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SILVER.
SPEECH
OF
HON. DAYID B. HENDERSON,
OF
IOWA,
IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
W E D N E S D A Y , A U G U S T 16, 1 8 9 3 .
WASHINGTON.
1893.
SPEECH
or
HON. D A V I D B. HENDERSON.
The House having under consideration the bill (H. R. 1) to repeal a part of
an act, approved July 14,1890, entitled "An act directing the purchase of
silver bullion and the issue of Treasury notes thereon* and for other purposes"—
Mr. HENDERSON of Iowa said:
Mr. S P E A K E R : I think that the most gratifying sound that
will reach the people from this Hall will be the cries just heard
of "Vote!" "Vote!" "Vote!"
Whatever may have been the purpose of the President in bringing us here, I think the people of this country expect action, and
early action, if we are going to act at all. I would have been
glad to have come to a vote on the pending questions at once,
but could not. Many of us would have been glad to submit some
other questions for a vote, but could not. Fourteen days have
been set apart by the majority of this House for de bate. Whether
we on this side talk or not, these fourteen days will run before
we can come to a vote. With that fact staring me in the face, I
have felt that I would like to make a few observations touching
the situation, and may properly do so.
The President has called us to meet in extraordinary session.
The last time that the American Congress was called together
in extraordinary session, excepting in 1877, waa when the dark
clouds of the civil war hung over the nation, and its life was in
perjl. That was a correct construction of the constitutional
power vested in the President. The Chief Executive of this Republic, with its teeming millions, should not call us together in
extraordinary session except for weighty reasons. In his message he has told us why we are called together—to repeal the
purchasing clause of the Sherman act, so-called, and for such
other relief as the wisdom of Congress may suggest—but without giving us any aid or a single suggestion as to what that relief should be, beyond the repeal referred to.
The President says that this country is in distress. I have
heard no dissent from that opinion. The nation is in great distress. Never before since 1837 have the American people felt
distress such as we are now experiencing. The financial disturbance of 1873 was like a business boom compared to the distress of this hour. Distress! This nation is convulsed and congested with distress. Laboring men are being stricken from the
w
3
4
rolls by thousands. The farmer is looking over his grain fields
and looking at the market prices, and wondering where he will
get money enough to pay his taxes and buy the necessaries of
life. Banks are tumbling to the right and left of us. Their
doors are closed against the manufacturing industries and all
business institutions in our country. Exchange is a thing of the
past. We are told by the Government that $177,000,000 within
two months have been taken from the national banks of the
country, and the Government can not estimate how much more
from private, State, and savings banks. To-day, Mr. Speaker
the doors are closing in the great manufacturing industries in
this country. The spindles are stopping, more having suspended
in New England than the entire number now running in the sunny
South. We learn this morning that a great continental railroad
has passed into the hands of a receiver. Great jobbing houses
that used to send their army of brainy commercial men into all
parts of the country to invite purchasers for their goods are laying them off, and nothing is being asked in the way of purchases. The country merchants are canceling the orders given
earlier in the summer, and the nation stands still. The murmurs of the bread riot can almost be heard now.
It is in such an hour and under such a condition that we are
called together. We all admit these conditions; and I tremble
when I think that the fever has only just begun. I trust that
this may be an error of judgment. What is the cause of all of
this? we are asked to come here in a sense as physicians to
treat the alarming condition of the country. We can not act
wisely unless we act intelligently. I withhold my vote and voice
with caution when I come to act, unless I know what is the
trouble with my country.
The President in his message gives us to understand that it
is the Sherman law. My eloquent young friend [Mr. B R Y A N ] ,
who has just closed his beautiful peroration, that gifted leader of.
the Democracy and of the Populists of the nation, who has perhaps no superior in painting^in words the conditions that attract
his attention, tells us that these troubles do not come from the.
Sherman law. He has pointed out, as did the eloquent gentleman from New York on Saturday last, the honored Representar
tive from Brooklyn [Mr. HENDRIX], and the same fact was
referred to by that sturdy old commoner from Ohio [Mr. GROSVENOR] the day before yesterday , that a long time had elapsed—
over two years—after the adoption of the Sherman law before
the fever or the paralysis in our country began/
The gentleman from New York pointed out that under the
Sherman law we are now adding $300,000 less currency per
month ($3,600,000 per annum) than under the act of 1878, known as
the Bland-Allison act. This trouble, therefore, is not the result
of an undue inflation of the currency. There has been no great
failure of crops; no black-eyed monster of disease has swept our
continent to paralyze our people. Everything indicated power,
vigor, energy in the American people when this blow from some
source began to fall.
