The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-29

else was dependent on this one question
of silver. 1t was an advocacy so ardent
that the senator seemed ready to follow
his ignis fatuus. although it plunged
the country into the morass of govern.
mental diShonor. Commenting on Mr.
Teller's speech on Cuba. China and the
reed of strong foreign policy. MIR
Fairbanks declared that he feared the
Colorado senator would be willing to see
his country wrapped in the flames oi
war IL his one aim of free silver was
accomplished, for he said the first gun
fired would bring us to deprecated sill
yer basis.
Mr.. Wolcott of Colorado was the first
speaker under the l5-minute rule. which
went into effect at . o'clock He thought
that any senator. whatever his financial
views, could vote for the Teller resolu-
ton. and it involved nothing except
carrying into effect the government {
present obligations. He thought that the
denunciation and abuse heaped upon
those who support the resolution were
unwarranted, for he did not think the
man was born who would betray his
government by offering to pay its obli-
cations in spurious money
He referred with scathing sarcasm to
the sale of bonds by the Cleveland ad-
ministration in 1894. denouncing II as
one of the darkest pages in American
financial history. He declared that the
men of the West might be entrusted
with the national honor. I'VE have" he
said, never betrayed our government
and never will. We intend to pay all
our obligations in good money and in
nothing else
He felt that the resolution ought to
be passed without change. because it
meant just what it said. and its declara-
lions We're III no sense violation of the
national honor, either direct or implied
Mr.. Morgan of Alabama supported the
resolution In carefully prepared
speech. basing his support upon statis-
tics and deductions, and indicating 1.-The
impossibility of striking silver from
among the money metals" He felt that
amid the confusion existing it was clear
that the people demanded the restora-
ton of silver to coinage. and he thought
that such restoration would be as the
delivery of mankind from war, pesti-
lenee and famine.
Foraker in Opposition.
Mr.. Foraker of Ohio thought the reso-
lutions meaning ought to be made clear.
1t being evident there was a great di-
versity of opinion on thar point He
did not think the resolution was any
more than declaratory of the law, and
that was as far as the declaration went.
He thought the statement in the resoIu-
ton that such coinage was contemplated
by 1t was i'll derogation of the rights
of creditors and could only mean the
free and unlimited coinage of silver. He
was, therefore, opposed to the resolution
Mr.. Foraker declared himself in favor
of international bmetallism or as an
alternative to maintain the present
financial status. The enforcement Of
the terms of the resolution, in Mr. For
aker's opinion. would not bring about
bimetallism. but would folce the gov
ernment TO silver basis.
Mr.
ment, advocated the restoration of the
standard silver dollars to coinage and
their use In the payment of the govern
ment's obligations. He held that the
claim of the bondholders that they
were entitled to be paid in better money
than the pensioner, the mechanic and
the laborer was not warranted by facts
or by law
Mr.. Nelson of Minnesota stated that
his objection to the resolution was that
1t ignored the duty of the government
to maintain the parity between the
metals as imposed upon it by law Mr.
Allison spoke of the circumstances at
tending the passage of the Stanley
Matthews resolution in 1878 To him
1t had not meant at that time declar-
alton in favor of the free and unlimited
coinage of silver Other coinage mea-
sures We're pending at that time, and
when one of these came over from the
tie StiidloT from l1Dl-
ler) voted to strike out the provision
for the free coinage of silver and vot-
ed for the limited coinage agreement
Mr. Allison declared that when he
was being gibbeted OH this cross road
of public opinion for alleged ineonsist-
ency, he wanted it known that the Col
orado senator and the Ohio senator who
introduced the resolution In 1875 Sem
ator Matthews, had voted to strike out
a free coinage provision. he clear
purpose of the pending resolution was
TO commit the country to the free and
unlimited coinage of silver at Is to l.
when it was almost automatic, the SEN
ator declared, that such course with
out concurrence of other nations. will
lead us inevitably to the silver stand |
ard alone, and to silver monometaliism |
1t is as certain as the sun at MONDAY,
he said, that such a course will carry |
US TO the silver standard and that our
gold will be banished. And yet, sena-
tors We're asked to sanction this mon
strous proposition. monstrous in the |
change it proposed. Mr.. Allison re- /
viewed his expressions for an interna- /
.ional agreement as the only means of |
silver, and said the fail |
lres of the Noicott commission did not |
bring despair to those who saw in this I
method ultimate relief for silver.
Teller Explains.
fote in 1878 referred TO by Mr.. Allison
vas given, not because of opposition to
rec coinage. but because IL was not
a that time to secure a
and get what was wanted
Mr.. Gray of Delaware urged that the
resolution could accomplish nothing,
md was hollow expression so far as
affecting the character of money in /
which our bonds We're TO be met Mr.
Sray did not regard that subject as III |
NY way involved wholly without refer
nee TO the silver issue brought into the
iebate.
Mr.. Allen Of Nebraska insisted that
he free coinage of silver would restore
he parity between gold and silver
Mr. Bacon of Georgia took issue with
he statements and conclusions of the
enator from Ohio GForaker) and the
enator from Iowa 6Ailison), discussing
he present conditions as contrasted
With those Of 1873. when the resolution
vas originally passed. He held that
he resolution applied distinctly to the
800 600 0an Bf silver already coined aud