The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-03
TEE GEORGIA SILVER DEBATE.
Aokc Smith and cx->peaker Crlep Ad.
dre.s 6. 900 People nc Atlanta.

Atlanta, April Ask thousand people
gathered tonight in the big tabernacle 70
hear the second OF the series OF joint de-
bates On the currency between Secretary
OF the Interior Hoke Smith and ex-Speaker
Charles F. Crisp. Secretary Smith having
tie opening and speaking for an hour and
ten minutes.
Secretary Smith began by saying that he
opposed the free and unlimited coinage Of
silver at Is to for the reason that Ben
jaulin III. Hin had opposed IT. He declared
that he also opposed free coinage because
he wanted to see genuine bi-metaIlism OBJ
tain in this country. The advocates of free
coinage, when they called themselves bi-
metailists. masQueradsd under a title they
did not deserve. He rapidly outlined the
history OF coinage to show that the COM
merctsl value Of gold and silver had regc-
iated the establishment OF the local ratio
between the metals. The secretary de-
MED that the act OF 1878 had caused the
ran In the price OF silver. The law of sup
ply and demand and the cheapening OF the
cost OF mining had been potent factors
IN that depreciation. IL the free coinage
o, silver would cause the az grains OF
SILVER In silver dollar TO be worth as
much as the 3 2 grains OF gold in geld
collar, IL X would give real bi-rnetailis-1
he would be In favor of it But he felt
ashamed OF himself for presenting such
case even alphabetically History and
common sense showed that It was impos-
sieie. He cited Gen. Walker. Prof. An
drews, A. j. Balfour and other leading
pi-hetaihsts, as declaring that the ex-
pertinent of fires coinage without an In,
ternational agreement would be disas-
trous.
instead OF our currency being contract
ed since 1873. Secretary Smith declared. II
had been enormously increased. We have
greater per capita Of gold and silver in
circulation now than ever before. Before
1878 only s.03i. 900 silver dollars had been
coined. exclusive of subsidiary coin.
Since March. 1898. during this adratnistra-
tioh. which had been declared so hostile
10 silver, more than 1900 900 silver dollars
had been coined. The hard times had be-
gun with the Sherman act The fear OF
Tree silver coinage had shaken public con-
naenee and caused contraction of the
credit currency which carried s7i. per
cent. of the business of the country In
renodeling our currency system we
shouid nrst TX stable standard. then re-
tire the greenbacks. as recommended by
Carlisle, give silver the right-of-way be-
low $40. and allow state banks the right
to issue notes. He would not undertake
to present complete plan. but the CEN
trail idea must be to have every dollar of
equal value.
The bond issue was necessary to pay de-
mand notes OF the government. When II
was remembered that congress every wear
Appropriated over 500 900. 900. a bonded
debt of a little over sooo, 900. 900 was not SO
formidable. Secretary Smith concluded
BY painting the disaster that would result
nom the election OF q congress and a
president favorable TO free silver coinage.
Mr. Crisp was given a rousing reception
when he arose In beginning he sad he
wanted to say that his Brother Smith"
as he referred to the secretary. made as
good an argument as he had ever heard in
behalf OF cause SO intrinslcally weak
This joint debate business may be fun
to my friend Smith, he said ''bu. X IS
not fun for me. I'm candidate for the
senate. and I'm anxious to get through
with these joint debates and get down to
the business OF a candidate. Ny friend
Smith, however. Is not a candidate for the
senate. He says he has no desire to. and
I have no idea that the people Of Georgia
Will force him to run
Here Mr.. Crisp read letter written by
Secretary Smith In 1890. favoring the free
coinage OF silver enunciating its declara-
tons with careful emphasis. He also read
what purported to be extracts from two
speeches delivered by Secretary Smith.
one in 1894. in which he opposed the single
gold standard. and the other In Augusta
two nights ago. in which he advocated the
single standard
The demonetization OF silver caused the
fall in prices. Mr.. Crisp contended. and he
recited the reasons therefor. First. IT re-
duoed the money supply Of the world.
There had been hard times in this county
There had beon hard times in this countrv
that silver had been demonerzed they be-
gan 10 agiiate for Its restoration This
agitation had become crime In the eyes
OF the men who had a fixed income which
was increasing every day. He ridlc,iles
the claim that the single gold standard
~ ~ EaNr .F ~
advocates OF free coinage. he urged cd
not want dishonest dollar They did not
want one dollar 10 have more value than
another, The first administration of Mr..
Cleveland did pay Of a large amount OF
bonds, but that Gii not alter the fact that
his present administration. and he said il
with shame. had imposed on the people
a debt that would amount to SOC 90 go be-
fore Il was paid.
Generous applause accompanied Mr.
tTisp's close. which grew into roar as
Secretary Smith rose for his twenty min
utss p ieinaer. lie declared that Nj
tt'sn had doiEel the proposition tina, YOU
con'd Hoi have h'--nataGic currency with
ont having TIE legal ratio the same rs he
commercial -slio. lie was willing 20 rest
IN" whele ease on that proposition Instead
OF arguing the point Mr.. Crisp hal Ir.f,iig-
81 10 small faik ana dernarogt-al snDsa5s
to prejudice ar5i.st rhe Eelhschffs and
Wall street BE rss sorry ths gentleman
had cast his canilfacT Tor :ha senate cr g.,
low A plane. TIRE secretary esa{rtler vas
interrupted hy fTeGHa1f cutourats Of an
plagse. which IN each 1asc grouse! ouroa-
inE cheers for Crisp. iutarrnerzea With
hlsses ard cAtcsiis The serreta~v ~a,5A3
attention 20 the fact that M C-tsn hag
rot answers the historical authorities on
bl-ineiaiiisn a. France which he hsa rras
in Augusta. ar1 closed with defense q
q flvsd t<%7ias ny tAa flras4es a frs,f~,ses~,