The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1895-07-20
SENATOR GEORGES sPEgCH.
Commercial HersIa.l

uuuertake any comment upon Senator
georges speech at Winona, on Ssiur-
day, with Extreme reluctance. We
regard the silver schism in the Demo-
craticparty as something TO be dealt
with conservatively, and with the
utmost consideration for those who
hold opposing views The time Is so
recent when we all stood together, in
spred by common aims, defending
common rights, that we have never
been able to entertain actual hostility
toward those Democrats now separa-
ted upon single contention. And
we can but look beyond the present.
dissension aud strife within the party
TO the need OF future unity, ike that
which lately prevailed. Impressed by
such sentiments, we have striven to
overlook all cause of resentment, and
suppress every temptation to reiort or
recrimlnstiou which might tend to re-
tarsi the operations OF harmony and
restoration Of real party unity. We
have schooled ourselt 10 view the
question on which we are divided as
a dobatsble one--as one of honest and
Intelligent divergence Of opinion.
Our hesliancy IN commenting upon
Senator Georges speech, Is mainly be-
cause II is very difficult 10 apply the
spirit We have described to the harsh
Judgment OF motive which be has
passed or those who dn not see the
cause aud circumstance of The issue as
he does. Such course Of controversy
In lesser man might be easily and
properly left unnoticed. But he ln-
dulges in certain lmputations or
charges which call for condemnation
and denial.
Those who took up this long and
carefully prepared speech, anticipating
an argument for the free coinage OF
silver at the ratio Of l6 TO /, have
been disappointed. That question is
simply feature Of bis speech; but
one of many counts 10 the most ex-
ireme and hostile indictment and as
sault upon the "banks and their allies,
the creditor classes" that It has ever
been our fortune to read. lie treats
and styles these classes as "conspirs-
tors" warning always against the
people. The theory Of conspiracy 10
constructed out of the worlds fnan-
cial measures and policies OF the past
thirty or more years, and our national
financial and revenue laws of that pc
riod. The banking laws Of 1864, the
act of 1873, the subsequent attempts
to restore silver free coinage, the
Bland-AllisoD and the Sherman COM
promises, are used with great effect
and historic detail. Also the 1893
panic, which is asserted without doubt
or qualification, to have been brought
on desiguedly and artifcislly, by the
banks for the direct purpose Of conf
pelling the repeal Of the silver pur-
chase law. Under the Senator's view
aud mould, this chain o. events and
circumstances, becomes "proof of coll
spiracy, strong and conclusive On
one side he represents the "banks, the
bondholders and their allies"-on the
other the representatives Of the peo.
pie This is certainly very satisfac-
tory method of settling the merits
and the ethics of controversy. With
his summing up as applied to many
of the acts specified, no Democrat will
feel called upon to take issue. But
there is scani, If any, margin Of error
of honest, II mistaken motives, left
by Senator Georges sweeping and In
discriminate arraignment of all those
who differ With him.
II was for none of these thing'
above specified, however, that the
Commercial Herald has felt IN duty
called upon to enter protest agains
Senator Georges speech. Disagree
: ments upon the, questions aud theories
/ OF banks and silver, the currency lawI
, and measures OF tho past are no'
deemed of sufficient moment to be
made the subject of on editorial. Blu
in the course Of his proof of con
, spiracy Senator George uses the follow
, lug language, which is a stab at th'
!. vitals of the Democratic organization
"The conspirstors saw the danger
yet they were confident In their pow
Q er aud they waited patiently for th
Q opportunity to strike successful
4 blow.
They intend to make no mistake
:, to preparation. In 1892, the candi
u dates of the two great parties TO
President were upfriendly to actiol
by tho United States alone. The mana
% gers from Wall street succeeded i
II getting the National Convention O
ia each party to make platform on tn
silver question, which looked like
4. declaration for free coinage, and ye
OIL by artifice and trick, was capable 0
10 the construction that mternations
n. agreement was necessary for action,
a The assertion that Wall Street &c
y y the Natiousl Democratic Conventio
! = to make q platform on the silver Q
y ~ any other question, is reflection o
~ ~ the integrity and the intelligence, th
:" patrioiism and wortbiness, Of th
Democratic delegations, And OF this
party membership for which they O
sentially end In every true respe,
ID stood. The Mississippi delegation, an
o. the convention which commissions
It we're as much responsible for thl
~ silver resolutions as New York. II
as aSouth aud Vest had the numeric