The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-01


To this suggestion, Speaker Reed re-
torted that it would not bo in order, and
when Mr.. De Armond appealed to him
not to decide the question hastily ex
claimed:
"That it is not in order is too plain for
argument
During this colloquy there were evil
dences of disturbance and excitement OF
which Mr.. johnson was the centre.
At last Mr.. Johnson insisted on asking
question of Mr.. Henderson.
He wanted to know with much empha-
sis whether it was true that all the time
was to be consumed by the members of
the ways and means committee
HThere is no such proposition" called
out Mr.. Dalzell. but Mr.. johnson did
not subside and continued to protest, de-
claring loudly that he antagonized this
rule if such was the intention.
He had wordv war with Mr.. Dingley,
but in a tone so low that 1t could not be
heard in the confusion.
The Speaker cut off further incident by
putting the question, and the rules was
adopted--143 to 1l5 the Democrats refrain
ing from demanding a roll chll.
There followed a controversy over the
division of time. Mr.. Bailey suggested
that two hours be given each to the Re
publicans and Democrats and forty
minutes to the Populists and Silver Re-
publicans.
Mr.. Dingley replied that the time
should be divided equally for and against
the resolution.
Mr. Simpson, .Populist of Kansas,
thought the present divisions of the
minority should be officially recognized. &
IT was not aware that there was any
distinction between the Populists and
Democrats as at present constituted, re-
torted Mr.. Dingley dryly.
Without anything moro to the division
of time. the Speaker recognized Mr..
Dingley, who opened the debate in oppo-
sition to the resolution. Contrary to his
usual custom, Mr.. Dingley read his care
fully prepared argument from manu-
script. The intense interest in his utter
ances caused the Democratic side of the
chamber to be deserted by the members
who crowded to the aisles around the
speaker in their effort TO catch every word
that fell from his lips. His party associ-
ates applauded him frequently. The pend
ing resolution, Mr.. Dingley said in open
ing, was not one which if passed by both
houses will have force. 1t was simply q
concurrent resolution which did not re-
quire the approval of the executive and
which if adopted would be only an ex-
preston of the opinion of the two houses.
'sIts importance, therefore, continued
Mr.. Dingley, ''lies in the fact that IL con-
Cured in by the House it would legiti-
mateIy and inevitably besregarded not only
here, but by the world as the expression
of the deliberate judgment OF majority
of the American people as to their stand
ard of honor aud good faith in the dis
charge not only of national but also of
private obligations. At the outset 1t Is
important to strip from the issue pre-
sented by the pending resolution all the
subterfuges which have been resorted to
to conceal or cloud its real character and
to obtain clear understanding OF its
meaning This resolution is not presented
for the purpose of securing an expression
by Congress as to the power of the gov
ernment either as to the payment of its
obligations or as to what may be declared
legal tender. 1t is throwing dust in the
eyes of our own people md of the world
to assume that we are determining
question of power or even of technical
legal right. No one denies that this or
any other nation has the power to pay in
full or in part or none of its obligations
to nay in gold or silver Or paper or copper
according to its pleasure. Payment can
not be enforced by sovereign nation. Its
obIi0ations are measured by its own sense
of honor or good faith. But even if this
sense of honor is at any time blunted as
was Shylock's by dwelling on narrow
view of the letter rather than the spirit of
the obligation, the intelligent eelhshnesS
of a nation which is to live not simply
for generation but for centuries ought
lead it, and whenever nation 1s wisely
governed does lead it-so scrupulously
maintain it's pledges in both letter and
spirit as to preserve Its credit uptarnished
and thereby not only make it possible to
borrow at the lowest rate of interest also
make it easy to obtain loans in exigencies
oh II lQtnr tn
every nation. A nations honor and
credit, l may say to the gentlemen Cd the
other side who applaudedseso jubilautly
when the pending resolution was brought
into this hall, are among its most price
less possessions, aye, its title deed to per
manence and prosperity. gentlemen on
the other side who SO exultingly ap-
nIauded under the impression that they
were hitting the hated holder of bonds is
sued by the government to fund the debt
incnrred in defending and saving the
Union in it's years of adversely and peril,
were in fact hitting and discreditlng the
credit of the nation. which stands for
every citizen, high or low, rich or poor,
and whose flag ia the emblem of freedom
and civilization.
Mr.. Speaker, the sting and dishonor OF
the pending resolution like the sting OF a
sting we'll nigh harmless twenty years
ago. under conditions then existing, Is
made deadly by the changed conditions OF
The deadly tail of this resolution reads
as follows: tThat to restore to It's COIN
age such silver coins as a legal tendeF III
the tbe payment of said bonds.'' Meaning
trra practically tic all the bonds of the United
States outstanding, sis not violation OF
the publio faith nor derogation OF the
rights of the public creditors.
The declarations of the movers ana sup
porters of this resolution in the senate
during its recent consideration IN that
hody. throws q food of light on what is
meant now by the phrase "to restore to
its coinage such silver coins" a pharse,