The Mountain Echo

Senator Pugh's Defi.

The following from Senator Pugh about represents the sentiments of the Southern Senators who fought the unconditional repeal until their physical strength were exhausted and their mental powers prostrated:

From the Congressional Record.

The consideration of the bill to repeal the purchasing clause of the Sherman act was taken up, and Mr. Stewart, of Nevada, who was entitled to the floor, yielded to Mr. Pugh, who proceeded to address the senate against the bill. Referring to the recent compromise, he said that the democratic senators had united in the spirit of compromise and concession and selected an equal number of senators from those friendly to unconditional repeal and those opposed to it, and with the knowledge of President Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle that such effort was being made to bring democratic senators together upon some common ground that could be enacted into law. They accomplished that laudable undertaking so far as to agree upon a compromise that secured the signatures of every democratic senator but six. The fact was not considered doubtful that 43 democratic senators would have sanctioned the compromise had not President Cleveland interposed objection and demanded unconditional repeal at all hazards. He was now satisfied that all efforts at compromise had failed solely on account of President Cleveland and his secretary of the treasury. He was satisfied that he could not get a sufficient number of senators to join him in filibustering practices and he was forced to record his vote against this diabolical measure and appeal to the people to organize their forces for the great battle of the future. He was willing, if he had sufficient support to resort to any and all means to defeat the pending bill. He was proud to be called a filibusterer in defeating a conspiracy, equaling in the ruinous consequences of its success, to war, pestilence and famine. He would rather be called a filibusterer by the conspirators and lickspittles of the gold kings than to be called a traitor or faithless representative by the state and people who honored him with their trust and confidence. As for himself he would do his duty as a senator as he understood it and leave the consequences to God and his country.

Senator Pugh said he was satisfied that nine-tenths of the unconditional repealers did not desire free coinage of silver by international agreement, nor did he believe that a larger majority of the people of the country was against the unconditional repeal of the Sherman act than there ever was against the force bill.