New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-31
THE HORR.HARVEY DEBATE.

,,,o, h,twean two locomotives, rushing ut
each other on different tracks when never meet
would closely resemble the debate between MI
Horr and Mr. Harvey which closed OH Mohu'!
The arrangements for this discussion were CHI
nently calculated TO deprive an argument "i lis
proper weight. When two men SET OUT 10 re'u III
each other alternately fragments or TWO uls'ln''
essays. the fore, of consecutive argument j. 'os'
and the element Of debate entirety sacrl'ceu.
Mr. Harvey started out in that line ana au'''i'"
TO ii. crowding In portions of his esSa! "he"''',
If came his turn. without attempting 10 n''e'
points presented by his antagonist lhis oo''s'"
Mr.. Horr to pursue in large measure Il s''''''"'
course or the whole time would nave pech "a
haustcd over Mr.. Harveys efforts 10 s"''"
the American people.
Those who review the discussion Win '"'e
will find that Mr.. Harvey never met. ana INV,
really attempted to meet, the one question 'o"''"
which all argument was expected 10 tehu' h'li''~
lv whether the United States alone couiu Sai'H
revive the free coinage OF silver. making s'N'een
ounces of silver equal in value TO one ouii'e VI
gold when the value Is about thirty OUNCES VI
silver 70 one Of gold. Mr.. Horr stated lhs VIAL
nont Of the whole discussion N the outset CAME
- Il again and again with convincing arguments
and closed with 1t. Mr. Harvey talked apo"
everything else under the sun, about 'he h'S'o's
- silver in bvcone centuries about the his'or!
~ coinage from Washington down 10 buch'n'n'
.hout the history Of the act OF 1913 py "h''n
coinage Of stand rd dollars was made no ions'l
LOCAL as for wears 1t had been no longer uesir'u'
ohout the history Of prices from the Iouhua'ion
~ tbe world down 10 this time. But he aVoiueu
tho main question in debate as ahNousH "s Il
man who has smallpox is lodged by tlihiu peope'
I, Is only fair TO infer that Mr.. Harvey. Ike
others for whom he speaks. has never Serio"S"
Thought Of that question. the only prac'cai q"'',
tjon before the American people about silver anu
really does not know what he thinks the enec'
of free coinage would be. To be sure, II croppeu
on, now and then that he fancieS debts nave oeeh
unfairly sweled and prices Of products unfairly
danressed bv disuse Of silver. and that soheno"
, revival OF free coinage would repair tue Nv"
hv contracting debts and Initiating prices but
he has never thought out how elmer Is 10 W
done. and would probably be sincerely aston
;shed If anybody should make him see mat
actual prices the relation Of commodities III 'his
"a commodities in other countries, wouiu pe
much further depressed and the real burden VI
all debts greatly increased. by the very remedy
no demands Mr. Horn labored TO make MIN see
# hut the silver advocate was at ihat Time ser
tine, in his essay on different topic
Ono other fact will strike every candid person
who reviews the discussion. namely, mat 'ne
entire silver argument turned upon viilyihe anu
| h.,it,ling the American people, their cOhuluon
and nrogress. their industry. their practcai sense
and their sense Of integrity. and particularly
| ,h,r Government Something like three millions
~ them are paupers and tramps MI Harvey
| ,b,nts and their business IS ruined, ana thelr
farms are mortgaged and going rapidly 10 money
! ,enders and their homes are destitute ana 'he'r
c;,ies tbe worst crowded in the world all De-
couse they stopped using the money OF Mexico
ona China and preferred the money OF England
.nd Germany Mr. HOrrs repeated exposures
~ this chronic weakness In his adversary VIII
bave some effect and he was rightly indignant
when II appeared that, in order to bolster up Il
conse FOR which be had no direct argument 10
Offer Mr. Harvey persisted in representing Con-
orossmen as yepal scOundrels, and bankers ana
husiness men as sharks and knayes who live by
robbjpy the people Harvey overlooked the
inevitable corollary that II so the people are
fools consenting for quarter OF century 10
he robbed The fact Is that they have more
nrac,ical sense. and the bankers and business
men bave more honesty, than Mr.. Harvey, VINO
vilifes them.
In view Of the absurd methods and conditions
Of the discussion. upon which Mr.. Harvey In
sisted in order to boom" his book, Mr Horn
accomplished all that could have been expected
in putting a great body Of truth before minds
blinded by prejudice and falsehood As Tor Mt
Harvey himself. his state Of mind appears TO be
such that he would refuse to enter the city that
"Is nure gold" or TO walk the golden streets, be-
80 ell