Show BETTER FACE rIlE INEVITABLE To the Editor of THE HERALD I observed from reading an editorial in your paper of Sunday the 16th inst under a head line which I quote above that you are of the opinion that the free I coinage of silver does not have ua fight I mug chance for success at the extra session ses-sion I regret extremely to see so warm a friend of silver money as THE HERALD seems to beas it really isso readily throw up the sponge and asquiesce in the unconditional repeal of the par chasing clause of the Sherman law of 1890 I can see no good reason why the friends of silver should surrender and acknowledge ac-knowledge defeat before a single vote has been taken in the Senate Article 1 of the amendments to the constitution con-stitution of the United States expressly declares that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press Freedom of speech and of the press being thus reserved by the people peo-ple it must follow that so long as we remain re-main a free people we must retain the right for ourselves and for our representatives represen-tatives in Congress to discuss all questions ques-tions pending in that body When the time arrives that we and our representatives representa-tives are deprived of this right then is this glorious republic at an inglorious end It has always been the custom for mem bess of both houses of Congress to discuss fully and at length in their respective respec-tive branches all important public questions therein pending Ibannot conceive con-ceive of any good and sufficient reason why the money questionof universal national importancenow pending in the Senate should not be freely and fully discussed dis-cussed in that body There can be no want of dignity in such debate so long as it is conducted in an orderly manner within the legal rules of the Senate It is my beliel that as Congress cannot make a law abridging the freedom of speech neither can either branch adopt such a rule So long therefore as the friends or the enemies of silver see proper to debate the question in an orderly manner man-ner I think it will be better to continue the debate and when arguments become exhausted the talk will necessarily cease nnd then a vote may be taken I do not agree with those who jump at the conclusion that unconditional repeal is inevitable lfthose honorable senators who are avowed advocates of bimetalism are sincere which I have no reason to doubt I hardly think they will vote against an amendment which would provide pro-vide for the coinage of silver To repeal the purcnasing clause of the Sherman Sher-man law is one thing to provide for coining coin-ing silver into standard dollars is another thin and a man could consistently I think vote for a bill containing both provisions pro-visions The present is a proper time to settle this question The president called the extra session ostensibly to relieve the financial depression to accomplish which he no doubt believes the government should cease to purchase silver bullion Take him at his word Repeal the objectionable objec-tionable clause and remonetize silver which would without doubt be a great relief re-lief to those who are suffering for the want of sufficient money to carry on business and would at the same time give labor to thousands of idle men PresidentCleveland as well as all other bimetallists desires that the parity between be-tween gold and silver shall be preserved This cannot be don by demonetizing silver sil-ver It can only be done by the coinage of both metals at such ratio as would seem to bring them together and keep them so as legal tender money To conclude this rambling note Mr Editor t v ish to express the opinion that the proper thing to do is for the member of Congress when they are tired of talking to vote and repeal thee the-e jectio ble clause and at the same time provide for the coinage of Silver or fail ingfto do so let them defeat the repealing repeal-ing bill and thus leave the law of 1890 in fuR < tr e j A it now stands for it does in o 11 a measure recognize silver money as a measure of values What is the President of the United States and who are the members of Congress They are all the servants as well as the representatives of the people the latter through the platforms of three political parties declared themselves in favor of bimetallism and who almost en masse at the polls in November endorsed those platforms The question now is will members of Congress obey the will of those they represent rep-resent and remonetize silver or will they in defiance of the will of the people enact en-act such laws as are dictated by mono metallists of foreign governments We shall see H D JOHNSON Close comparison of this letter with the article in THE HERALD which has drawn forth the foregoing comments will show that our esteemed friend has inferred a little too much from our remarks THE HERALD has not said a syllable against freedom of speech in or out of Congress neither has it advised the close of the debate de-bate on silver in the Senate while there is a chance to accomplish something beneficial bene-ficial It is only prolonged discussion for the mere sake of obstruction that we deprecated Indeed we did not favor the close of thedebate until it becomes a foregone conclusion n that no other conditions than those proposed which look to favorable action for silver can be obtained and not even then until the ardent champions of the white metal have had reasonable time to bring forth their strong reasons in its support I Is that not all that any reasonable advocate ad-vocate of free speech coula ask If repeal is considered a certainty and if it is conceded con-ceded that nothing will be done for silver until the purchasing clause Is cleared out of the way will not debate for the sole purpose of obstruction be detrimental instead in-stead of beneficial to the silver cause Our correspondent says repeal is one thing and to provide for coining silver is another thing Exactly and there is where the absolute repealers stick They do not want the two things combined and they are in the majority in a very large majority in the House in a small majority in the Senate He says a man could consistently con-sistently vote for a bill containing both provisions So we think But unfortunately un-fortunately the disposition to do so is evidently lacking among a majority of our national legislators In that lies the gistof the whole matter When it has become reasonably certain that the two provisions cannot be had together to-gether and every silver coinage advocate has had a reasonable opportunity to ventilate ven-tilate his views we fail to see what can be gained by filibustering and waste of valuable time particularly when it is done with no other intent than to spite the repealers Tne special session was called to carryout carry-out the declaration of the Democratic party at Chicago in reference to the Sherman makeshift While it is quite within the province of Congress to transact trans-act any other business that may be deemed necessary for the public welfare that was the immediate and particular purpose of calling it and the majority seem to be determined to make that the paramount issue which they have the right to do The President and the Congress are the servants of the people Certainly And in striking at the purchasing clause they believe they are serving the people The press by an overwhelming majority favor unconditional repeal Petitions letters urgent appeals and all kinds of popular influences have been brought to bear upon Congress to effect this In bowing to that public demand they do not intend to destroy de-stroy bimetallism nor establish mono metallism They do not act in defiance of the will of the people but only in opposition to a portion of the people for the people are divided upon the question as much as are the legislators whom they have chosen And it must be understood that the question now pending in Congress is not I aa put by our correspondent Will members of Congress enact laws dictated I by monometallists It is shall a provision pro-vision of law which the strongest bimetallists bi-metallists admit is wrong undemocratic and a miserable makeshift be repealed I Will they repeal Well we shall see |