The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-10-09
DEMOCRACY AND SILVER.
ELEVEN FREE COINAGE BILLS
KILLED IN NINE YEARS BY
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Hon. Frank Burkett's Pape r,

non. FRANK BurkeCt s Paper.
To the Peoples Party is due the
credit of agitating this money ques-
tion for years past. 1t is the only ma
tional party that ever declared for is
to or any other ratio, and in all it's
efforts to arouse the people on this
vital subject it has had to contend
with both the old parties. Now that
the people have become fairly edu-
Gated, and are beginning to und er-
stand the only cause of their misfor-
tunes, but also, who are responsible
for them, the treacherous old democ-
racy flops over and pretends to be sill
ver's best and only available friend.
That this claim is wholly unfounded
any unprejudiced man will under
stand when he examines the record
made by the party. Here it is:
l. The 49th Congress having a
1886, killed a bill providing for the
free and unlimited coinage Of silver
at ratio of 16 to ].
2. The Fifty-second Congress hav-
ing Democratic majority Of 14S, on
the oath day Of March, 1892, killed a
free coinage bill at the ratio of 16
to l.
3. The same Congress on July 13, Of
the same year. overwhelmingly de-
feated another free coinage bill, l6 to
/, after it had passed a Republican
senate, and when it was we'll under
stood that a Republican president, al
though individually opposed to free
silver, had said he would approve it.,
if passed by the Democratic house.
4. On the 23d Of August, 1893, the
Fifty-third Congress. called in extra
session by Mr.. Cleveland, defeated a
bill providing for the free coinage OF
silver at 16 to by two-thirds vote.
This Congress had a Democratic ma
jority over both Republicans and
Popuists Of eighty-three. but the ten
Populists voted for the bill, thus max
ing the Democratic majority, il really
in favor or free silver, lU3 over the Re-
publicans.
There were 2l7 Democrats on the
floor Of the house when this vote was
taken. and 101 voted for the measure,
116 voted against it. So then it will
be seen that if only Democrats had
been present and voting. the bill
would have been defeated by major
ity of fifteen.
5. On the same day, namely, Au-
gust %, 1893, the same Democratic
Congress voted down a second propo-
sition to coin silver free, at a ratio
of II to by a still greater majority.
6. On the same day this same Con-
gress voted down another proposition
looking to ''the parity OF the two
metals at l8 to l.
Z. On the same day another bill
providing for the free coinage OF sill
yer at 19 to was defeated.
g. On the same day, another prop
ostion looking to the free and un-
limited coinage of silver at a ratio Of
20 to was showed under in Demo
cratic house.
And thus it was five bills providing
for the free and unlimited coinage of
silver were beaten in a repreSen auive
body now protesting ITO be the friend
of the white metal as fast as the clerk
could call the roll. And don't forget,
honest Democratic reader, that in
every solitary instance, q majority OF
your Democratic congressman voted
against silver. and in favor Of the sim
gle gold standard.
9. On November l, 1893, the Fifty
third Congress, with its 50 Democratic
ldJOlIty oNGI All. NObtu dtNii lIl
amendment offered by Mr. Bland to 4
.nding bill, which anne cndmcnt pro-
vlded for the free and unilm ted coin
age Of silver 1T Is to |.
10. On October y, 1893, the United
States Senate, having a Democratic
majority Of three over all, and when
the four Populist Senators were
counted for silver the majority over
the Republicans was eleven, defeated
Senator SteWart's amendment provid-
ing for free coinage Of siter at lf to l.
II. In February. 1893. the Fifty
third Congress being in session with a
Democratic majority in botp houses,
and a Democratic (sU-calscd) cNecu-
tive, the finance committee ot tine
senate, with Dan Voorhees, chairma@.
and a majority of Democrats on the
committee, killed in the committee
room the last proposition made for
the free coinage Of 81 yer at 10 t0 /.
Thus it VIII he seen thab IN nine
years the Democratic party in Con
gres, has killed eleven free coinaGc
bills. and wholly failed and refused to
rebuke the "crime Of '73.
When the party had the power to
restore free silver it tefused. Now
that it is powcrle,s to do anything,
its leaders especially in the South, are
profuse in their promises that they
intend to do right next time. The
man who says he believes they are in
earnest this time is either credulous
idiot or knowingly aiding in making
another pla tfOrm to get in on, and
willfully deceive the public.