The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-24
I ,na people Is. as the senator from Abe

..If Won viii pardon a personal allusicn.
viii say that | nave no need for such
iteration and re-iteration. l am one oi
my people; they are my neighbors and
fellow-citizens and friends / have no po-
utloal thoughts or views that are not In
harmony with their thoughts and views
they are my everyday associates; L
know them and respect them and admire
and love them; they know me, ana 1
trust. respect me; and have faith That
Will In all things represent and reject
their wishes.
II resent for myself. and others who
stand with me on this question, the I'M
putation that. In opposing this measure
We manifest any fear OF the people.
Il VIII not be guilty Of the discourtesy
OF saying that MS cry OF distrusting the
people In a device Of demagogism.
NO. / Will not say that. but | VIII
say Il Is an exceedingly far-fetched ex-
pedient TO deter senators from treating
this revolutionary measure as 1t deserves
to be treated"
Mr. Flood read a carefully prepared
argument to support his contention that
the bill was not constitutional. ana IN
closing. said
Mr.. President, we have listened 10
what. 1 must say. was n very lame,
very impotent attempt 10 disparage the
United States Senate as being million
aire club and out OF alignment with the
peopie-out OF sympathy with popular in
stitutions.
THE Senator who made this attempt
forgets that In the Senate Of the United
states there are to-day but seven mill
nonaires, while in the House Of Repre-
sentafives there are more than three
times this number lie forgets the his
tory OF his own day and generation.
81 do not hesitate 20 say that the
United States Senate has been more
conservative body than the House of Re
representatives. and assuredly we OF the
South have no cause 10 quarrel with II.
q cannot forget that when sectional
hate and the mad animosity or Northern
Republicans sought 10 impeach Andrew
jackson because of his efforts 10 throw
over the defenseless South the protect
ng aegis OF the constitution, II was the
Senate which resisted this attempt OF the
lower House in which the impeachment
proceedings originated. This blow at
he South was defeated by n majority
Of one. And it is a notable coincidence
that twenty-one years later II was by
the same majority OF one that the Sen
ate defeated the infamous force-bill' the
most dangerous threat against the hbsr'
ties OF the people conceived in the MS
tory Of this government tho most dire
blow that sectional hate ever aimed al
the South.
But | need not stop - enumerate the
many instances which must be fresh IN
the memory OF all. In which the Senata
has stood like a break-water against the
fury and wild frenzy OF the House Not
only has II exercised an obstructive in
auenco to restrain. but It has manifest
I'd nearly always an affirmative influence
for good.
SENATE AND SILVER.
ION the 18th Of December. 1895. a bill
passed the lower House by a vote OF III
TO 1856. authorizing the Secretary OF the
Treasury 10 sell bonds 10 meet temporary
deficiencies Of the revenue The House
was not satisfied with the enormous In
crease Of our public debt. but desired 10
allow the Secretary of the Treasury Ia
increase 1t fifty million dollars more.
on February l. 1896. the Senate struck
out the provisions of the bill. authoriz-
ing the sale Of bonds and passed an aci
providing for the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver at the ratio OF 10 TO ].
This bill went back TO the House ana wa
rejected on February Il, 1856 by vote
# 21j to -.
1T was but yesterday that We wit
messed another incident of such bene-
dcsnt influence in the passage BY the
Senate of the teller resoluuon-a resolu-
lion that sounded the Keynote OF the
next Presidential campaign for free sill
yer and the relief Of the people.
MIR. Presicenth the enemies OF silver
irc not found among ;ho ranks u the
people; who as the senator from Hail.
tax would have you believe are opposed
10 the present method of electing Unit
cd States senators, but are found IN the
council chambers Of the arrogant piut-
ocracyy who would Increase the power of
money over land and houses, over men
and women by making It scarce anu
hard TO obtain by the plain, unprotected
people.
Those who profess a fear of free coin
age are not found among the ranks ol
those who create wealth bv the sweat OF
their biows. but are those who would
bring about a contraction Of all kinds
of currency in order to increase the pur-
chasing power Of the money which privi-
lcge and monopoly has already given
them.
THE OPENING WEDGE.
lnlS Dill Is an opening NfuHNf NAli'At
L. carried to its logical conclusion, vii
destroy the United States Senate as d
now exists, and will tear 10 root anc
branch, the doctrine of state sovereignty
the grandest doctrine IN the theory OF
American politics. II Is a doctrine whicf
is no longer new. bright or shining II is
war-worn and denied all over in wardina
of many a blow aimed at the rights OF
the people and of the State, but. as recog
niZed in the constitution Of the United
state Senate to-day. Il possesses sufficien
strength and vitality 10 protect the peo
pie from the deadliest onslaughts nj
wrong and oppression, however confed
Grated and combined they may be
THE Senate has nearly always stood
for the rights OF the people and the
State; ii has stood for the weak agains
the strong: for the right against might
for it's PROSTATE country against tri
umphant plutocracy.
In this day OF one-man power al Wash
ington. it is the only national deliberativ'
body in this country; in this day Of petty
shams and devices. in parliamentary rul
ings. it is the only bulwark Of the people
again the encroachment OF insolcnt pow
err" (Applause)
SUBSTITUTE DEFEATED.
Tie substitute was defeated by tn,
following vote:
Ayes Messrs Barksdale. Blakey. CLAW
tor. Eygleston. Fairfax. Hale. Keezell
Letcher. Mason. Massie, Opie. Wallace
and Withers-l3.
Noes-Messrs. Boykin. Clement. Flana-
gan Food. Foster. Hartley Jackson.
Jeffries. Kane; MAYNARD. .McIlwaine,
GourhaU 81 Clair Steele T1lrnhuff. apS