CONGRESS. (SPECIAL SESSION THE SHERMAN ACT.) 



241 



verify my statement by checking up the Senate 

 roll. " 



"There arc 5W Senator* who favor uncondi- 

 tional ivpfid : ::s Senator^ arc op|x>sfd to uncon- 

 ditional rejx'al. ami would so vote. Eight S-na- 

 tor- an- airainst free coinage aiul against uncon- 

 ditional repeal, and desire a compromise between 

 the two which will furnish a constant and con- 

 tinued use of silver. Some of these eight have 

 introduced amendments which they would pre- 

 fer, but all of them are anxious to reach a basis 

 of settlement on a compromise. I admit that 

 most likely every one of these eight Senators 

 would vote for unconditional repeal if forced to 

 a vote. Their reasons are honorable and suffi- 

 cient for themselves, and their motives are not 

 questioned. They would much prefer not to be 

 forced to vote on the pending bill, however. 



" Another fact, which is important, must be 

 patent to Senators. The country has been steadi- 

 ly drifting to the silver side. While the daily 

 newspapers in the large cities and the bankers 

 are abusive and intolerant and clamorous for re- 

 peal, the people are making their wishes known 

 to Senators through public meetings, private 

 communications, and country papers in such a 

 manner as to make their influence felt. 



"New York city has been most anxious for 

 repeal, to judge from its press and the activity 

 of its moneyed interests; yet the Republican 

 State Convention, in its platform adopted last 

 week, says not one word on the subject, but, on 

 the contrary, favors bimetallism. They have no 

 word of condemnation of our course, and none 

 of praise for yours. It is significant, and I am 

 very glad that the party to which I belong is 

 coming so quickly arid unmistakably to the sup- 

 port of silver and the people. 



" I have gone thus somewhat into detail, show- 

 ing the conditions which exist in the Senate and 

 outside of it. to make plain the lack of cause, 

 nsclessuess, and unfairness of resorting to the 

 methods which you have apparently inaugurated. 



" You know as well before you start in as you 

 will when you emerge that you must fail. Con- 

 ditions such as exist in the Senate preclude all 

 hope of radical legislation. You are as likely to 

 pass a free-coinage bill as you are to absolutely 

 destroy silver. It looks as though you were try- 

 ing to convince some one outside of this Cham- 

 ber of something which you already know your- 

 selves. Even if you accomplish that, the result 

 will not justify the ordeal which you will compel 

 Senators to undergo. There are distinguished 

 Senators on this floor, now in the decline of life, 

 who have served the republic with patriotism 

 and honor for many years. Their brains are as 

 clear and their convictions as strong as thirty 

 years ago. 



" In a combat where learning and ability is a 

 factor, younger men would be at a disadvantage ; 

 but in a game of this sort, requiring nothing bat 

 physical strength, they are placed at tremendous 

 if not danirerou* odd*. I'nless the reasons are 

 powerful you should not put these Senators 

 (some of whom also are not well) to this test. 

 They are entitled to our solicitude and care. 

 They have our most profound respect and ad- 

 miration. They merit this on account of their 

 great abilities. If my friend, the distinguished 

 Senator from Indiana, will pardon me, I class 



VOL. xxxin. 16 A 



him with the Senators I have just been describ- 

 ing; and I can not think he desires to subject 

 himself or other Senators whom he sees around 

 him to this hardship. His well-known kindness 

 of heart precludes such a thought. He is im- 

 pelled by that strong sense of duty which has 

 always been his guide, and he himself no doubt 

 will submit to this torture as long as nature 

 holds out. 



" Is there any sense in it or justification for it f 

 We think not. We regard it as unusual and in- 

 defensible. We have never interposed any ob- 

 structions even to the long hours which the Sen- 

 ate has been keeping. We have maintained a 

 quorum for you, and have offered no objection 

 to your management of business. If you have 

 concluded to abandon appeals to reason and 

 judgment and to risk trie settlement of this 

 great question to the test of which side, can 

 stand the most punishment, we desire to give 

 notice now that we shall protect our side in 

 every way possible. We will insist that you fur- 

 nish the quorum, and that you keep it constant- 

 ly in the Chamber even if it necessitates innu- 

 merable roll-calls. We will not aid you in this 

 or in anything else which will tend to prolong 

 the struggle and the discomfort of all. The re- 

 sponsibility for what is to follow must rest with 

 you, as well as its physical effect upon individual 

 Senators." 



This statement is quoted because it describes 

 clearly the policy adopted by the opponents of 

 repeal, and shows why that policy would be suc- 

 cessful in breaking up a continuous session. 

 Mr. Voorhees said in vindication of the expe- 

 dient : 



" The Senator from Idaho said it was unjust. 

 Who makes it unjust? He speaks of it as in- 

 human. Well, I am not inhuman in my nature. 

 It is not my disposition to hurt anybody. I 

 would have let the fly out of the window as soon 

 as Uncle Toby did, but 1 am here charged with 

 a great duty, together with Senators around me. 

 It is the duty of legislation. We must go for- 

 ward. I would have been glad to have done so 

 at an earlier period, but I had no rule to enable 

 me, and whether young men or old men, we have 

 to present the spectacle to the world of testing 

 our physical endurance to get to a vote upon a 

 question like this. 



" Sir, this episode in our history will result in 

 reforming the rules of this body. I am ready at 

 the proper time (not in connection with heated 

 discussion as we are in now) to vote for some 

 measure by which a termination of debate can 

 be reached. Otherwise this body will lose its 

 proper influence and standing before the Ameri- 

 can people and before the world. 



" Yes. I repeat, that this body must have rules 

 by which to conclude discussion and reach a vote 

 of a character higher, more reasonable, more sen- 

 sible, and more decent than the rule under which 

 we are acting now. 



" I stand here asking the opponents of the bill 

 whether they will name any day, and they will 

 not; whether they will name any time, and they 

 will not; and they will resort then to dilatory 

 measures to prevent action being taken at all. 

 Who is to quitt Who is to stop? 



"Sir, I would rather be carried from this desk 

 feet foremost and be laid to sleep at my dear 