What is the cause of it, Mr. Speaker? Let us in this debate be
honest with each other. I pity the representative of the people
who goes back to his constituents having indulged in anything
57
5
but an honest application of his mind to the situation that confronts us all. What is the cause of it, Mr. Speaker?
In answering the question, in my own way and from my own
standpoint^—and in the remarks that I shall make this afternoon
I shall speak only for myself—I shall not stop to read the declarations of the last Democratic platform in respect to the tariff.
Such extracts and references as I deem n e c e s s a r y I shall incorporate in my printed remarks, so that my position may be fully
understood.
But you all know full well what it was—abroad, ponderous, and
yet cutting attack upon the system of protection in America.
The President, in the message calling us to meet here this month,
says:
It was my purpose to summon Congress In special session early in the
coming September-
No clouds of war hanging over us, a court of nations settling
the seal controversy,-peace on every hand; what was this extra
session to be called for in September?—
that we might enter promptly upon the work ot tariff reform, which the true
Interests ol the country clearly demanded, which so large a majority of the
people, as shown by their suffrages, desire and expect.
Then we were to have had an extra session in September without reference to the Sherman law or to the congested and tottering condition of our business. The President who put that paragraph into that message at that hour forgot his oath of office
taken <?n yonder steps of this Capitol. My God! were there
none but clerks in his Cabinet? Was there no patriot there tp
say, "Mr. President, strike out that attack upon our people at
this hour "?
Your platform, gentlemen, did not disturb the country, because we are accustomed and the country is accustomed to your
platforms and they always put the several constructions upon
them, just as eloquent gentlemen are doing in this debate with
the silver plank in your last platform.. You are as cunning as
some theologians who can make the Bible support any creed.
You can make the planks of your platform support any theory
on this money question. But here the President, standing under the darkest clouds and behind the shield that he thinks convenient to use in fighting for his party,.tells the people that as
soon as this is over then will come the attack upon the American
policy of protection.
Gentlemen may say that Mr. Cleveland was in power before—
I have heard that suggestion made—and that all went well.
That is true, but at that time, at the other end of the Capitol,
there was still a bulwark that he could not down. [Applause on
the Republican side.] But now, sir, the people see the House,
the Senate, and the Executive Mansion controlled by men who
have made an earnest, savage declaration against our.American
policy of protection. The mighty industrial engine is to be
reversed. The hands of European workmen are to make the
things to be c&nsumed here, and American mills and American
shops are to be closed while European ones are to supply our
markets.
Mr. Speaker, the moment it was seen that the Senate, as well
as the other branches of the Government, had gone into your
37
6
hands the fever began to set in. That was the initial point of
this hour of terror. Men who had planned increasing their industries stopped; men who had contemplated new manufacturingplants stopped; men who had invested large sums, to my knowledge, to buy ground on which to rear buildings,1 where industry
would make music to the heavens and our people, went no farther.
I know one plucky*little German in nrjr own city who by dint
of industry has built up a good, safe business. Last fall, before
the election, he had made his ;plans to extend that business. He
gave up his project as soon as it was known that the Democratic
party had this country in control. When asked why, he said,
" I think the safest thing for me now is to wait to see what they
will do." He knew nothing of political economy—a hard-fisted,
simple, broken-speeched German, who had worked his way to
success, found a party suddenly in control that was striking with
a mailed hand at the industries that he had seen growing in his
new home.
That little true story contains the key to the situation in this
country. Every man began to cut down and wait. Those who
had money to loan said, " We will wait; we may strike a better
thing," just as Europe is now striking a better thing. My
gifted friend from Nebraska [Mr. BRYAN] wapts to know why
$23,000,000 of gold has just crossed the ocean to this country.
