Sir. I have taken my stand with the sixty millions of toilers and taxpayers of my country as against the handful of bullionowners and silverspeculators. Gentlemen may do as they please. but while I retain my reason or my conscience I will never vote for a measure that will drive the intelligent farmer or laborer of my country down to the awful condition of the peons of Mexico. the coolies of China. and the ryots of India. It is claimed that by reason of the act of 1873 a great and unjust burden was placed upon the debtor class. that it takes more of labor and its products for the farmer to pay interest on his mortgage now than then. There is no force whatever in this statement. because ninetyninehundredths of the mortgages now upon the Western farms have been placed there during the lAt five years. and at a rate of interest more than 30 per cent. less than in 1873.