The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-15
TEE pARrrEs on FINANCE.


indicate that vhils the Republican party
10 intensely In earnest for an hoaest cur
sency. the Democracy appears TO Be drtft-
ing towards the adoption Of free silver
platform 50 far ~ stable finances are
ccnesrned. Republicans and Democrats
now are and always have been about ~
far apart a. they ever we're On the ques-
sioa of a loose or strict construction OF the
Constitution
For the last thirty years anything that
has teen offered for maintaining the pub
lie credit or giving us good money has
been invariably opposed by tho Democracy
a. a party. OF course there have been men
who. through motives known only 10 them
selves. have thrown on political ooliga-
tons ana voted according to personal
vtews. but. Judging from party results. the
record of the Democracy upon the imam
ciai Issues Of the last quarter Of . century
has been thoroughly d.sreputabieL The sil-
yer question. which IN recent years has
led 10 many people astray. but which. for
fnna.eiy. seems destined to drop out OF
sight after the coming campaign. has per-
haps shown up tho two parties In as fair
Light as could be wished. Everybody
knows Of the attempt Of the Republican
party to resume specie payments and get
free from the deprecated currency
brought on BY the var. and everybody
ought to recoilect equally well how stub
bornly the Democrats fought the resumt-
ton measures. Many viii recall how the
imitation craze swept the country because
OF the cry that resumption would surely
contract the currency. Then IL was that
the Bland Allison silver bill vas passed
The senate. at the time this measure
came up In 1877. was composed OF thirty
eight Republicans. thirty-seven Democrats
and one independent. and the house vas
constituted Of 1876 Republicans and liz DEM
oerats. The Republicans had one-haif the
senate. and were In minority OF twenty
In the house. Under these conditions. On
November 5. 1877. the house voted on the
Bland bin for the free coinage Of silver.
The vote on this question stood LEA in favor
and "a against The Republicans stood
nearly three TO one against. and the Demo-
Gratis about ten to one In favor on free COIN
age. The bill then went to the senate. and.
when IT emerged from the committee IN
the shape Of the Bland Allison bin. 1t was
voted on. February 5. ISIS, azd was passed
by a Democratic majority OF seventeen.
President Hayes vetoed this measure. but
on February .. ISIS. the question came up
in the house. on the passage Of the bill over
the presidents veto. aud the bill was
passed. The Democrats voted in the pro-
portion of foar-fifths of their entire
strength In the house in favor OF the bill.
II succeeded in getting the necessary two
thirds vote in both houses. and thus be-
came a law.
The Law of 1878 was succeeded by the sli-
yer purchase act Of 1850. which was a COM
promise measure. The senate was then
composed OF nfty-one Republicans and
tsirty-seyen Democrats. and the house of
iG Republicans. is5 Democrats and one In
dependent II was a Republican congress
to be sure. bat there were in II renegade
members. who by Aiiying themselves with
the enenly, could work such mischief as
was wrought In the present congress when
the Dsngiey bin came up for consideration.
/ on June S. $50. Mr. Blsua moved a resoiu-
ton directing the committee or coinage to
report free coinage h.n. The Republicans
( save majority OF nine 10 enc against the
resolution. while the Democrats voted
eight 10 one in favor OF II. Later In the
session the house passed what Is known
as the Cenger bill. authorizing the month
| ~ purchase OF $3.50 90 worth CT silver bull
/ lion. but stopping the coinage OF silver
dollars. This eill contained a provision for
| free coinage az any time when the market
value Of silver made the silver dollar worth
| lntrlnsscally 100 cents. The Republicans
/ voted for tAis bill in Ire house while the
| Democrats voted unanimously against t.
4 In the senate free coinage measure was
/ substituted. and The Republicans gave a
majority against the substitute. while the
! Democrats gave their entire party vote FOR
X. with the exception Of three senator's
/ The senate free coinage bin then went to
! the house. where II reached a vote on June
- resulting IN a Republican majority
/ against the Sgil OF los and Democratic
/ majority ef ninety IN favor % H. The two
.hoSses thus failed to agree. and a commit
! tee OF conference was ordered. which sub
sequently reported the so-osiled sherman
I compromise law. which was a mobilization
/ 81 TIRE coaEer bin passed ~ the house.
[ This report was eonesrrs3 IN By both
I houses. every Republicans voting for II. sna
/ every pcsnoerat against H.
Tn@ Sill wss no; what the party nigh.
/ have wished II vas a compromise. Jus.
| as ,se slnna-Alnsca bin had seen~aa
/ EFFORT 10 prcven, disastrous legsslatisn By
q strategic measure Shfsh seuld appeASe
l the wselly unreasonable ara UneoutroilS-
BE free ooiaass slrnen, n both houses.
/ Al .sas time the prise q standard silver
vs.. LITTLE shor, q s. res ounce. On jana
arv IA 1871. ne senate voted again en- TIE
/ oaesssc= @, eree coinage. sHt eight -nsntas
! o. the DezaocF4fs voted IN favor. and
/ mere than fwo-tA'r5s % re Republicans
I voseS sgssnst On Narca - iSsz. there was
( vote ea th~ sane slless.ea IA tho house
I which showed DeazocrAt.e majority %
| serty-uias q savsr. ard = ReYuhiicsn ma
/ ss-fty 81 nsty-ssx against o. Js.y !. Us.
| Stewart free coinage tsil ~sscA r~szsites
/ n Des,cc-ssie majority o. ,wsaty-ons
IN savsr, sst q Republicans ueasorsry 81
seventeen against o. Jusy = sSs. tss
hcass voted ;. TIE Stewart btu shows-<
Derscrrstse majority - ;~enty-sine a
:xsor. asss a Republican majority q nssy-
six against.