The Government had nothing to do with it. It is because the
best kind of stock and bonds in this country have been pressed
down to almost nothing, and the European gold can not resist
the temptation of investing. The yellow eagle on that piece of
coin has an eye for a good thing, and it comes from mountain
or valley or across the sea, wherever it can make a big investment. And the golden eagles of Europe are coming to make
purchases here that will in due time double their investment.
The persons who had cash to loan held on. Every form of industry began to contract. This does not take pluce in an hour:
but one man gives his ideas and fears to another: they spread
and spread until the whole Republic is imbued with one great
fear. And now we are in the midst of a panic such as none living probably ever saw before.
Mr. Speaker, certain plans are proposed for the relief of this
condition. I believe that none of the pending measures would
bring complete relief to this country. I admit that any legislation which will restore confidence among the people will do some
temporary good. Now, I am not going to speak in a way to
?lease either my hard-money friends or my soft-money friends.
am talking from my own simple standpoint; and lam no financier. I notice that thefinanciersof this country, as a rule (there
are a few honorable exceptions), stand paralyzed and Bilent in
the presence of this condition; and those who know nothing about
it are pouring in propositions so thick and fast that I can not
get time to read them. [Laughter.] Only the day before yesterday I received a communication from some gentleman in New
York wanting to bet me $1,000 that I could not point out wherein
his proposition did not solve the whole trouble. [Laughter.]
Each of you gentlemen here, no doubt, received one of those
circular letters. [Members nod assent.]
87
7
Now, what are the propositions before the House? Here they
are:
THE PROPOSITIONS BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBMITTED AND FIXED UPON AUGUST 11, 1893.
Mr. WILSON of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I desire to offer a bill lor the
present consideration of the House.
The bill was read, as follows:
"An act to repeal a part of an act, approved July 14,1890, entitled 'An act directing the purchase of silver bullion and^the issue of Treasury notes
thereon, and for other purposes.'
" Be it enacted, etc., That so much of the act approved July 14,1890, entitled
'An act directing the purchase of silver bullion and issue of Treasury notes
thereon, and for other purposes,* as directs the Secretary of the Treasury
to purchase from time to time silver bullion to the aggregate amount of
4,5(X>,000 ounces, or so much thereof as may be offered in each month, at the
market price thereof, not exceeding one dollar for 371.25 grains of pure silver, ana to issue in payment for such purchases Treasury notes of the
United States, be, and the same is hereby, repealed; but this repeal shall
not impair or in any manner affect the legal-tender quality of the standard
silver dollars heretofore coined; and the faith and credit of the United
States are hereby pledged to maintain the parity of the standard gold and
silver coins of the United States at the present legal ratio, or such other
ratio as may be established by law."
Mr. BX*AND. Mr. Speaker, I desire to present to the House an order embodying an agreement as to the mode in which proceedings shall be had in
the consideration of the bill just offered, on which order I shall demand the
previous question, with the statement
The SPEAKER. The Chair will state the question. The gentleman from
West Virginia [Mr. WILSON] offers a bill in the absence of any rules of the
House, and the gentleman from Missouri .[Mr. BLAND] offers a resolution
providing for the method in which the House shall consider that bilL The
Clerk will report the resolution of the gentleman from Missouri.
The resolution was read, as follows:
"Ordered by the House, That H. R. No. 1 shall be taken up for immediate consideration and considered for fourteen days. During such consideration
night sessions may be held, for debate only, at the request of either side.
The daily sessions to commence at 11 a. m. and continue until 5 p. m. Eleven
days of the debate on the bill to be given to general debate under the rules
of the last House regulating general debate, the time to be equally divided
between the two sides as the Speaker may determine. The last three days
of debate may be devoted to the consideration of the bill and the amendments herein provided for, under the usual five-minute rule of the House,
as in Committee of the Whole House. General leave to print is hereby
granted.
"Order of amendments: The vote shall be taken first on an amendment
providing for the free coinage of silver at the present ratio. If that fail,
then a separate vote to be had on a similar amendment proposing a ratio of
17 to 1; if that fails, on one proposing a ratio of 18 to 1; if that fails, on one
proposing a ratio of 19 to 1; if that fails, on one proposing a ratio of 20 to 1.
