Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-05-21

eAS\yANtO
Senator Vest.
heat, told Palmer that he could speak
for Illinois if he wished, but he (Vest)
would not permit him to speak for Mis-
souri,. Mr.. Vest defended the Pertle
Springs convention as being in every
way regular and representative. Sena-
tor Palmer insisted that the Illinois
democrats did not favor free coinage.
When Palmer concluded Senator Vest
got the floor and said:
II have-and it is all I shall say connec-
'tion with my personal hlstory-struggIed to
the full extent of my limited ability to prevent
the unfortunate condition Of affairs in the DEM
sOcratic party to-day upon this currency Ques-
tiou- stood here at the risk of severe criti-
ciSm from men who agree with me in regard to
the free and unlimited coinage of silver and
begged the democrats in this senate and in the
house of representatives not to thrust this
issue upon il possible, but to attempt to
hold the party together upon some conserva-
tive basis
+'I went to the president of the United States
in person and to the secretary of the treasury
and undertook to show them what would re-
suit If 1t was attempted to force the democratic
party to the single gold standard. 1 told them
that 1t was impossible to hold us together
whatever might happen to the great republican
party, in which equal discussions existed, but
which had the cohesive power of being then a
minority party and which might survive this
struggle for a short time at least, in view of the
great issue Of protection to which that party
was pledged.
81 stood here. as have said, upon this floor
aud was upbraided by personal and political
friends upon this side of the chamber because
begged my party and my party associates il
possible to postpone, at least this question in
regard to the free coinage of silver until we
could adjust other matters and crystalline the
power of the party upon what conceived to
nlnvv, oil fv,f. h,,%T a
and say now that if forced to the issue would
never consent to monometallism. either OF
gold or silver. That opinion is based upon
my absolute conviction that there is not
enough OF either metal in the world to transact
the business of mankind without oppression to
n large majority. Ibelieve that monome tallism,
either OF gold or silver, is bastard monopoly,
which gives into the hands of the few the
power to control the interests OF the many but
we have come now to that question, when,
against the protest of the majority of demo-
Gratis the administration forced this issue up
ON US We attempted here. when the repeal OF
the purchasing clause of the Sherman act was
before the senate, to effect compromise with
the administration upon this subject, and
offered to support that repeal against our con-
GictionS, provided they would make some con-
cessions TO silver.
That compromise was rejected, and we were
then onpeiIed either to follow the money idea
OF MI CAeTeiand, the president Of the United
States. and his secretary of the treasury, who
gave adhesion to him, either to follow their
Head in regard to this matter and separate our
selves absolutely from our own convictions
and those of our people or to follow the manly
and honest dictates OF our own judgment. in
such contingency. No self-reSpectng public
man could hesitate for an instant. am there
Tore not responsible for this discussion or for
similar discussions before the people OF the
United States
Mr. President this thing has come to that
pass when manhood and decency will not per-
init US to stand here and be told that We are in
favor OF unsound money, that we are advo-
eating snap conventions and that we are at
tempting to lead the people of the United
States in the direction of great disaster.
..Mr President, this morning I saw in the
papers that our president had extended the
civil service to something like 0.0OO more en-
ployes Of this government, leaving. I believe.
as the statement said. but 775 who are now out
side of the classified civil service. This adj
mtnistration. therefore, has pledged the peo-
pie of the United states, so far as i. was posi-
f5le, tothe OWL service reform OF which We have
sheard much. One Of the first elements of
thai reform is a divorce between the patronage
tot the government and its political action
One of the burning tenets OF this school is that
the patronage OF the government should not
be indirectly used for the purpose of infu-
encng the political convictions or declarations
nj the people
STORY OF MAEoENAs BENTON.
s.Some years ago very dear friend of mine,
at my instance, was made United States dis
trict-attorney for the western district of Mis-
souri-a man of eminent ability, OF spotless
character, vino stands as high in the estima-
stion of the people OF Missouri as any man with
In its broad domain. When Mr.. Cleveland was
n candidate the second time for the presidency
of the United States, this gentleman. demo-
crat belonging to the same school with myself,
during the session of the United States court
at Kaasa City, went at night to the adjacent
villages within easy access of the place where
the court was held and pleaded with the peo-
: pie to vote the democratic ticket, which he be-
.neved represented the welfare of the country.
Il was astccnded in picking up st. Louis
paper upon q certain fatal morning to find that
my friend had been removed from office with
out a hearing simply because while United
States attorney he had gone out and spoken to
the party to which he and the president and
myself belonged. took the train within ten
minutes for Washington; arrived here went to
his excellency and asked him respectfully
upon what ground he had perpetrated what
considered an outrage upon my friend, an
eminent democrat. He brought on: para
graph from paper whlchhad bolted the demo-
cratic ticket the preceding summer and also
oolsed the democratic nominee for congress.
The editor of this paper had charged that Col.
Benton my friend. While holding the office Of
United States attorney, had been guilty OF
pernicious partisanship By advocating the
cause OF his party.
sI brought with me a telegram which had
received from the Judge of the eourt-fors
anew he facts and had Photographed for a
.rstcterycnt in regard to the way IN which Col
BENTON had discharged the duties of his office.
and whether he had negected them in order to
zuiye his attention to politics. carried 1t to
the president and said to him that personally
Knew the incumbent had not been guilty OF
INV dereliction or neglect OF his duty in or
der to make . speech for the party to which
ne ana belonged. When the president
~ scouered that there was no basis
ssor his notion, that this newspaper
nsrarraph was simply groundless and dictated
ny oersonal or political malice. viii do him
-, inssioe to say he Immediately revoked the
~-Sss,. hs,t mot satisfied with, reyoking it., he
-sddressed ietter-pubiished first in the press
- e sountry-to Col. Benton, in which he