Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-03-05
MeKlnlay ON rraa SILVER oolnaga.

author Of the famous tariff enactment
that bore his name, and which was
Justly characterized as "the cuImi
mating atrocity OF class legislation, is
a leading aspirant for the Republican
nomination for President. In fact, he
is far ahead of all other aspirants ut
present, and were the convention to he
held next week would undoubtedly be
nominated.
1t is interesting, therefore, to note
the attitude Of Mr.. Mckinley on
tho financial question. For national
finances are to play an important part
in the coming political campaign, and
the people will not be likely to elect to
the Presidency any man, Republi-
can or Democrat, who is an advocate
of the free coinage Of silver, either
openly or in disguise.
In 1890, Mr.. Mckinley was mem
Der of the House Of Representatives,
and during that year the famous
measure of Senator Sherman, to con-
ciiate the silver interests by providing
that the government should purchase
o., 800, 900 per month of their silver
product, was before Congress. Mr..
Mckinley made speech upon that
proposition, which is thus reported by
the Congressional Record of June 7th,
1890:
Mr. Speaker, l shall support this
measure, although it does not in all of
its provisions meet my entire approval.
| would have this bill different il |
could, but it represents the purpose and
the idea, not fully, it is true, which
have touching the silver legislation
which is required and | shall vote for
il because it is in the right direction
and embodies much which is good and
all in the interest of the people. What
does ii do? First, it utilities every
dollar OF the silver product of the
United States, and TO that extent it is
Just to the silver producers of this
country. Second, it makes demand
for that silver product, and, if the
friends of silver are right, it will SO
increase the value of that product as to
bring silver iii parity with gold. II
provides further that the very instant
bllNbr anu BOll COllb iOBtlubT UT Iub
very instant that the bullion value of
silver shall be equivalent to the coin
value Of silver, that very instant you
have free and unlimited coinage Of
silver in the United States.
4 4 *
So l say, Mr.. Speaker, that whatever
may be our views about this point or
about that point touching this whole
subject of silver, we get by this bill
the use of our entire silver product,
and we make that product into money
that is safe in the hands Of the people
and will be good for all time, wherever
and by whomsoever held. Mr. Speaker,
no man should hesitate between tho
two millions month that we have
now and the four and half millions
month that we shall have under the
proposed law. We get an Increased
volume of money, with safety to the
government and the citizen Pass this
bill and what do We have? An increase
OF $50, 900, 600 annually of circulation
to be put out among the people and
into the avenues of business. Vote
against this bill, and in my iudg-
ment, you vote that there shall he no
legislation upon the silver question at
lHlS HtHslbll VI SDuSItSs. L udl Is WHAT
fear it means. We know we cannot
have FREQ coinage now, except in the
manner as provided in the bill. You
know you could not have it when YOU
were in the majority in this house.
You know you cannot get it now.
You do not mean to get it. Therefore,
] say that to defeat this bill means ia
defeat all silver legislation and to leave
us with two millions month only,
when by passing this bill we would
have four and half millions month
Of Treasury notes as good as gold.
For one, Mr.. Speaker, | will not vote
against this bill and thus deprive my
people, and my country, and thu
laborers, and the producers, aud thu
industries OF my country of thirty mil
lions annually of additional circulating
medium. Great applause on the Re
publican side.
Such was Mr.. McKinley's attitude
towards this imitation bill-thil
measure the sevil elects of which
according to the Philadelphia Ledger
'were largely responsible for tho grea
panic OF 1885,
Will the sound money interests o
the country in the light of this record
vote for Mr.. Mckinley should he b,
nominated for President by the Ropub
licans at the St Louis convention?