If the above amendments fall, it shall be in order to offer an amendment reviving the act of the 28th of February, 1878, restoring the standard silver
dollar, commonly known as the Bland-Allison act-, the vote then to be taken
on the engrossment and third reading of the bill as amended, or on the bill
itself if all amendments shall have been voted down, and on the final passage of the bill without other intervening motions."
Mr. BLAND. Mr. Speaker, I demand the previous question.
Now, coming1 to these propositions, I shall give you my views
in respect to them, stating what I am going to do and why. I
have told my people at home to expect no relief unless one of
two things should come to pass: First, a declaration in the message of the President to the effect that che revolutionary proposition in the last national Democratic,, platform should not be
carried out. In that I have been disappointed. It is. to be
carried out. As some one suggested to me to day, the President
says, "Boys, come and kelp me dispose of this financial matter
and then I will give you 'hell on the Wabash' upon the tariff,
right afterward."
67
8
I told my people, secondly, that if the President gave no such
assurance in his message, then this Congress must pass away
without revolutionary tariff legislation before relief—full relief—could come to the country.
But men are, after all, animals, and only a short degree removed
from the lower animals. It is wonderful how a great body of men
cm b 3 converted into aflyingflock of sheep. There are men here
who know that one soldier breaking from the ranks and running
has cost a nation a great battle. Under the influence of some
little fright men will break and run by thousands in the face of
danger, when under other circumstances they would fight like
demons even unto death.
This country has cause for alarm. We do not all agree as to
the cause. I majr be unfortunately constituted, but I give the
majority of mankind the credit of being just as honest in their
convictions as I am. The men who have been crossing swords
on the other side of this House on this money question are honest about it. Those who differ from me as to the tariff being the
cause of our trouble are honest about it. And, my countrymen,
it may be that we have got to be tortured in the crucible of experience before some of these problems can be finally solved.
But if there is anything now that the popular mind or any great
portion of our people believe is working them injury and you
can remove that, you may gain some temporary advantage.
Now, what are the propositions before us? I will state, briefly,
that first we have free coinage in different forms; then, the restoration of the Bland-Allison act of 1878; and third, the Wilson
bill for the repeal of the purchasing clause of the Sherman act.
X shall not vote for any of the propositions for free coinage.
On that I may be wrong; but from my standpoint my conviction
is clear.
*
•
Like my friend from Nebraska [Mr. BBYAN], and others who
have spoken upon this question here, I do not want a contraction of the currency. I may be a child in 'my reasoning, although I will be supported by a good many able men. But I
believe that free coinage will bring this country to a silver basis
and eliminate from our circulation the $504,000,000 of gold now
circulating amongst the people. If I am right in that, I will
make no error in voting against it. I will be voting against contraction.
What is the difference between 16 to 1 and 20 to 1? What do
you gain when the ratio at this hour is 28 to 1? I would rather
if I were to take free coinage, take it at 15} to 1 than 20 tol,
keeping myself somewhere in line with the other great nations
that wrestle on the mighty field of industry in the world. The
20 to 1 ratio is but a bait to catch the unthinking ones. But to
make it that ratio which is close enough so that it can not vary
from it very much within a given time there might be some reason for the suggestion. But until you do that I see nothing to
be gained, and that is not a wise solution.
The value of the silver dollar to-day is but 56 cents, the ratio
is about 28 to 1. Look at thefluctuationsin silver, as shown by
this table, and answer me are you safe, or do you gain anything
by adopting free coinage on any of the proposed ratios?
67
9
Highest, lowest, and average price of silver bullion, and valve of a line ounce,
bullion value of a United States silver dollar, and commercial ratio of silver
to gold byfiscalyears, 1874 to 1893.
Fiscal
years.
1873-74...
1874-75...
1875-76...
1876-77.,.
1877-78...
1878-79...
1879~'80...
1880-81...
1883-'83...
1883-'84.__
1884-'85_._
1885-'86_._
1886-'87___
18S7-'S8___
1888-'89_..
1889-'90_'._
1890-'91...
1891-'92.„
1892-'93...
July..
Highest.
Bullion
value of
EquivaEquivaUnited
Average lent
Comvalue lent value
States
London
merof fine
of fine
silver dol- cial
price
Lowounce
ounce
lar at
per
ratio
with ex- based on average of silest,
ounce
average
change
price of
standto
price of silver, ex- ver
par,
ard, .925. at
gold.
