The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-12-13

geld to the effect that the Republican
congress would obey orders and enact
gold standard legislation. For himself,
he said, he was proud to say that he
was obeying orders-the orders of the
people of his district-trying TO put the
laws of the country into harmony with
their opinions The pending bill was
compromise representing the united
wisdom of all. He (Dolhver) did not
want his record and past follies to be
brought up against him. He had voted
for the Sherman act, in 1890, an act
which he now regarded as piece OF
unutterable stupidity.
Continuing, Mr.. Dolliver said he be.
lieved that the result of the campaign OF
1896 settled the silver issue.
In 1896 the cry of Bryan, he said, was
for more money. Money was scarce. IL
was boarded. The day after the elec'
ton it came out from its hiding.
"Are you willing now," interrupted
Mr.. Simms (Tenn.), "that the mints
shall be opened to silver if an interna-
tional agreement could be obtained?'
mo. sir, rpelied Mr.. Dolliver; 81
have had my last whirl with silver.
have been humbugged for the last
time"
Mr.. Dolliver said that the cry had
been for more money. In three years OF
Republican administration 500, 900, 900
had been added to the volume of the
currency, more money than could have
been coined by the mints in ten years If
the mints had been opened to silver.
Mr.. Dolliver recalled Mr.. Bryan's
prophecy that the gold standard could
not be enacted without universal fall
of prices. rs there man in this
chamber" he asked, "who will rise i'll
his place and say that Mr.. Bryan knew
what he was talking about?"
Not a Democrat rose. Mr.. Dolliver
paused, reiterated his question, and
then resumed.
1T is then confessed that in ques-
ton which goes to the heart Of the con.
troversy Mr.. Bryan lacked wisdom"
lie also called attention to Mr.. Bryan's
prediction that wages would fail and
men would b. thrown out of employ
ment. Yet at the end of three years of
Republican administration under the
gold standard there was not an indus
trious man III the country without EN-.
ployment. Those three years, said he,
had resolved last fears of the Republi.
can party as to the wisdom of enacting
gold legislation.
Mr.. Mcclellan IN. " opposed the
bill. II do not wish it understood,
said he, "that advocate the present sys.
tenn of bank note currency. The first
direct consequence of the enactment Of
this bill, he said, will be very great
raise in the market price of government
bones. Its enactment also would result
in the extinction of the present bank
note currency. He argued that the i'm
pounding Of the treasury notes and the
United States notes in the terms of the
bill would result in a contraction of the
currency, amounting to over $500, ,000,-
000, and require an issue of bonds to
that amount at an animal cost of So
000, 900, or a total contraction of the cur
rency of nearly $50, 900 and re.
duction of the per capita to Sl9.2l.
In conclusion he appealed to the sound
money Democrats in the house not to
vote for the bill.
Mr.. DeArmond (Mo.) followed in op.
position to the bill. Replying to Mr..
Dolliver, he said the Democrats had not
been overborne in 1896 in the conflict Of
reason, but the Republican party had
won by summoning TO their aid the cor
rupt and tremendous power of money
and corporations. He charged the Re-
publicans with ueceiving the people in
1896. They were bimetallists then. If
they were honest then they must be dis.
honest now; if honest now, dishonest
then, The change of the bonds from
coin to gold bonds, he said, would make
q free gift of $l00,000,000 to the bond
holders.
The bill would create bank trust.
he predicted that this measure would
overwhelmingly defeat the Republican
party in 1900. When the peoples VIC
tory was won next fall said he in con-
clusion, it must not be necessary to &c
to the "Vlneclad cottage" at Canton,
o., to offer congratulations but beyond
the Mississippi to that modest home in
Lincoln, Neb., where resided that great
and staunch friend of the people Dem
ocratic applause.)
Mr.. Greene (Pa.), then announced
tine death of his colleague, the late
Representative Ermentrout, of Penn.
sylvania, and as further mark of re.
spect the house adjourned.