Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-02-01
FONTS OF THE TWO LEADERS.
Extracts from VIA; Dinyicy aud Bailey
said About the RESOLUTION.

Dp-ley closed his speech against the
resolution in part as follows: This
brings me to- the consideration Of the
vital question as to whether the gov
eminent has the moral risht-in other
words. whether ii would be an act which
the moral sens. Of the world would re-
gard as in accordance with honor ami
good faith. for the United States t.
pay its outstanding Bonded indebted
ness In dollars of so materially less
value than the dollar which has been
the practical standard of value since
1884, barring the war reconstruction
period, ard which has been the legal
and practical standard of value since
1872. and the dollar in which our bond
I'd indebtedness mas been paid thus far
paid by every administration from
Lincoln to Mckinley, to wit: The dol
lar equal in value to 25.S grains of
standard gold. IApplause.l Bear in
mind that We are discussing this ques-
ton from the point of honor and good
faith. and not from the point of power
or technical legal rights: for / have
already SAID that the government can
do as it pleascs.
1T is because ! believe that il 1.-THE
pending resolu,ioIl would seriously in
jure our credit ard standing as n ma
iicn that l appeal to the gentlemen on
this side of the house 10 maintain the
pledge which the Republican party
made at st. Louis To- keep all our cur
rency. whether silver or paper. as good
az god. and preserve inyiolably the
fass ~ 10
tlamen on the other side of the house
"a maintain the standard ofvalue which
! Jackson's administration gave the
country sixty-four years ago. and the
honor and good faith OF the nation so
carefully preserved by the fathers of
| the Democratic party. and 10 take the
| opportunity offered by the resolution
| now before the house TO show the coun-
I try and the world that the good name
Of the nation is safe in our hands"
! Prolonged Republican apr,ausel
After the outburst of applause which
| greeted the close Of Dingley's speech
| had subsidized Bailey was recognized fol-
an hour. and he closed for the Demo.
| Gratis IN speech which stirred his fol.
lowers To- n high pitch of enthusiams
The resolution under consideration. he
said. contained two propositions. one
moral and the other legal. one assert:
| as a matter OF law that the bonds @,
the United States are redeemable at tn,
Rpiion Of the government in silver. and
| the other n n matter Of morals that n,
| restore 10 its coinage such silver coin.
a. a legal tender in payment of tn,
bonds. principal and interest. is not il
| visitation os the public faith nor In de-
rogation Of the rights of the public cred
iiors. he would not dwell. he said. ol
he legal aspect Of the question. Their,
was not a lawyer in the United State
nor in any other country who woul,
venture on his professional reputation,
to deny that tic bonds could be paid IL
silver.
Does enc OF you believe" said he. ad
dressing the Republicans. that IL tn
bondholder owed the government upde
a similar contract he would exercise hi
option. II I; is'right that he should ex
excise his option, as he would. We be
.ave the government has the same RICH
with their positions reversed. demo