The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-05-18
HE Lecture on The Free G mage
of Silver.
THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY
Independent Action by the United States
win Liberate the World From
Colds Grasp.

this city tonight. An audience that
filed the spacious Broadway theater
greeted the silver champion, who was
introduced by Senator Teller, with long
continued applause, and gave the clos
est attention throughout his address,
the delivery of which occupied nearly
two hours. 1t was a notable fact that
fully half Of those in attendance were
women.
81 have chosen for my subject" said
Mr.. Bland, "the fight of 20 years in con-
gress for the free coinage of silver and
the fight is yet to come.
This is the first time 1 have ever
visited a silver mining state since this
years battle began. have no interest
whatever in the states producing the
precious metals and no sympathy for
them beyond the interest and sympathy
I have in our common cause. The losses
your silver producers have sustained
on account of the decentralization of sill
yer are not to be compared to the losses
of the farmers in Missouri in the fall
of prices of farms and the products of
the soil, consequent, as we believe, to
the demonetization of silver"
Bland prefaced his review Of 20 years
battle for silver with an account of the
manner in which it's demonetization was
accomplished and said established as
the unit of value by the act of 1873.
while it is evident" he said, from
lie manner in which this revolution in
our monetary system was accomplished
that it was done in an indirect and
stealthly manner, yet it was the most
important and far-reaching legislation
on money ever enacted by our govern
ment."
The lecturer then reviewed fully all
the attempts made in congress to re-
monetize silver, after the effects of the
act of 1873 became known. He said
the free coinage bill of 1877, which was
vetoed by President Hayes, was voted
for by Mr.. Carlisle of Kentucky; Mr.
Foster, who was secretary Of the treas
ury under Harrison's administration;
Mr.. Herbert, who is now secretary of
the navy; Mckinley, now governor of
Ohio; Mills of Texas and Morrison Of
Illinois, now interstate commerce COM
missioner"
1.-THE fact" added Mr.. Bland, that
most of these gentlemen, II not all of
them, have changed their views upon
this question, should be attributed to
the uncertainty of human opinion and
the action of public men, for surely the
necessity of silver restoration is as meri-
torious and urgent as it was then"
SHERMAN REPEAL LAW.
Regarding the repeal of the Sherman
silver purchase law, Mr.. Bland said:
Impartial history would show that this
result was secured by methods most
reprehensible and deplorable. The
money power of this country and Eu-
rope had sought to bring our people
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subsection.
1.-THE vast debts throughout the coun-
try were pressed for collection, and
when debtors went to the banks to Sc
cure terms to meet their obligations
they were coolly told that 1t was not
safe to lend money until the repeal OF
the purchase clause of the Sherman
act The friends of gold monometal-
lism insisted that the repeal of the pur-
chase clause of the Sherman act would
restore confidence throughout the coun
try, invite an inflow of gold to oui
shores and would bring universal pros
perity. Just the reverse has occurred
We have sold bonds to the amount o.
$112,000 900 since the repeal In order Il
check the flow Of gold from our shores
and to maintain the single gold stand
ard The gold monometallists have
given the people an object lesson indeed
one they will not forget. an object les
son that has been the best educator IL
favor Of bimetallism that could hav,
possibly taken place.
''In all the great battles in congress
on the silver question, the southern peo
ME. while enthusiastic for silver hav
had the sympathy and enthusiasm
clouded with the dread of force bill
or federal interference with their loca
self-government. Fortunately, however
in the great battle over the force bill
in the senate, the senators of the ives
and especially of the gold and silve
mining states in their opposition to thi
measure. which resulted in it's final over
throw and defeat, have given assuranc
IN the people of the south that their pc
litical reliance both for the safety O
their home government and their pros
neritv on economic questions, point t
the west.
BATTLE OF METALS.
"The day has now come when wa
issues can not longer domineer our po
itics. The battle of standards is tn
greatest battle to be fought in thi
country and the world over. This vas
country of ours, of A Independent state
and other vast territory, with over $50
400 OoO. 900 of wealth and a population {
20 600 900 people, increasing at the rat
Of n million annually, is strong enoug
To maintain its own monetary system
10 omen the minis to the free coinae
of gold and silver and thus again n
store not only to ourselves but to II
world the old order Of things, by whic
gold and silver will be circulated sic
by side, aiding and supporting eac
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