NATIONAL BANKS. 495 



the banking system, as are also a majority of the other 

 members of the committee. The bankers desired an 

 amendment to the national banking law, that would enable 

 them to draw the full face value of their bonds in cur- 

 rency, instead of ninety per cent, as under the existing law. 

 Mr. Wilkins (Democrat) and the committee (Democrats) 

 appointed by Mr. Carlisle (Democrat), reported the bill to 

 the House in due time and recommended its passage. A 

 preliminary skirmish indicated that the House (Demo- 

 cratic) would pass the bill. Mr. Weaver, who had pre- 

 viously given notice that he would defeat the measure if 

 he had to resort to parliamentary tactics to do so, said: "I 

 rise to move that this House do now adjourn. n 



"Mr. Anderson from Kansas moves that the vote be 

 taken by ayes and nays, and then and there these men rise 

 to fight on the issue for nearly a week, and Wilkins was 

 wilted because he couldn' t get a vote in a legal way to pass 

 his measure through. ' * 



Some one had said that the Democratic party was 

 opposed to national banks. It came to the ears of Senator 

 Bayard of Delaware, who has since ornamented Mr. Cleve- 

 land's cabinet as secretary of state. No one has the 

 hardihood to doubt his Democracy. He said in a speech 

 made in New York City, September 20, 1880: 



"I have seen it charged that the Democratic party 

 were foes to national banks ; but I am at a loss to know the 

 authority for this. The platforms of the party contain no 

 such suggestion and admit of no such construction, and it 

 is very certain that for the second place on our ticket we 

 have named Mr. William H. English, of Indiana, one of 

 the ablest financiers and best business men in the whole 

 country, whose management of the affairs of a national 

 bank of which he was president was conspicuous for its 

 success. This disposes of this charge at least'* 



