The Portland daily press., 1895-02-19

be re fused gold payment when the
time came? Mr.. Secretary Sherman an
nounced, ON such a question being raised
that these bonds, being issued tor gold,
FOR the express purpose OF obtaining
gold to carry out the operations OF the
government, would necessarily De re-
deemabie in gold.
Now, that is tile situation. Where the
blame ought to he thrown is here-that
this administration has not made the
people understand from the beginning
that these bonds are just what tEey are,
just what the custom of payment on the
part OF the government has made them
to be. 1t esta blishes no new policy, even
II these bonds were made specifically
payable in gold. all of them. And say
to men who are on the other side OF the
question that they are not treating TINS
matter fairly when they speak of 1t as
determining the policy of monome-
taiism or bimetalistf1. Gentlemen
who are interested { in national
bimetalism. If their views are correct.
Will lind that at the proper time the con-
census Of opinion of the world Will
sweep US by any little affair like this
without It's counting for an instant, ana
if they are international bimetalists
every body in the world will hold 1t as
a triumph to secure both metals Old equal
terms, and then it will be of no account
how bonds read.
Let me give you one example. and l
trust the House may not misunderstanding
my motives. Let me give you just one
example of the way in which men get to
be willing to pay government bonds in
the best money. You see the govern
ment cannot be sued. 1t cannot be
brought under the hands of the sheriff.
A nation stands by itself and upon it's
honor. and it acts just as gentleman
does who STANDS upon his honor. He
fulfills the obligation as the other man
understood it, II it is a straightforward
and honorable understanding; and such
is the effect of being in power, that the
most radical opponents OF the policy OF
paying the best come at once to the front
as the defenders of it.
Now, let me illustrate this. / can re-
member that the gentleman from Illinois
Mr.. Springerl not long ago stood up III
his place and with considerable rapidlty
of language declared that we must ave
the free coinarge OF silver. Nothing less
would do him. Perhaps it would not
be improper for me to name SONS others;
but I will just read one or two names,
whose votes will be found recorded in
the year 1880, on the 2sth day of June,
as in favor of the free coinage of silver.
Mr.. Wilson, Der from West Vir
ginia: Mr.. Springer, member from Hi
nois; VI. Bynum, a mem Der from Indl-
ans; Mr.. Turner, a mem Der from Georgia.
l beg to say that / am not presenting
this with any idea or desire of raising a
laugh, because all of us here can be
laughed at for having changed our
minds. i am not presenting these names
with any such purpose, nor for the pur-
pose of reproaching any of these gentle
men. And the list includes Mr.. Mont
gomery of Kentucky and Mr.. Tarsney of
Missouri.
I repeat, I am not using these names
for any purpose of reproach. ! am
simply using them to show the contrast
ing influences OF being in power. Zap
plause.
And, Mr.. Speaker, I have no doubt
that certain gentleman who are about to
retire from this House without having
belonged to either party except occasion-
ally to the Democratic party. If they
should be put in power-and it is great
qualification to me to know that l can
never prove what now say 4 have no
doubt that if those gentlemen should be
would constrain them in the same way.
A nations credit is its great strong
hold. Disasters may happen to nation.
Democratic administrations may occur
to it. Everything is possible within the
range of human affairs. Under such
circumstances the most precious thing
in this world is a nations credit, aid it
ought Always to preserve it if it can.
Now, do not let our indignation about
contract which we can not interfere
with. and which, perhaps, deserves all
the reprobation it has received-do not
let that prevent us from taking business
like view of the present situation. Do
not let us involve ourselves in "policiesn
and things of that sort, but let us face
the situation as if stands TAnnlause I