some financiers who were whetting1 their tongues on their teeth

because the government had "struck down" silver, and were about to

"inaugurate" a season of sweatshed, were addressed as follows by a

member of their honourable2 and warlike body:

"comrades of the thunder and companions of death, i cannot but

regard it as singularly fortunate that we who by conviction and

sympathy are designated by nature as the champions of that fairest

of her products, the white metal, should also, by a happy chance,

be engaged mostly in the business of mining it. nothing could be

more appropriate than that those who from unselfish motives3 and

elevated sentiments are doing battle for the people's rights and

interests, should themselves be the chief beneficiaries of success.

therefore, o children of the earthquake and the storm, let us stand

shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, and pocket to pocket!"

this speech so pleased the other members of the convention that,

actuated by a magnanimous impulse, they sprang to their feet and

left the hall. it was the first time they had ever been known to

leave anything having value.