New-York tribune., 1900-10-19

Gage AS IN his speeches he has chosen TO leave
/ the American people 10 infer that he has not
changed his position in the matter, but has not
seen 1t to meet inquiries on that head with
direct replies, It may be we'll 10 examine his
record and see what his delIverances on the
subject have been Mr. Bryan was in Congress
two full terms. and the bills and speeches made
by him ought 10 have some point now. AS a
matter OF fact. he introduced two bills, on
neither OF which the committee 10 which the
proposed measure was referred ever thought
II necessary 10 make a report to the House
Both bills were introduced in the LIIId Con-
gress. one in the second. the other in the third
session. on March .. 1894. Mr.. Bryan intro
duced bill the title OF which reads follows:
bill 10 constitute the law which gives the
Secretary OF the Treasury the right 10 redeem
coin obligations In gold silver. at mis- discre-
ton
The preamble is long. argumentative and need
not be quoted here. The bill itself provided:
That all obligations heretofore or hereafter in
CURED by the Government OF the United states,
whether such obligations bear interest or not,
which according 20 their terms call for
payment in coin. shall be payable in gold or sill
Yer coin OF the present weight and hneness, at
the discretion OF the Secretary OF the Treasury.
and the right OF the holder OF any sucn obl-
CATION to demand payment In particular kind
Of coin, whether gold silver. IS hereby eX-
pressly denied. and that the Secretary Of the
treasury IS directed TO maintain gold and silver
ccln on a parity with each other upon the pres
ent legal ratio. such ratio may be pro-
vided by law. by receiving the same without dis
elimination against either metal IN payment
Of al dues. customs and taxes
This bill was referred 10 the Committee on
Coinage. Weights and Measures.
The second measure. introduced on January
Il, 1890 was referred 20 the Committee on
the judiciary and ordered 10 be printed. II
briefly recites the contents OF the previous
bill and then declares such and gold silver coin
a full legal tender for all private debts" Il
IS expressly declared" continues the bill. not
to be the duty policy Of the United States
to redeem gold coins with silver or to redeem
silver coins with gold" The second section re-
lates to the endless chain so called. and pro-
vides a punishment follows.
Section 2. That any person who by himself or
in conjunction with any other person or persons
either for his own benefit or AS the agent Of any
other person or persons, shall hereafter present
70 the Treasury Of the United States. or TO any
SUb-Treasury thereof, any United States Treas
ury note or notes commonly known as green
backs, or any treasury note or notes issued
under the act Of July II. 1890. and demand the
redemption OF the same either IN gold or silver
for the purpose Of embarrassing the Government
Of the United States. for the purpose Of tnjuring
the credit Of the United States or for the pur-
pose Of compelling or securing an issue Of
United States bonds shall be guilty Of a felony
and shall, upon conviction. be punished by i'm
prisonment for period Of lot less than five
years.
After the Introduction Of the first bill. or on
Saturday December %. 1894 in a set speech
on currency reform, Mr.. Bryan, aIluding 10 the
Matthews resolution and the right of the Gov
ernment 10 redeem it's obligations, said IL the
House Of Representatives in Committee Of the
Whole:
II we had the right then, we have IL nov,
and If We have IL now, why not exercise 1t, Mr..
Chairman, and not turn over our finances to the
control Of those who Conspire TO defeat the pur
poses Of he Government