The effect of the free and unlimited coinage of silver on our great commercial interests. especially if our gold coin ceased to circulate. would be paralyzing if no ruinous. There is another view to which I call the earnest attention of the members of this House. On the 23d of January. less than one month ago. 16 United States Senators who are the advdcates of the free and unlimited and independent coinage of silver. and who represent silverproducing States. signed a declaration which has been widely published. in which they said: We are in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 by the independent action of the United States. and we are in favor of a tariff which shall be sufficient to equalize the cost of prod uction in the United States and in European and Asiatic countries. and that the protection incident to such tariff shall be equally distributed in every section of the United States. and between the various products and industries of each State. This shows that free coinage of silver and protection are moving hand in hand. Free silver coinage is an obstruction to international commerce.