The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-01

zell. but Mr.. Johnson did not subside, and
continued to protest, declaring loudly that
he anta@onized this rule If such was the
intention. He had a wOrdy war with Mr..
Dingley. but Ii was in a tone so low that
II could not be heard in the confusion. The
speaker cut OFF further incident by putting
the question and the rule was adopted-l43
to 115-thc Democrats restraining from de-
manding a roll call.
division OF time. To the suggestions that
time should he divided between Democrats,
Populists and Republicans. MIR. Dingley re-
torted: Il wasn't aware that there was any
distinction between the Populists and DEM
ocrats. as ut present constituted" He said
that time would be equally divided between
those fer and against the resolution.
Mr.. DINGLEY'S SPEECH.
Mr. Dingley then opened the debate in
opposition to. the resolution. The pending
resolution, he said, was not one which. if
passed by both houses. would have force.
If adopted it would be only an expression
OF the opinion of the two houses. Its i'm
portance. therefore, continued Mr., Ding
ley, lies in the fact that if concurred in
by the House it would legitimately and in
evitably be regarded not only here. but by
the world, as an expression of the DELHI
crate Judgment of majority Of the Amer
lcal people as to their standard of honor
ana good faith in the discharge not only
OF national but also of private obligations
This resolution is not presented for the pur-
pose OF securing expression by Congress
RS to the power of the government either as
80 the payment of its obligations or as to
what may be declared legal tender No
one denies that this or any other nation
has the power TO pay in gold or silver or
paper or copper, according to its pleasure
Payment cannot be enforced against a SOW
ereign nation. It's obligations are measured
by its own sense of honor and good faith
The intelligent selfishness of a nation
which IS to live not simply for a genera
tion, but for centuries, ought to lead it,
and whenever a nation is wisely governed
does lead tito scrupuiously maintain its
pledge In both letter and spirit to pre-
serve its credit untarnshed and thereby
not only make it possible to borrow al the
lowest rate of interest, but also to make
it easy tn obtain loans in exigencies which
are sooner or later 10 come 10 every ma
ton.
"A nations honor and credit are it's title
deed to permanence and prosperity. The
sting and oishonor of the pending resolu-
ton - in it's tail That sting. well nigh
harmless twenty years ago, under condi-
lions then existing. is made deadly by the
changed conditions of to-day. The deadly
That TO restore to its coinage such silver
coins as a legal tender In the payment of
said bonds (Ineaning practically all the
bonds OF the United States now outstand-
ing) Is not in violation of the public faith
nor In derogat ton of the rights of the pub
lie creditor
THE declarations of the movers and sup
porters of this resolution in he Senate dur
ing Its recent consideration in that body
AuAOWS u hoOu OF HSnt on what is meant
now by the phrase, 10 restore to its coinage
such silver coins'-a phrase which, in 1875
was with good reason interpreted by many
who supported q similar resolution TO mean
something vitality different from what it
must mean now.
THRILLING WITH HONOR.
Continuing. Mr.. Dingley said: This
brings me to consideration OF the vital ques-
ton as to whether the government has the
moral right, in other words. whether it
would lie an act which the moral sense
of the world would regard as in accord
ance with honor and good faith. for the
United States TO pay it's outstanding bonded
indebtedness in dollars of so materially less
value than the dollar which has been the
practical standard of value since 1884,
barring the war and reconstruction period
andiwhich has been the legal and practical
standard of value since 1879 and the dol
lar in which our bonded indebtedness has
been paid thus far paid by every adminis-
tration from Lincoln to Mckinley. to wit,
the dollar equal in value to 25S grains of
standard gold: (Applause.) Bear in mind
that We are discussing this question from
the point of honor and good faith and not
from the point of power or technical legal
right; for | have already said that the
government can DO as it pleases. More than
tnfee-tOurtbS of the outstanding bonds
We're, as matter of fact. issued and sold
after 1878, when the silver dollar dropped
from the list of coins. Now in view of
these facts, would ii be good faith for Con-
gress, now that silver has so greatly de-
preetated. to restore its free and unlimited
coinage at the ratio OF Is to ]. by this coun-
try alone, when the market ratio is SO to l.
and then use such dollars to pay the bonds
which we had sold Tor gold under such cir
cumstances? do not think 1t would.
L fear that many of you resting on
tile expectation which You have that moth
ing of this kind will be done and are ex-
cnstng your vote for it on the unworthy
t,.1..
beg of you not to trifie with the honor
and good faith of the nation for any such
miserable ends; for. rest assured, such an
expression of opinion as to the sense of
honor of the people of this country con-
templated by this resolution under existing
conditions would seriously injure the credit
of the country and tend to weaken reviv-
ing confidence. II is because ! believe (aS
does every scientific bimetalliSt in the world
outside of politics. that 16 to ] free and
limited silver by this country alone would
make the United States silver Il mono
metallic country, like Mexico and China,
and would give us a silver basis that would
Obstruct our trade with gold standard coun-
tries that now take so per cent of our ex-
ports. and prove serious menace to our
progress, and because l believe that it
would seriously injure our credit and stand
ing as ii nation. that / appeal to gentlemen
on this side OF the House to maintain the
pledge which the Republican party made at
st. Louis. to keep all our currency. whether
silver or paper, as good as gold and pre-
serve inviolably the public faith of and
of the House to maintain the standard of
value which Jackson's administration gave
the country sixty-four years ago and the
honor and good faith of the Nation so care
fully preserved by the fathers of the Demo-
cratic party. and to take the opportunity
offered by, the resolution now before the
that the good name Of the Nation is safe
in orr hands" prolonged Republican APP
plause.)
DEMOCRATIC VIEWS
AfteH- the outburst of applause which
greeted the close of Mr.. Dingley's speech
had subsided Mr.. Bailey was recognized for
an hour. He first yielded twenty minutes
to Mr.. Wheeler Dem, Ala-3. a member of
the ways and means committee. who sub
mitted an argument in support of the reso-
luton. Before closing Mr.. Wheeler yielded
a minute each to half a dozen members on
/ the Democratic side, each of whom, as Mr..
Eowherd Dem. MOI said, erected a hook
on which to nang a speech in the congress
sional record
Mr.. Dockery (Dem. MOI declared that the
Efforts of the President and secretary of the
treasury to more firmly establish the gold
standard would vacate many seats the
Republican side.
The appearance OF Mr.. Bland of Bland
dollar fame, to whom Mr. Bailey yielded
ten minutes. was greeted with applause.
The course of the President and Secretary
Gage, Mr.. Bland said, in pressing the gold
standard upon the country had driven the
bimetallists in Congress to introduce and
Insist upon the passage of this resolution.
Yet. he said, Mr.. Dingley charged the mi
Hority with playing politics. Every Repub-
Hcan who voted against this resolution Vio-
AGAINST the coinage OF silver in any form,
free or limited. No one disputed the law, he