The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-01-16
Roasting the President.

A Clown in the House Makes
Fua for His Fellows.
WASHINGTON, IAN S.-The House
then went into committee Of th"
whole no the currency bill! aud Nj.
Sibley, Democrat, Of Pennsylvania,
opened the debate with Il sensational
speech in opposition to the bill
lie spoke of the passage OF the
Dill to repeal the purchasing clause
of the Sherman law and its failure to
improve the fnancial and commercial
conditions, despite the assurances to
the contrary of its advocates, and
expressed his belief that the pending
bill would likewise prove failure.
Referring to the published reports
that the executive department OF the
Government, in the person of the
Secretary of the Treasury, was using
it's power to influence votes in favor
of the bill, Mr.. Sibley said : s"Mr.
Chairman if | have read the Consti-
tuition of the United States correctly
it defines the powers and duties of
the Chief Executive and the powers
and duties Of the membership Of the
House, aud | tell you that if ever a
rcbuke was needed to one who has
trampled down the prerogatives Of
the people it is to that man who has
used bis influence, or attempted to
use it, to create in himself the sole:
governing power of this uation 1t
has come to time when to be the
Government OF this people requires
something more than combination
of brains. belly and brass y Sen
satiou and applase
Mr.. oibley continued, at some
length, to assai the Administration
for its attitude toward and action
upon financial measures The repeal
Of the purchasing clause Of the
Sherman law, he asserted, had been
secured by the use of improper in
Auences by the administration, and
that if the padlocks were taken off
the mouths Of the Representatives
four out of five would confirm his
statements The question of the
length of time he was to speak lav
ing been reached, Mr. Sibley said
that every agent of the big Gold
Trust had spoken all he had to say
When pressed by Mr. Cultivate
to tell who put a paddock or Iis
(Sibley's) lips he said LET me tell
tue gentleman that am not talking
to-day to men who believe in going to
hell in handcart instead of to
heaven supported by truth. Let me
tell him also that am not addressing
men who believe more in bobtall
flush than contrite heart. -
Recurring to the action of the Ad,
ministration, Mr. Sib'ey said that
paraphlasiug Junius, it could be said
that the merits of an Administration
might be Judged by ,h'. condition Of
the people. "Look ton the con-
dition of the people Of his country,
he said. "and you can ell the merits
of your administration Mr.. Sibley
declared that by the standards of the
fathers he believed he was Demo
crat; he revered Jefferson and Jack
son and worshipped at their shrine.
But if he was to be carried in con-
veyance labelled, democracy"
guided by an obstinate driver over
an unknown road, with precipices
and chasms yawnipg on all sides, he
was going to jump out; and he was
not particular about where he lit.
Laughter.
Mr.. Pence, Populist. Of Colorado,
asked unanimous consent that Mr.
Sibly be permitted to conclude his
remarks but Mr.. Cultivate ob-
jected.
Mr. Sibley's thrust at the Presi.
dent seemed to be enjoyed by quite
a number of Representatives, and
when he concluded there was a
round of applause While he was
speaking Senators Cameron, Republi
can, Of Philadelphia, and Stewart,
Populist, of Nevada, came into the
House and remained to hear him
Mr. Bland, Democrat, of Missouri,
and Mr.. johnson, Democrat, of Ohio,
also spoke in opposition to the bill.
aided by Messrs. Coffen, Democrat,
Of Wyoming, and Stone, Republican,
Of Pennsylvania. The only speech
in it's favor was made by Mr.. G. NJ
Cox, Democrat, of Tennessee, a
mer her of the committee on banking
ar .urrency. He said that if air,
Sibvy knew of any member who had
| H. f0r oofrononn Or oru