94.8665. exchange. change
at par.
Pence. Fence.
571
59f
55}
58{
571
50
58?
50i
55§
52j
484
53§
5l|
52§
51
52A
50J
52^
50
5lP
50ft
•48J
mi
42
47}
42
41f
44*
41H
- 49
42
544
4S|
46§
39
30 i
40&
m
Pence.
58.312
56.875
52.750
54.812
52.562
50.812
52.218
51.937
51.812
51.023
50.791
49.843
47.038
44.843
43.675
42.499
44.196
47.714
42.737
38.375
33.060
$1.27826
1.25127
1.15184
1.20154
1.15222
1.11386
1.14436
1.13852
1.13623
1.11826
1.11339
1.09262
1.03112
.98301
.95741
.93163
.96883
1.04195
.93648
.84123
.72471
11.28247
1.25022
1.15954
1.20191
1.15257
1.11616
1.14397
1.13508
1.13817
1.11912
1.11529
1.09226
1.03295
.98148
.95617
.93510
.96839
1.04780
.93723
.84263
.72037
90.98865
.96777
.89087
.92931
.89116
.86152
.88509
; 88057
.87880
.86490
.86115
.84507
.79750
.76029
.74008
.72055
.74932
.80588
.72430
.65063
.56052
16.17
16.52
17.94
17.20
17.94
18.55
18.06
18.15
18.19
18.48
18.56
18.92
20.04
21.02
21.59
22.18
21.33
19.83
22.07
24.57
28.52
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Bureau of the Mint, August 1,1893.
As to the Bland-Allison act, that will not secure my vote, because if we are going to have a change I want it to be a radical
one. I say to you this afternoon that my conviction is that the
time is near at hand when there must be a radical revision of
our whole financial system. The conditions will force it upon
us, and let none of us have pets or hobbies. If/in this debate I
see good reason to change my mind I will be swift to do it. I
am willing to let,go any views of mine if I think they are injuring my people.
When it comes, Mr. Speaker, to the Wilson proposition to repeal the purchasing clause of the Sherman act I shall vote for
that; but I willTOte for it not with any enthusiasm. I shall not
take it down as an agreeable draught. It only skims along the
edge of the question and does not enter deeply into it. It will
doubtless help to stop the outflow of gold, and, above all things,
it will, I believe, tend to restore in some degree confidence
amongst the people. It may sometimes be wise to give the patient an opiate to stop the pain, with its terrible effects on the
constitution, in order to give the physician time to cure the
disease.
I am willing to Have this little opiate administered. It may
be a good thing to put the patient through that course in order
57
10
to treat the disease in a comprehensive remedying manner. But
that time, I fear, will not come until this nation feels that the
great mountain of industry that has been reared in thirty years
shall stand untouched, that no fragment of it shall be battered
down; and that I fear, Mr. Speaker, can not be done until this
nation apprehends its necessities and selects its servants here
and elsewhere who will execute its honest mandates and guard
its sacred interests.
These propositions, gentlemen, that are before us can not be
touched by anv amendment known to parliamentary law. Remark the closing sentence of this order:
If the above amendments fail, it shall be in order to offer an amendment
reviving the act of the 28th of February, 1878, restoring the standard silver
dollar, commonly known as the Bland-Allison act; the vote then to be taken
on the engrossment and third reading of the bill as amended, or on the bill
itself if all amendments shall have been voted down, and on the final passage
of the bill without other intervening motions.
With your 102 majority you have bound and gaggedus to only
vote on these propositions that I have named. [Applause on the
Republican side.]
You say, " Make no partisan speech in this debate." What is
partisanship? The contending forces of Democracy on this subject in the House, plus, I presume, their plus qijantity, the Populist party, which always stands by them, directly or indirectly,
have met together and formulated these propositions to be submitted to the House of Representatives. The Republican' side
were not thus addressed: "Gentlemen, here is a crisis in our
country, one which demands that we all act together as one, forgetting everything but the duty in front of * us, not waiting to
discuss who is responsible for this law or that law, but taking
the law on the statute books of our country as it is. Come in
and see if we can not find, some remedy." No such suggestions
came to the Republican side, but in the star chamber of the combination they formulated these propositions, and we &re left to
vote for them as we think best. For my own part, sir, no vote
of any Republican on this proposition will surprise me. Each
man can vote according to his convictions and justify himself
very easily before his people.
