THE CRIME OF 1873[1]
Legislative History of the Act of 1873.
IT is alleged that the law of 1873 was enacted surreptitiously. Mr. Bryan is quoted as having said that the free-coinage men only ask for a restoration of "that system that we had until it was stricken down in the dark without discussion." Within the last ten years the facts of the legislative history of that law have been published over and over again. They are to be found in the report of the Comptroller of the Currency for 1876, page 170; in "Macpherson's Political Manual" for 1890, page 157, and in "Sound Currency," Vol. III, No. 13. The bill was before Congress three years, was explained and debated again and again. The fact that the silver dollar was dropped was expressly pointed out. It is not now justifiable for any man who claims to be honest and responsible to assert that it was passed "in the dark and without discussion." The fact is that nobody cared about it. It is noteworthy that the act is not in "Macpherson's Manual" for 1874. It was not thought to be of any importance. It was not until after the panic of 1873 that attention began to be given to the currency. To that, I who write can testify, since I tried in vain, before that time, to excite any interest in the subject. I was once in the gallery of the House of Representatives when a question of coinage was before the House. I counted those members who, as far as I could judge, were paying any attention. There were six. What is it necessary to do in such a case in order to prevent the claim, twenty-five years later, when countless interests have vested
- ↑ Leslie's Weekly, September 24, 1896.
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