St. Paul daily globe., 1896-02-09

before the people and tell them when
they are wrong upon these great eco
nCmic questions.
Il am cred1bly informed that there
are eight senators at the other end #
this capitol who voted for this pill
yet who say that they believe the free
and unlimited coinage of silver at Is to
would mean national bankruptcy and
ruin. What does it mean? It means
hat our politicians have come to a.
3retty pass when, in order to feather
their own nests in order to hold them
selves in office, national, state or coun-
~, they are willing to see a great num-
Der of men who have not the time TO
delve into these questions turn their
backs upon their own welfare-When
they are willing to close their hearts
to all gratitude for past favors and
tell those men that what really leads
to their destruction leads but to pros
perity and happiness. l am convinced
that the greatest curse that besets our
country is the coWardice Of our poll
ticians who have not the courage to
tell the people when they get wrong
on these economic questions. I know
it is regarded as political death for a
man in a rural district not to throw
up his hat and
but if my people want a man Of that
kind to represent them they can get
rid of me, and I will willingly and
gladly retire from political life
Mr.. Talbot-Did not the gentleman
vote for the free coinage bill in 1893? 1
ask the question for information.
Mr.. Hall-The gentleman asks if I
did not vote for the free coinage bill
IN the extra session in 1893. answer
yes. But I will tell the gentleman that
l have progressed since that time while
he is standing where 1 was three years
ago. daughter)
Mr.. Layton-I wish to ask the gen.
tleman a question. I understood him
to make the extraordinary statement
that he had been Informed that eight
senator's who had voted for this bill
had said they actually believed that
the free coinage of silver would lead
to the bankruptcy and destruction of
this country. ask the gentleman
do you believe that any senator ever
said that?
Mr.. Hall told you that I was
credibly informed that they had said
it and I believed it or I would not
have stated 1T here. But I want to say
few words now on this question Of
consistency I find upon investigation
in the bureau of education that the
SiiiACSC, tuS Ol the lnQleS
and the tribes of Africa are the only
human beings that are continually con-
sistent. Gaughter)
The lower grades of animals also are
| always consistent. (Laughter.) I main
tain that reasoning, thoughtful, clear
headed men who. pass through the world
with their minds open to the investiga-
tions of truth are ever liable to change.
Observe the course of Bismarck,
the GREATEST Cto
When he was advocating the
! sale Of the - silver of Germany
for whatever price could be obtained
for it and was approached by one of
his friends, who said: 'I am just where
you were ten years ago. the reply was,
That was the political blunder of my
life and have had intelligence enough
to profit by 1t and move forward.
/ did not intend to make an ad-
dress farther than TO put myself on
record as the one Democrat from a
rural district west of the Mississippi
in purely agricultural region, that
dares stand UP and say that sound
! money is the salvation of the agricul-
! tural and laboring classes of this gov
ernment I understand full well that
the action of the National BimetaIlic
| league has pltsn7y district on the black
list. I understsnd. Mr.. Chairman, sit
uated as I am both of my senators are
on the opposite eide Of the question. nv
entire state and 4alI nv speaking col
leagues on the democratic side on the