I have given you the plan that I intend to pursue. My people
want me to vote for it, Republicans and Democrats alike. It
may act as an opiate. It will not cure the disease. When this
Congress with its long and short session has come and gone, then
and not until then will this country return to its old activities.
That'is my prediction. If you have the patriotism and courage,
gentlemen, to forget your tariff plank in the national platform;
if you have the courage to tell Mr. Cleveland on his second proposition what so many of you told him on the first one, that you
will do as you think best, and that you think it best to let the
tariff alone, you can set the wheels going again, open the bank
safes and vaults, and make the business of the country once more
sing its glad songs, and in no other way can you do it. [Applause
on the Republican side.]
Some men say, as did mv friend from Nebraska [Mr. B R Y A N ] ,
"WhatI are you going to let England dictate the money policy
of this country?" And I was delighted to see with what elo57
11
quence and power and vigor they denounce English tyranny
over this country. Why do not these gentlemen stop when they
invite England to come in here and take the bread out of the
mouths o f the laboring millions of their own countrymen. [Applause on the Republican side.]
Even my eloquent friend from Nebraska [Mr. BRYAN], while
spreading flowers of oratory like a heavenly carpet before us,
stopped long enough to slap in the face the manufacturing interests of his own country, giving it as a peroration to Brother
Folsom, who belongs to the President's family, and who, in his
recent speech in Sheffield said: "You are to be congratulated
because, for the first time in thirty years, the Democratic party
holds complete control of this country," and then he read the
Democratic tariff plank and congratulated them because they
were to-enjoy the markets of the United States. [Derisive
laughter on the Republican side.] Uncle Benny and Uncle
Bryan and Uncle Grover are all in the same bed. [Applause on
the Republican side.]
The following is the full and complete text of the speech of
the United States consul to Sheffield, Mr. Benjamin Folsom, a
cousin of the Damocratic President, Grover Cleveland, as delivered in the Cutler's Hall, Sheffield, England, on the 4th of July,
1893, and reported in the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent
of Wednesday, July 5,1893:
The chairman, Mr. Benjamin Folsom, United States consul to Sheffield,
who was loudly cheered, said: " I ask you to fill your glasses for the first
toast I have to give you. I ask you to drink to the Queen and the President
[applause]—she, the best beloved of Queens; he, the most honest and upright of Presidents." [Applause.]
The toast was enthusiastically honored.
The chairman, again rising, said: "Mr. Mayor, Mr. Master Cutler, and
friends, it is customary in my country on this day to inflict an oration upon
aa many innocent and unoffending people as the orator can get within the
sound of his voice. [Laughter.] It is not my intention to bore you with an
oration to-day, but I wish to tell you why you are here. [" Hear I" Hear 1"]
and laughter.] It is because you are big-hearted, loyal, thorough Englishmen.
It is because you love and admire courage and valor whenever and wherever they may be shown. ["Hear!" "Hear!"!
On the 4th day of July, 1776, there was signed by the American representatives gathered together in Congress one of the most remarkable documents
that has ever had existence. For more than two years these loyal, faithful
British subjects had been beseeching their king to grant them such privileges
as to-day would not have to be asked for. * ["Hear I" "Hear I"] At length it
became necessary that these English subjects should assume the control and
responsibility of their own affairs. They signed the Declaration of Independence upon the 4th of July, 1776, and it was followed by seven years of
weary, wasting war.
That war would scarcely be considered to-day as more than a skirmish or
guerilla fighting, for at that time the population of the thirteen colonies
amounted to only a few over three million souls. Thefightingforce th at was
placed in thefieldto contend against the mother country was not so great as
the men who were killed on thefieldof battle in the struggle which took place
in the years that followed. To-day we can all look back upon the conflict,
and we can all see that it terminated f orthe best interests of the world. [Ap*
plause.] The spirit of enterprise which was given to the United States by
this new birth would not have been there had they been separate and dependent
colonies.
