end ia the restoration of the
doctrine of Jefferson-that every man is the
| equal Of every other man, and has an equal
right to the consideration of the govern
ment." prolonged .applause)
. EN-SPEAKER REEDS SPEECH.
Mr.. Reed next arose. Instantly the hum
of voices and hush fell on the House.
"Mr. Speaker" he began, that doctrine
of the union OF the South and West has
been preached before. and by prophets,
whose inspiration lasted longer than that of
the gentleman from Nebraska CMr. Bryan)
Q-aughter.) But 1t has been failure. 1t
always will be a failure. We not only send
csr property West but we send our chII-
dren there, and no man who crosses from
East and West can fail to be struck by the
fact that there Is after all a unity Of senti-
msnt between the two sections of the
country that no language will ever blot
cur or destroy. The Southern and Northern
Democrats may be able to live together.
But | say to you that the Republicans of
the East and West, of the North and OF the
living together and they will in the future.
Applause on the Republican side.) Now let
small matt matter at hand daughter5 have
witnessed periods of great emotion, and
have noticed that 1t very often happens in
the history of this House, and Of this coun-
try, that events which seem to be very
stirring. and striking and to ,portend a
tremendous future, are not thought of much
a fortnight after the occurrence. / admit.
however, the Importance in many ways or
the proceedings of this House at this time.
L wish the results were not q foregone
conclusion.
II wish that there were something more
hut that being all that there really is at
stake the matter will turn out, as gentle
that whatever we say here will have a ten
dency to strengthen the credit of the gov
,itiicuIty. We have long moths in front ont
Of us before the period of recuperation sets
in. We ought not to say anything or do
anything which will make that period of
revival longer in coming than it ought to
be- ], therefore, feel called on, for my
part. to reinforce the remarks SO ably made
by friends. the gentleman. from Illinois
tMr. Cannon, as to what the government
has done in the past with its bonds It's
bonds to-day ought to stand in the front
rank of national bonds If honesty of effort
i'll payment of the same could count Tor
$50 WILL ALWAYS PAY IN GOLD. y
Gentlemen say that we aresat liberty to
pay these bonds i'm something else besides
the equivalent Of gold. Whether we are or
not, the fact remains that, urged on by
an memorable law, have thus far paid
gold or its equivalent. and every man in
this House believes that we shall do SO in
the future. Applause) This does not in
any way initiate against anybody's belief
as to bimetallisn, whether International or
national. For men who are in favor of the
free coinage of silver are so because they
believe that free coinage of silver would
bring silver to a parity with gold There
fore, all sides of this House-in parties,
which are recognized in the government of
the country-(aughteD are agreed as to
should be in a condition so that anybody
could make any other charge. But diseases
Turk ready to attack a system which has
cold or exposure. Now. the trouble of our
situation is that body polite, our gov
eminent has been SO reduced by two years
OF party rule of such character that our
expenses are not paid by our income that
the the time time being running behind $500 : -
Whatever severity of criticism is be-
sewea se ON the Of res tqa ia Sn n
slowed on the past. and this agreement.
presented here for the Inspection Of the
the government of this country for the
last two years. It may be that / judge
agreement
is the result of the unfortunate condition
in which the government was found. It
may be that no guilt attaches to this,
cept SO far 1t is the result of causes
which never ought TO have been set in mo-
ton. However 1t is, that contract is not
presented to us for approval disapproval
1t is now proposed, continued Mr.. Reed,
10 reduce the rate of interest provided III
this contract, provided we make the bonds
sold payable in god.'' That word is prac-
tically there now as every >one agrees. This
resolution does not involve the establish
r5ent of a policy; it is simply action a
single transaction of the government. Some
tell us it would govern all future trans
actions, but he (Mr. Reed did not believe
that the Secretary of the Treasury would
attempt another such contract after his ex-
perience with this. The policy of redeem
ing our outstanding obligations in gold was
established by Democratic administration.
The bonds issued under the contract made
by Secretary Carlisle were to procure gold
Does any one imagine that gold will be re-
fused when they are redeemed? When
Secretary Sherman issued bonds for gold he
announced that being issued for gold they
would be- redeemed in gold. The trouble
seemed toNbe that many did not understand
this. They did not treat the matter fairly
when they spoke of it as affecting mono
rretallism or bimetaism. A nation could
not he sued. But. like gentleman. it
had its honor to preserve. 1t could not act
dishonorably. or
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