The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-31
PERyERTING THE FACTS.
Turpie's Discreditable Performance
i'm Recent Speech.

Terre Haute Express.
The address delivered in the courthouse
Wednesday evening by the senior senator
Of the United States for Indiana was in
some respects unworthy of the man. and
certainly below the dignity of the high Of
fee which he holds. 1t is admitted that
the election is near and Senator Turpie is
a candidate for ie-election. His interest
in the result of the voting may naturally
be expected to interfere with that calm and
deliberate reasoning which should charac-
teriZe the argument of lawyer Of good rep
utation. And yet one naturally expects a
United States senator to be candid and
truthful in a statement of fact, even If in
argument he fails to make the worse appear
the better cause.
Mr. Turpie; by his manner and language:
proved that he is familiar with the arts of
the low demagogue and is not above en-
blowing them. 1t was expected that he
would make an argument In favor OF the
free and unlimited coinage of silver by the
United States alone; that he would even at
tempt to demonstrate his theory of coinage
that the standard silver dollar circulateS
at par because of its intrinsic value, the
ory by the way which is antagonized and
combated by Colonel Bryan and most OF the
advocates of free coinage. III was expected
he would make very plausible argument
in favor of free silver, because ne is Doth
fine scholar and good lawyer. IL was not
expected that in order to score a point III
the speech, or even to promote ms own re-
election, he would deliberately misrepresent
the position of his opponents ana misquoe9
the provisions of a monetary Dill iiitrou s.
in Congress last spring and still pending.
Mr.. Turpie said the currency Dill 10 wnlcLi
the Republicans were commltteG was uno
providing for the retirement ana canceid-
ton of the greenbackS or treasury notes py
an issue of interest bearing DonuS, winch
of course, would not circulate as currency
and would therefore, have the double Ell
feet of contracting the circulating mealunl
and imposing additional burden IN tne
form of interest He praised the green
backs as good money and asked why they
should be withdrawn from circulation. ex-
cept in the interest of the money lender:
Not only was his manner of discussing the
question Just such as a weak pettifogger
employs, but his statement OF the proposIl-
for an issue of bonds with which to redeem
the greenbacks. 1t does provide that when
the greenbacks or treasury notes are pre-
scented at the SubtreaSury they snail De re-
deemed in gold and not reissued, except IN
certain contingencies. They may De can
celed but no bonds are provided FOR re-
demption and Senator TurDie knows tnat
fact
II is desirable to withdraw the greenbacks
and cancel them because they are USED py
SPECTATORS for the purpose OF tying up goiu
in order to increase its export value. 1ney
ocratic administration. and 1T was Presloent
Cleveland who recommended ana even
urged the issue and sale OF government
bonds with which to redeem them Senator
IPurpie ignored this important fact. ana
therefore withheld the truth from his audi
ence. The Republican bill is very dl IIer
ent proposition. 1t provides FOR an elastlc
currency by authorizing the national banks
70 issue notes on valid commercial security.
These circulating notes issued by the Dahks
are taxed by the government, and the Sc
curity for them is ample 70 s .To'ec' inc
holders in case a bank should fali
Senator TurDie's speech on TINS surrey
was misleading and the CONVICTION tnaI II
was Durposely and Intentionally misleadlng
which he concealed, perverted and misrep-
resented.