The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-01-20
A GREAT SPEECH
Congressman Terry, Of Arkansas, on the
Battle Of the Standards.
THE ISSUE BEFORE THE PEOPLE
Forty-Eight Unanswerable Arguments
in Favor of the Free Coinage of
Both Gold and Silver.

When the republican bond hill was be-
fore tho house. lion. William l.. Terry. of
Arkansas. made one Of the strongest
speeches delivered 10y the democrats i'm
opposi ion 20 II. The address is SO compre-
hcnsivo and clear that we present IL in
fun as taken from The Congressional Rec
ord.
The house having under consideration
the hill 81. Y =on 90 maintain and pro
tect the coin-r redemption fund. and 10 au-
thorize thc issue Of certifC1 tcs OF indebted
ness 10 meet temporary deficiencies OF rev
cuuc--
Mr.. Terry said:
Mr. Speaker. \ great izsuc is before the
American people. and every EFFORT is being
made 10 obscure and counteract it, Per-
sonal appeals and personal ambitions. in
dividual antagonisms ana local preiudiccs.
avaric.. greed. hig1tfy and prescription.
and every othcr sentiment rcpupnant to
tho spirit Of true democracy IS invoked 20
deadou real patriotism and 10 sacrifice
every man who iu the trying hour. has
dared 10 stand true 10 the rights OF the
American people.
An amazing spectacle is presented by
what IS being done in public affairs today.
= few days ago the president sent in to
congress message which rang like a
buEls cali. summouius tho representatives
Of The American people 10 resist the aggrrs-
sions 81 the British flax. and now we
have presented in this house "a bin for the
pcrue'u.tion Of British standard inat
has destroyed more values and brought
murs dcStitutiom ana misery than all the
rtvaEcs % war. And set We are asked 40
nght thc one ana to elo-ify the other. ard
o. surrender 90 national hanks one of the
highest functions % national government!
Ana tho gentleman from Tennessee Cir
Tattei som has invoked tho mighty spirit
Of Andrew Jackson TO causecrate "a sur
render Co British gold. Yesterday we pass
al bill 20 bring about high prices IN all
protected Industries. and today we are
asked To- PASS hill to pcrpc tuate low
prices in an industries NOT protected.
Mr. SpcaSer. the m.ric3n people are
watchin- the proceedings of this congress
They are tired Of being made the puppets
Of tie miserable policies that are being
pursued. ana the tiric is coming whom
they VIII say so in terms and tones that
cannot Ice mistaken. Politicians are invent
irr makeshiff@ hut tho people viii mar
shal their mighty columns upon the line
~ living issues. and the conflict that wil
o. fou-ht To "a finish IS the battle OF the
standards That iS the mighty question that
sooner or later win tower above an others
and z feel that . Owe to ruy country and
o. wy party 10 keep Dc before IN" people
That the great issue now before tho
American people g. the battle Of the stand
lat ion The question Is. shall We continue
under the single gold STANDARD. fraudulent
D. tolstcd upon us hy the sherman ACT Of
ls-a. or shah We return Co the timetable
Standard given Us by the fathers Of the
republic iu fta.H
8 That hirnctallism does not moan tho
cnrcUrrt M circulation OF fhe two metals
desieuatcd as the standard cf value hut
simply tGe free coinage of both ON tclal
terms, So that the debtor shall have the
right 60 paw his deb- with either
Do. NJ
81 tho debtor ~ NJ amy time tho law
DESIGNATED -mount n on" II These metals
should Poo worth slightly less than Tho
other. tire option ,Ns rcised by debtors 20
pay in tine less valuable would increase
the .'cm4Uc for thai IRE .ai ana decrease rn"
demand for the other and thereby con-
Of the Two unon parity at the ratio
t,Csi-uafcl ay law.
g. That the three important functions 90
money are FIRST. as a medium Of exchange,
second. as a measure az value. tfird, as
STANDARD or value or STANDARD OF deferred
payments. and that On tho present issue
IFS most important function ls that OF "a
standard 81 value.
3 That the standard ~ value is that
amount ~ precious metal. DESIGNATED hy
law. either gold or silver that tho holder
Of every dollar 81 representative money
i- ultimately entitled 20 receive. and with
which an deferred payments can De-, made
auG future ur time contracts he performed.
ana nave t1eir present y1Iue e-i ir'atci.
2 That silver WAS made Sd standard or
Nsl'a.1 Eh fH f-. itifHIs Ifftf ftifIH
lars u tho value ~ 3 Spanish IuHied Gol-
l-~ rautaiuin. "1lt. grtiue ~ pure silver
Should d. the unsf or value D. was tnrt
declaration 90 tta law. and not the mere
ra.ua--a or circulation of silver dollars
tha. made silver standard ~ valur.
That provision 80 tho art ~ f-a3 roma iuca
iu fni force until the sherman ace of 1S-3
made --n'F thf soil. STANDARD of value fy
g.trer-r.. thai tho COLD dollar "at tho efanf1-
All ,,-..ss.ht az q s Grains shall % Tie tluit
- yalrs
: THAT c7rserur-fTv- tho cold advocates
.--f, .r.-l-. amor, flr. ono harf that silver
VS. r.slfv asrlonrtlzed lone urior 90 1873
t....,-.s.. +ra fas-.,.s ANA artlsal circulation
81 -tlve- dollars had pract.caliy ccascd.
ar-f ~ tho ushrr hand. that silver has not
1,..u s7a--lor,..fierd at I'M because moro SD
vrr dollars have boon cofrcd since the ACT
aF rs-e tha- ever hfara .Ifha-. 40 not NM
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