I need not linger upon the subject. There are many things I should like
to say. There are two or three practical things I can say to you which are
of more importance than any r^sumS of our history. England's greatest
customer has been the United States; and, in spite of tariffs that have been
raised against foreign countries, there is, and must continue to be, a great
and gigantic trade flowing from England to America. [" Hear I" " Hear I"]
You have passed the worst period; you have crossed the highest barrier that
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can be raised between the United States and England in the way of trade
obstruction. [Applause.]
I will tell you why this is. For thefirsttime since the year 1860 the Democratic party, which has been the party of free trade, is for the first time in
power, not only in the exeentire, but m both its legislative branches. [Applause.] During the former term of Mr. Cleveland he was blocked by the Senate standing between him and the House of Representatives, which was Democratic, and therefore no bill could be passed which was not in the shape of a
compromise. When the struggle came on for the Presidential election last
year the Democratic party, for the first time in its history, took fair and
square ground, and made a straight out-and-out issue between protection
and tariff for revenue only. ["Hear!" "Hearl"] If you will pardon me, I
will read to you the two slight planks in the Democratic platform upon which
the President of the United States was elected, and upon which the Congress
which is now in power, and which is to be convened upon the 7th of next,
month, was elected; and you will see that so soon as the financial question
is disposed of, which is merely a preliminary, and must be disposed of before
the regular meeting of Congress, the next great question is the tariff in
which you are interested, and which the President and both Houses of Congress are pledged to reduce, [Applause.]
The Democratic platform set forth upon which Mr. Cleveland was elected,
says; " W e denounce Republican protection as a fraud; a robber of the
reat majority of the American people for a few. We declare it to be a funamental principle of the Democratic party that the Federal Government
has no constitutional power to impose and collect tariff duties except for the
purposes of revenue only, and we demand that the collection of such taxes
shall be limited to the necessities of the Government when honestly and
economically administered. We denounce the McKinley tariff law, enacted
by the Fifty-first Congress, as the culminating atrocity of class legislation;
and we indorse the efforts made by the Democrats of the present Congress
to modify its most oppressive features in the direction of free raw materials
and the cheaper manufactured goods that enter into general consumption;
and we promise its repeal as one of the beneficent results that will follow
the action of the people in intrusting power to the Democratic party/*
Since the McKinley tariff went into operation there have been ten reductions of the wages of laboring men to one increase. We deny that there has
been any increase of prosperity to the country since the tariff went into
operation, ana we point to the dullness and distress, the wage reductions
and strikes in the iron trade, as the best possible evidence that no such
prosperity has resulted from the McKinley tariff. I am not saying one
word as to whether protection or free trade, or a tariff for revenue only is
the best thing for the United States or not. I am simply giving you the
facts, and you can judge for.yourselves. [Applause.] In closing my career
in Sheffield as consul of the United States, it affords me satisfaction to
think that before another twelve months has rolled by Sheffield will not be
subjected to the onerous and oppressive tariff duties that have restricted
her trade. [Applause.] I further want to thank you each one individually
for coming here to-day, for showing your broad-mindedness, for showing
your liberality, for showing your friendship, not. only to me, but to my
country. [Applause.]
f
I agree with my friend from Nebraska [Mr. BRYAN] when he
says that it is not a question of the miner. It is a question of
what money is best for this country. But I sympathize with him
when he says that if in the solution of the question the men in
the mountains are to get relief, he will be glad. In that I am with
him. I would not for one moment have my voice reach any ear
or any heart, to make anjr man think I have any unkindly feeling
toward the men in the mines.
These superb men in the mountains are brothers of all the men
in the valleys. I have had letters and appeals from men near,
and dear to me, now living in the mountains, saying that starvation confronts the miners there. These words fill me with sorsow, and these men appeal to me to know how I would like to
have the market taken aWay from the pork-raiser or the cornraiser or the raisers of the other products of my State. They
do not seem to comprehend, the fact, which my friend from Nebraska does comprehend, that an additional and a different law
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touches the material that enters into the composition of money
than the law which governs the products that are simply raised
for consumption between man and man. This monetary question must be lifted above the mere question of a commodity, and
this I urge upon the attention of my friends who appeal to me in
that behalf.
