The Irish standard., 1904-03-12

|
the Committee on Rules, and the Com
mittee on Rules sat but to register and
report the will of the Speaker. Thus
the House abdicated the great place it
had SO long held, and sends to the SEN
ate the raw material of legislation,
where it is fashioned to suit the Sen
ate, and ofttimes in contempt of the
| wishes of the House.
| The Sherman silver law and the
| Lodge force bill We're passed by the
House of Representatives The silver
law put the Treasury on the silver
basis, practically demonetiZed gold,
impaired the public credit and precip-
itated the financial panic and industrial
depression of 1898. 1t would not have
been enacted if the Republican leaders
had mustered the courage to intrust
Il free coinage bill to President Har-
rison. That was the excuse John
Sherman gave for the Sherman silver
law in repeated speeches i'll the Sen
ate of the succeeding Congress-.
The Lodge force bill was an assault
on civil liberty, and subversion of the
doctrine OF home rule. In Impudence
it was sublime; in principle it was des-
potism; in practice it would have been
war; in everything it was folly. The
Democrats adopted this Caliban of
statecraft and set it to rule over Ken
lucky. The result was tumult, dis
cord, violence and murder. After an
irresponsible and unprincipled legis-
lative caba reversed the elections of
the people and stole the offices, public
opinion forced the man who was draw
ing another mans salary us Governor
OF Kentucky to convene the Legislat-
ure for the sole purpose of repeating
some Of the super-infamous features of
the Goebel force bill.
A certain Kentucky statesman has
fetched into the present Congress a
measure that in effect re-enacts the
fugitive slave law, and applies it to
white men who are fugitives from in
justice. In Il recent debate several
OF the Kentucky contingent in Con-
gress delivered themselves of some
fearful and wonderfully conceived
speeches that We're absolutely astound-
ing to Il man who knew anything
about the facts.
William j. Stone was the Ajax of
the Democratic side in the furious de-
bates of the first session OF the Fifty
hrst Congress-. He discussed. with
great ability and not Il little asperity
the Lodge bill, and employed the say
age weapon OF invective with every
marked effect. His reference to the
author OF the bill was IA companion
sarcasm to Roscoe Conkling's illusions
to George William Curtis in the fam
Gus speech at Rochester. There was Il
suggestion that the measure was an
exhibition OF dilettante craftsmanship,
ana it drew from the gentleman from
Massachusetts a reply that boruered on
1
that could possibly enanate from such
IL source.
Stone was also in the thick of the
melee when Reed first counted ~ uuor-
UNI. 1t was perhaps the most eXcit-
ing scene i'll our congressional history.
Inc strange thing about it is that in
4
democratic majority was % in excess
OF the full Republican membership
Thomas Il. Reed forced the Crlsp
regime to adopt the Reed rules. 1t
was the most triumphant victory Of
That great mans career and doubly
glorious for the moderation of tile vic
tor after the battle was over.
In 1872, after Il tremendous contest,
MI. Stone was nominated for Governor
OF Missouri. There were many dram
attic scenes in the convention, and it
was not until the twentieth ballot that
the nomination was effected He
made Il brilliant canvass of the state
and was elected by a large majority.
He retired from the office of Governor
in 1897.
In 1896 the Democratic party was
denoralized and divided. 1t is not
profitable to speculate as to the causes
and the motives mat led to the event.
MI. Blal. was the logical candidate
OF the silver men. Mr.. Teller was the
choice Of the senatorial junta. An
imprisoned stump speech brought all
schemes to nauSht, and MIR. Bryan was
named for President. 4 fusion result
ed, and there We're Democrats of MANY
colors in the Bryan camp.
William j. Stone was me one strong
character among the commanders of
the Democratic forces, lsham G.. uar-
l.ls was ill and Disguised, or there
might have been IL different story to
tell. But Stone was the real force be-
4nnu the Democratic ticket. The thing
would have collapsed but for him. He
was the man the Republican organizu-
ton feared. In him they saw strength
and Virility, the man who might be
destroyed, but who could not be sub
uued.
The Senatorship was his reward.
Ills maiden speech was characteristic
-;ln indictment and an argument. 1t