Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-02-13
THE MISSOURI CONGRESSMAN
COMES TO THE FRONT WITH
THE COURAGE OF HIS
CONVICTIONS.
He Declares Political Cowardice the
Greatest Sin of the Age and As
serts That Eight Voted For
Free Coinage Against
Their Will"

for the House bond bill was very
spirited to-day. There we're several
speeches, and one, at least, of
a somewhat sensational character. Mr.
Towne of Minnesota, a Republican,
claimed the attention of the House
and galleries for over an hour with an
eloquent effort on behalf of free coin
age, which won for him a personal
ovation such as has not been accorded
any member since the session began.
His speech was illustrated with charts
and aroused unbounded enthusiasm
among the silver forces.
Mr.. Hall, a Democrat from Missouri,
the other hand, announced his con-
sensational speech, in which he
charged that eight senator's who vot-
ed for Tree coinage, according to
"credited information" had privately
said that they believed free coinage
would bring upon this country nation
a land individual bankruptcy and ruin.
He charged them with trying to
Feather their nests at home," and
declared that the greatest sin of the
present age was the cowardice of
statesmen. He also declared that a
high officer of the administration had
said the silver agitation had already
cost the government S262, 900 900 in
bond issues, and in the course of the
next twelve months the bond issue
would increase 81 ,OOO, OOO, 900.
The other speakers to-day were
Corliss Republican, of Michigan,
Boatner (Democrat) of Louisiana,
Grosvenor(R Republican of Ohio, Evans
Republican of Kentucky, and Nc
Creary Democrat of Kentucky,
against concurrence in the free coin
age substitute, and Mr.. Bartlett(De
ocrat) of Georgia / n favor of concur-
renee. The general debate will close
Monday and the vote will be taken on
Tuesday.
SION.
Representative Hall of Missouri, the
author of the income tax bill in the
last Congress, was followed with close
attention in q speech in which he an
nounced his conviction to 'sound
money!" He said: 'If l were called
on to-day to define what l regard as
the greatest crime and curse threaten
ing to sink American institutions, l
should reply in one sentence, the
cowardice of our politicians, of the
men who have not the courage, the
manhood, the grit to go before the
people and tell them when they are
wrong upon these great economic
questions
81 am credibly informed that there
are eight Senators at the other end of
this Capitol who voted for this bill yet
who say they believe the FREQ and UNI
limited coinage of silver at 16 to l,
would mean national bankruptcy and
ruin. What doesit mean? 1t means
that our politicians have come to a
pretty pass when, in order to feather
their own nests, in order to hold them
selves in office, national, State or
county, they are willing to see agreat
number of men who have not the time
to delve into these questions turn their
backs upon their own welfare-when
they are willing to close their hearts
to all gratitude for past favors and tell
these men that what leads to their de-
struction leads but to prosperity and
happiness. | am convinced that the
greatest curse that besets u country
is the co%wardice of our politicians who
have not the courage to tell the people
when they get wrong,on these econom-
ic questions. know it is regarded
as political death for a ma in a rural
district not to throw up his hat and ap-
plaud these decisions, but if my peo-
pie want a man of that kind to repre-
sent them they can get rid of me and
will willingly and gladly retire from
political life.
SILvERITES oPEN FIRE ON HIM.
MI. Taibert: "Did not the gentle.
man vote for the free coinage bill in
1898? l ask the question for lnforma-
tion."
MI. Hall: "The gentleman asks if ]
did not vote for the free coinage bill
in the extra session in 1898. answer
yes. But l will tell the gentleman
that 1 have progressed since that time
while he is standing where l was three
years ago." (Laughter.)
Mr.. Layton: 81 wish to ask the
gentleman a question. 1 understood
him to make the extraordinary state
ment that eight Senators who
had voted for this bill had said they
actually believed that the free coinage
] of silver would lead to the bankruptcy
and destruction of this country. !
ask the gentleman, do you believe
that any Senator aver said that?'"
Mr.. Hall: 81 told you that l was
credibly informed that they had said
it, and / believe 1t, or / would not
have stated it here. But / want to say
a few words now on this question OF
consistency. I find upon investiga-
ton in the bureau of education that
the Chinese, the inhabitants of the
Indies and the tribes of Africa are-the
only human beings that are contin-
ually consistent. (Laughter.) The
lower grades of animals also are al
ways consistent. (Laughter.) main
tain that reasoning, thoughtful, clear,
headed men who pass through the
world with their minds open to the
Investigations of truth are ever liable
to change. Where is the intelligent
man in the United States who has moi
a high regard for the fame of William
E. Gladstone the great English states
man. Listen to that grand man ex'
press his regret that he should have
made the biunder that he did in 1852
Observe the course of Bismarck, the
greatest German statesman, when HI
was advocating the sale of the silvei
of Germany for whatever price couls
be obtained for it, and was approach
ed by one of his friends who said: 9
am just where you were ten year
ago. the reply vas That was tn,
noiiticai blunder of my life. and I ha,