Several times during this debate I have noticed that a portion
of the Democratic party—indeed, most of them—find great pleasure in the fact that the Sherman bill was passed by a Republican
Congress; and when "that announcement was made on their side
loud applause followed, as though we had in the Fifty-first Congress oommitted a great crime. And yet, gentlemen—and I now
address the free-coinage members of this House—I predict that
if you do not get your free-coinage propositions every one of you
will vote to retain the Shermanlaw upon the statute books and
will vote against the pending bill introduced by the gentleman
from West Virginia [Mr. W I L S O N ] .
But let us see what you wanted to do when the Sherman bill
was enacted. - 1 say that the Democracy of this country at that
time were for free coinage, and if the Sherman law should be
condemned, or those who passed it should be condemned, what
should be said of the Democratic party in Congress who asked
to go far beyond the Sherman law and enact free coinage?
Let us look at the RECORD. On June 5,1890, Mr. P L A N D moved
to recommit the bill H. R. 5381, the Windom bill as amended,
to the Committee oil Coinage, Weights, and Measures, with instructions to " report back a bill for the free coinage of silver."
The vote stood, yeas 116, nays 140, not voting 71. Democrats
for, 102; Democrats against, 13; Democratic majority for free
coinage, 89. Republicans for, 14; Republicans against, 127; Republican majority against free coinage, 113.
In the Senate June 11, 1890, the House bill 5381 was reported
back from the Committee on Finance by Senator MORRILL.
Senator Plumb moved free coinage as an amendment. His amendment was agreed to by the following vote: Yeas 43, nays 24.
Democrats for, 30; Democrats against, 3; Democratic majority for
free coinage, 27.* Republicans for, 13; Republicans against, 21;
Republican majority against free coinage, 8.
On June 25,1890, in the House of Representatives, the motion
to agree to the Senate free-coinage amendment was rejected by
the following vote: Yeas 135, nays 152. Democrats for, 114; Democrats against, 22; Democratic majority for free coinage, 92. Republicans for, 21; Republicans against, 130; Republican majority
against free coinage, 109.
In 1892, in the Senate, the Democratic vote for free coinage
was 30; against it, 10; Democratic majority for free coinage, 20.
Republicans for free coinage, 14; against free coinage, 31; Republican majority against free coinage, 17. In the House: Democrats for free coinage, 130; against free coinage, 81; Democratic
majority for free coinage, 49. Republicans for free coinage, 12;
against free coinage, 67; Republican majority against free coinage, 56.
DELTOCRATIO POSITION ON FREE COINAGE B Y STATUS, 1890.
The following States in their platforms declared for the free
coinage of silver in 1890: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kan67
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sas, West Virginia, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, North
Dakota. In the following States the Democratic conventions
were silent on the question in 1890: Connecticut, Delaware,
Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New
Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
With the foregoing facts before us it is apparent that the
Democratic party in 1890 was for free coinage, and certainly so
in the House and Senate. The Sherman law represented a compromise between the conservative and the extreme elements in
the Republican party. The President truly says in his message
that it was a compromise by the contending forces over free coinage.
But, Mr. Speaker, I have gone far beyond my purpose when I
addressed the House. I only wish to say in conclusion that I
want this question dealt with honestly on all sides, without partisanship so far as possible. The only partisanship is in the way
we are forced to come up and meet this question, the bars being
closed against any Republican^ having the opportunity to offer
any amendment to the pending proposition. That is partisanship stripped of patriotism, and the triumph of gag law without a czar. [Applause on the Republican side.]
I am here and now eager and willing to join with my fellow
Representatives in the adoption of any legislation that will touch
the root of the disease, and am willing even to administer an
opiate. But I want to say this, that no one shall mislead me, the
Representative of an agricultural State, by trying to make me
believe that the farmers of my State and the laborers of my State
are interested in cheap money.
If I know anything about my duty, it is to keep a good, reliar
ble money for the farmers and the laboring men. [Applause on
the Republican side.] Strike it down until it becomes worthless, and the worthless money will not turn up in the hands of
the bankers and trust companies, but among the simple-minded
people, who trust their Government to protect them in their coin
and currency. [Applause on the Republican sides] For that people I appeal. Lay aside partisanship, and let us join together as
patriots, so far as we can, to meet the trouble that now confronts
us [Applause.]
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