The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-05-13
CRIME OF TIE AGE
Secretary Caflisls's Speech in Congress
in 1878 On Silver.
THEN HE WASA FRIEND TO THE METAL
He Denounced Demonstration Of Silver
as the Most Gigantic Crime o!
This OF Any Age.

ence 1.-The following are some extracts
from the sTeech Of Hon. John G-
Carlisle, delivered en- the floor OF the house
OF representatives. when In congress as a
representative from Kentucky. in which
he took advanced position as n silver man.
IL is from this speech that he has been
extensively quoted and il will be read
with interest as preliminary 10 his sound
money effort which is now being heralded
by the gullbugs all over the country as a
most cons icuOus feature OF the Memphis
convention. which meets on the I'd OF this
month sud at which Secretary or tine
Treasury Carlisle IS expected to attack the
views Of Representative Carlisle:
The speech was made in advocacy of the
conference report between the two houses
on the Blaud-Ailison act. The house. I'M
der the leadership OF Mr. Bland. passed
an act providing: for the fee and unlimited
cofrsare CT silver in 1873. The senate
amended tails hill. striking out most OF ats
essential features. and conference com
n ittoe was asked for. The Bland-Aliison
act that subsequently became law was
the work OF this conference committee
and ir advocating the adoption az the re-
port az the Confcrees. Mr.. Carlisle made
Eis famous speech.
This speech will be found on page Al. vol
ume :. part :. Of The Congressional Record.
second session 81 the for;y-iifth congress.
II Was delivered in the house or representa-
tiVrs ou the FIST Of February. 1873.
TIE views EXPRESSED 10y Mr.. Carlisle then
arr cf more than ordinary interest now in
view OF the renewal Of the agitation for
fee coinage OF silver.
At any rate. the few extracts given from
the speech 81 February =. 1875. may be OF
interest now COR comparison with his
sTseeh 10 be made in Memphis on the
I'D
,Ir Carlisle was then n member Of the
house. serving his first tenn. only such
portions Of the speech rs Will give an In
tclli-eut idea Of the tenor % the whole
Will be given lie s1id-
The senate has not touched either the
first or second propositions. cNcept to
make slight verbal alteration ina the sec
oni. which does not In fact change its
meaning TO any extent But II has struck
out the free coinage clause entirely an1
substituted i'm its place a provision which
requires the secretary Of the treasury 20
~ rcs.aSe the silver bullion on account of
the government and have il coined at the
rate Of not less than 100000 worth, nor
mere than SfOlC.Dg worth FER month.
This IS the amendment which fills the
minds Of some 81 our friends with such
gloomy fCretoiiugs AMI cycitcs such "A
fierce and determined spirit If opposition
that There is disposition among some of
them to defeat the whole measure rather
while this amendment is objectionable 20
IN" iu some respects. I am constrained TO
say t5Bf IL IS not on account 90 its Tepudia-
f.oD If the free coinage proposition or
the criEaaaI bil. and viii state as briefly
as possible tEa reasons which compel me
u take tEss view of the sJbi-e.-
1.-THE director az the mint in his last
report stats that from january. 49, when
the coinage OF the subsidiary silver com
rtenCed. - October :. 1871, there had been
purchased s7.7C7 65i. - fine ounces. or $780,
s.l-5S standard ounces OF silver bullion at
the nrfCe of S5LtfS. gs3-26. being an average
OF I1SS cents per ounce fine. and that this
bullion al the courage rate OF I,2l4l6S Ter
standard ounce viii produce S-.tS5cSS.
Here then is seieuiore-e or gain - the
government jUriG- the period WcEt-OEc.t
81 Sas.sff1t Under system ot fire.
coinage This sum ~ NOR than S1oN1.l-'
would E3N,. gone directly iuto tic Cgfi, rs
81 the h1lI.-s ar3 s-"culatcrs in silver
buIlipa end b--Fics ;rst tho government
wuGlI have Tr.ulssI t1.ir coin FOR thorn
~ an expense 'f several millions of dol
lars more Tu.-r the fr-c c8inaEc pro-
v1@iCrs ~ tr. house bin the FOREIGN hold
crs ~ tse Gcrr nnegiza1 silver 90 Germany
vrrIl Eave the right 90 ficoI our mints
with Sc ana have ID COINED into dollars
Tor tsei- or,u benefit ~ the expense OF our
GOV. rurslaat and people.
try. already s-arge.Iu= ami sinking under
trr burdens iE- .se1 uugl them lis Unviee
Lex Station. would hsvr tc.u subjected by
thar provision tu q I.rN eNa.tion Of several
rui-iioGs a. lHii-rs annually o. pay for
sHtHiu- -he balloon ol capitalists al home
nni aar1"I I ,aunut become the a.iy1-
cate "a such s: stem. either ass - gold ar
silver. ari a'thrueh my vote Was given
for tire tiii az 90 passed the house under
6, suspension ~ tie rules. with this feature
iu Be-. Z uit nor approve it sui thea hoped
chat ID warli he amended Geo the senate.
'-The mints 10 The United States are ,p-
ertt.-i az rhe expense 81 tho wa5le people
AMI. Therefore should be operated Tor the
benefit n[ the WluI. people d.. ga account
o. ID Hfnsr. r.t- between tho market N..l,le
81 Oh. aui.i-u lUI the legal Kaiu, " The
colin. There is Sfi-Ginraca Vr cain in
tre process 10 coming. Oh" government
sE-uit trVe Tho benefit ~ b.. ami co. as
g. the sr~e o. ralf NJ the present time.
There s. uD such difference. the hall.- or
tine hul-inu who wants 10 converted into
cC-Ga-e should he required % pay at least
ercUEh e. ierray the expenses If the on
Grafton THE Ereat mass of the people
neither oWu bullion nor metal recurring
r.-1,ua-s. sp that the provisions OF tho
house a.l we're not "a provision far their
benefit. bat fer the exclusive benefit of q
few bullion dealers and mining comDa-
niles
MY position or this subject IS briefly
th;s- arm opposed u free coinage OF either
gold or silver. bat in favor cf unlimited
coinage ~ both metals uuon terms ~ ,v-
act equality NO discrimination should d.
sTa1e iu favor Of one metal ard AGAINST
tho other. nor sucull any dis Elimination
he made in favor Of the holders IT either
gold ~ silver bullion and against the
great body ~ fhe people who own other
kinds OF property 1 rrcat government
SHOULD treat al lis citizens alike and
whenever ID attempts 10 do otherwise ii
VII eugen Ter q spirit OF discomfort which
snonsr ur later must disturb the har-
In''Is = -pt che peace ~ s"cicty.
'But we are told that II free coinage is
permitted. the silver dollars. rs rapidly as
they are issued from the minis. viii 60 into
the hands ~ the people for immediate use
I'm the5r business. While under the senate
amendment 1hfy VIII 10 directly into the
hands of the secretary Of the treasury and
Be- boarded by him part OF the fund
-S,a>Ss~~=-S