The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-27


Dropping the matter of how it hap
pened to be, the fact still exists.
The important question before the
American people at this moment, and
one we are here to discuss, is this:
Ought the law to be repealed? Ought
we to again throw open the minis of
the United States to the free coinage
of silver upon the old ratio of 16 to 1
when the actual ratio of value in the
markets of the world is fully 30 to 1?
If Mr.. Harvey-now listen-shall
succeed in proving that the people of
the United States in 1873 were mostly
set of corrupt scoundrels and that he is
really the only pure and upright man
left in the entire city of Chicago, it
won't avail him anything in this de-
bate. These questions are not peril
nent to the question in dispute. The
law of 1873 did pass; it is today the law
of the land. Several attempts have
been made to repeal it in congress and
| they have thus far failed. Mr.. Harvey
claims that the law should be repealed
at once and that this nation should in
stantly be placed upon a silver basis;
that is, that BIN grains of pure sill
value in the United States-now mark
and if the gold dollar shall prove to
be more valuable than such a silver
dollar, then the gold dollar should be
reduced in size until the gold contained
in it is worth no more than S71A
grains of pure silver. You claim that
in this book; that is, "Coin" does, and
1 suppose he won't deny that.
Mr.. Harvey-You state me wrongly.
Mr.. Horr-Here the issue between US
is clear-cut, and oppose such legisla-
ton with all my soul and with. all my
strength. That is really the only
question in dispute between us.
In order to decide intelligently, we
must inquire somewhat into the doc
trine of ratios. I now ask, is it possible
by legal enactment to fix a ratio of
value between two substances and then
maintain such ratio Tor any great
length of time, either in the markets
of the world or in the country where
such law is enacted?
Question of Ratios.
pass to the discussion of the ques-
ticn of ratio, as leading up to the cor
rect solution of the dispute between
us.
Mr.. Harvey-We were discussing the
question of whether the act of 1873 was
secretly and surreptitiously passed,
and 1 supposed that Mr.. Horn would
address himself to the fact that called
his attention to, that none of the peo-
pie in the United States, including the
newspaper reporters at Washington
knew that the bill had passed.
Senator Thurman on Feb. Is, 1873, in
debate, said: 81 cannot say what took
place in the house, but know when this
bill was pending in the senate we
thought it was simply a bill to reform
the mint, regulate coinage, and fix uI
one thing or another, and there was
not a single man in the senate, think
unless member of the committee from
which the bill came, who had the
slightest idea that it was even a squint
toward characterization COMPRESSION
al Record, Vol. Z, Part II, Forty fifth
Congress, second session, p. 1904.
Senator Allison, on Feb. Is, 1873
said: But when the secret history Of
this bill of 1873 comes to De told it will
disclose the fact that the house of rep
resentatives intended to coin both GOLD
and silver, and intended to place both
metals upon the French relation in
stead of on our own, which was the
true scientific position IN reference tt
/ this subject in 1873, but that bill after
ward was doctored." (Applause.)-
Congressional Record, Vol Z, Part II
second session, p, 1858.
I call Mr.. Horr's special attention tt
|
testimony of a man who was present
. and among the men who were deceived
Mr.. Allison, at present senator from
Iowa.
Passed, did you say in your opening
: without the least faint of suspicion O.
its integrity? Oong applause) AnC
t that the records would demonstrate
) that you were right?
Corruption Charge Denied.
Mr.. Horr-I desire to say to the gen
tleman that just what one congress
man or another may have said abou
: this bill I neither know nor carr
daughter and applause. 1 know this
that the men composing the congress!
of 1873, personally and individually
have every one of them denied thu
statement of corruption hat you
: charge in the passage of this bill.
| know that they have nothing but in
uendoes to base the charge upon.
: know that they cannot make a cas-,
l unless they first prove that no decenc,
was left in the American congress il
, 1873 Qaughter). Oh, l know what
/ am talking about. In order to max
9 out their case they must make out tina
D the best men of this nation were a Sc
9 of Williams, and have been for the las
= twenty-five years (cries of mo, morn
/ Harvey proposes to do that.