The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-02-06
n SENATOR Villas TALKS.
a Vigorous Speech Against the Hous
IN Bill-Opp0sed to silver.

N SENATOR Villas TALKS. /.
n. Vigorous Speech Against the House
Bill-Opp0sed TO silver.
g5 Washington, Feb. 1.--Senator Villas
(dem., Wis., paid his respects to the
silver bill in q vigorous speech in the
senate Friday He not only antagon-
lied the free coinage proposition, but
denounced the bond measure as it came
from the house as a fraudulent pre-
text" to meet the reasonable sugges-
lions 1.-the president, which it denied,
while avowing their wisdom" Among
other things the senator said: 4 w."
With the exception Of provision for enner-
Gency certificates-which ought to stand
III the permanent statutes-the house bill
contained nothing commendable: every
thing else was but mockery OF the legis-
2lction demanded by our fiscal conditions
Ard SO again. as q year ago, partisanship
or imbecility. or both. has stricken con-
gress with paralysis and the rescue OF bnsi-
ness prosperity from it's recurring peril
has been thrown upon the executive. 1t Ia
almost as fortuitous as fortunate that an
old statute has remained untouched dur
ing our financial madness which can again
servo the turn: and although in q clumsy
way, considered with reference to existing
conditions and suitable measures OF re-
lief, yet 1t shows Gods pity and mercy are,
not wholly withdrawn from us.
stIf any trusted agent in private affairs
. should so denNduty and abuse trust as CON-
Eress did q year ago, and now repeats, no
judgment in their condemnation would be
too severe. Over $1,000 goo in the public
debt were then thrown away In the reck-
less rage of craftsmanship. and the injury
that must now be sustained by the people
for the same reason is probably no less al
1 10 III
so clear.
+ Declaring that the bill as it came from
tho house was a mere sham and fraud,
Senator Villas proceeded to show that the
senate amendments made 1t worse than the
original measure, saying: 1T was q bad
stock; though 1t has been budded with a
warm scion. The best hope is that both
will shrivel AMI lie in the desert air Of the
senate"
s He then proceeded at considerable length
to discuss the free coinage provision of the
arerding bill, declaring that the financial
distress and public misery of the last three
years were the direct products of the Of
forts to force silver upon the country. and
adding: 'Our course to relief is q return
to sound principles" He believed especial
" that every stop Of the fatal progress in
error had been opposed to the cardinal
doctrines on which the democratic party
is based, and by which it must abide or
sink in recreancy while the spirit flies from
our institutions Of liberty.
He commended that the silver-mine own
ers were largely responsible for the agita-
ton for free coinage, and after asserting
that silver mining was confined to the
western states said the mines were owned
by comparatively few people and largely
corporations, who. by the employment of
labor, often make large profits on compar-
atively small outlay. The keenest and
est-trained intellects. he said, were en-
listed by this solid interest, which was
possessed Of great strength of numbers
and riches, powerful in intelligence. learn
ing and skill, keenly perceptive of its
special interest, hardy and resolute to
seek it." That interest was intent to win.
to secure the best price for silver.
He declared the people Of the Rocky
mountains to be subservient to the mine
holders, saying:
1.-THE veriest despot of story, the Grand
Khan Of Tartary, the great mogul, never
had more submissive subjects than the
silver king Of the Rockies; nor was ever
tyrant more pitilessly exacting. No inde-
pendence of thought or speech is tolerated
there. No party, no creed. no business can
thrive which dares to doubt In the realm
Of that monarch, the law Of finance. as 1t
is in silver. The business men find it pru-
tician who dares to nout his independence:
woe betide him! Where Is that sturdy SEN
ator, the brave, unbending Carey? Where
is Dolph, the strong, able and ,indefatiga-
tile? Look on the bloody Moloch OF silver
tc learn their fate" .''".>
He continued: '.Bimetallism is high
soundiug;A splendid word. II only bimet-
allism; but, alas, what is It and where is
it? Like dreamy that .wane before the
half shut eye or gay castles in the clouds
that pass forever fitting In the summer
sky, always dancing before the vision. al
ways something to be gained but never
realized, the giittcring bauble has filtered
on afar before the fatuOus pursuit on
which the public has 50 long been conduct
ed, yet always to disappear; save in the
plea sinE speech Of silver advocates, while
the realities Of gain could be matched by
the: other and mastering purpose" He de-
clared that from the beginning practical
bir1etallfam had never been proposed to
congress, r and that Senators Teller and
.Wolcott,s ~ champions of silver; had based
their contentious upon protective founda-
ton. SS.::
class, saying that at best they asked to
have something. taken, by law from one
free-coinage law would he especially hard
upon pensioners-an unspeakable and I'M
paralleled outrage. indeed, such piece
Of legislation would be. to sum up. genu-
inc shame. ..'>''';''' So '~'
After;reciting the glories Of the old party
of Jefferson and Jackson, the senator con-
tinued: ''This sparty5will continue on its
great career, yielding neither on one side
nor the other to the reactionary, forces OF
old absolutism or red fires OF anarchy"
IA " COL. COT ACQUITTED.
The Man Who. Ordered Soldiers to Fire
# on LyncheFs Set Free.
= Circlevilie, o., Feb. 3.-Col. a. B. Colt
was acquitted. Saturday night of the
charge Of manslaughter after three
'lavs' deIiberation bY the Jury.
tried was the killing of Samuel WEIGH and
others in riot attending an attempt to
lynch Jasper Dolby at Washington Court
house a year ago last October. He was
in charge of the state militia sent there by
Gov. Mckinley and was lodged In tho
courthouse, When the mob assaulted the