St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-05-18
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CHICAGO, May IA stirring po-
litical encounter took place tonight,
hardly paralleled in the west since
the famous struggle between Lincoln
and Douglas just on the eve OF the
civil war. Tonight's platform COM
batants were two giants OF the op-
posing sides in the raging financial
controvery-J. Lawrence Laughlin,
professor of political economy in the
University of Chicago, the favorite au-
thority of President Cleveland, and
William II. Harvey, author Of COINS
Financial Scool." Not half the peo-
pie clamoring to be present could have
have been accommodated had the
Auditorium itself been secured for
the meeting of the champions. The
spacious rooms of the Illinois club on
stately Ashland boulevard were crowd
ed to almost suffocation when the
president of the club, DR.. Homer M.
Thomas, announced all in readiness
for the dress suit gladiators. Were it
not for the fashionable surroundings,
the seriousness of the occasion and the
dignity of the audience, the majority
of whom were prominent business and
professional men, the eager interest
displayed would have been an instant
reminder of the moment when Cor
bett and Mitchell faced each other for
their celebrated bout at Jacksonville.
The proposition to be discussed was
read as follows:
Resolved, That the United States
should at once enter upon the free
coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1,
Independently of the action of any
other nation"
Mr.. Harvey, it was stated, would
speak for an hour in the affirmative,
and Prof. Laughlin an hour and thirty
minutes in the negative, Mr.. Harvey
then having 80 minutes for a rejoinder
Mr.. Harvey is rather tall, dark-com-
pleXioned, square man of engaging
presence, but nervous temperament
He was evidently full Of suppressed
excitement when he came forward
to begin his address, but he soon stead
led himself admirably Prof Laugh
Inns wiry frame and blonde but stern
appearance is suggestive of less
emotional makeup, and he had the ad-
vantage Of not being the first to speak.
Both men were literally applauded.
In opening for the affirmative,
MR.. HARVEY SAID:
The first reason why am in favor
of independent action by this country
is that we should not be subjected to
the influences of the governments of
Europe. When our forefathers de-
clared their political independence
from Europe, it was to free them
selves from the class legislation of
those governments justly termed
plubocracies. If people can be re-
duced to poverty and the prosperity
of the United States can be ruined by
hanging TO the financial policy of
! Europe, then we can be reduced to the
same condition by financial legisla-
tion as war of conquest would re-
duce us. If we are right and our
friends the monometallists mostly
say: "Wo admit bimetallism;" in other
words, they agree that there is some
thing radically wrong, but claim that
we are tied to the financial policy of
Europe 50 that if a war of con-
| quest in this country by the mon
archies of Europe, whose form of
| government is different from ours,
would reduce us to the condition that
| the people of those governments are
in, and they can accomplish the
same purpose by financial legisla-
ton, then there is a necessity for
necessity, there is a remedy. Sup
pose you were to say to man of
common sense, 1--WE are compelled to
adopt the financial policy of Europe, y
and he replied, 1.-THE country is going
] to waste and ruin, and desolation is
spreading from ocean to ocean," and
| demonstrates that the cause of it is
our adoption of the financial policy
of Europe, and we say back to him
ttIt makes no difference, we are com
PEELED to adopt the financial policy OF
| Europe" This answer would not be
acceptable to the hard-headed citi-
zen of this country. The governments
of Europe are plutocracies. They
squeeze the lemon for the people about
every SO often. The few control class
legislation and the masses are hewers
of wood and drawers of water for the
| titled few. Like the farmer who goes
out and robs the bees nests, they
ROB THE PEOPLE
and then give them time to fill the
nest again before going out to rob il