| Show TWO WAYS OF AT IT it IT is funny to see eee how bow partisan motives and feelings enter into the discussion of all public questions whether they are in anyway related or no not t A local sheet which ham baa never been conspicuous for oon ncy has endeavored to make it appear that the democrats democrate were responsible for the defeat of the silver bill and has hao made that alleged action a reason why the democratic party should be defeated in november but another paper which Is strongly republican insists that it was waa the republicans who defeated the measure and claims this as aa a big feather in the cap of the republican party and one reason why it should be successful in november the following on this matter appeared in the omaha see bw rep 64 ex speaker reed having claimed for t the e republicans of the house of representatives senta n t tv tives 1 the credit of defeating free silver legislation some papers have questioned their right to the claim holding that the credit belongs rather to the sound money bonev democrats nobody will withhold from the latter the commendation they deserve for earnest and persistent work against tree free silver they labored wisely and well showing a every stage of the fight the coura e of their convictions but the cause which they battled could not have won without the help of the republicans when the question of considering the free silver bill was last before the house the democrats opposed to it mustered 94 votes while those favoring the measure numbered had the republicans refrained from voting the stewart estewan bill that passed the senate would have been considered and without the votes of republicans laicans against it would have passed the house it is well remembered that when the question of considering the bland bill was up in march there was a general feeling of anxiety regarding the action to be taken by the republicans many members of the he party in and out of congress believed that it would be good p politics for the republicans to allow the democrats to make their record on silver and give the president an opportunity to v veto eto a tree iree coinage biu bill they might have given valid reasons for such a course but after due deliberation it was wag decided to be the duty of the party to vote its convictions the view that prevailed was that expressed by ex speaker reed when he said what we must do is that which is best beat for the country and that we stand ready to do under all circumstances cum stances I 1 being opposed to the free and unlimited coinage or of silver because that policy would be disastrous to all interests the republicans in the house of representatives manfully stood by their convictions and defeated free silver without denying therefore whatever credit belongs to the anti free coinage democrats for their sturdy fight fair minded men must concede that the greater share of the credit for the defeat of free silver belongs to the republicans of the house had they been governed solely by considerations of political expediency ency had they been disposed to let the ahe democrats make a records on silver regardless of the possible effect upon the financial and business affairs of the country had they in short subordinated every other consideration to that of making political capital unquestionably a free silver bill would before this time have bave been in the hands of the president but the republican party is a party of principles it was established as mr reed well said for the purpose of carry crying ing out principles and there has never been a time in its history when it failed to respond to the call of duty or to cour ageous ly y maintain its convictions of right an and dit ita judgment of what is for the best interests of the people |
