Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-09-18


Secretary Manning would probably be APP
pointed Minister to Austria might have been
made even stronger. IL can be said with GER
tainty that the whole question rests with the
Secretary himself to decide.
To the minds of many it may seem odd that
the President should select such u man for such
an office. and odder still that the offer should
be seriously considered. To exchange the next
to the highest place in the Cabinet for a mis-
sion of the second class under any other pres
sure than that of political pecuniary neces-
slty. Is not what most persons would expect of
public man of Mr. Mannings well known am
bition. The fact is however, that Just at pres
ent the office at his disposal may develop into
one OF the most important in the gilt OF the gov
eminent. The silver question is troublesome
problem which our country must soon bring
q nnal solution, but her only means OF settling
II on any satisfactory basis is dependent upon
an agreement with the powers of Europe. Eng
land Is coming face to face with similar diff
Guilty through the increased intimacy of
her relations, political and commercial,
with her Indian empire. If England
should yield TO the solicitations of
the United States for q coinage compact
1t would simplify matters very greatly for both
nations. The most powerful lever that could
be used to affect England's course would be
combination between Germany, Austria and
Russia tor the maintenance of a bi-metiiiIic cur
rency ON some such foundation is thai oil the
Lation Union, and the danger that the United
States might be taken into the circle and her
self shut out.
These premises recognized, what kind of a
hypothesis may be built up on them? Suppose
that the United States were 10 send TO Austria
a minister, the man who, for a year and half,
has managed their Treasury and whose reputa-
ton as a nnancier is as widespread civilized
government; suppose that, owing to his infirm
health, he were To spend the larger part OF his
time tor o while 10 come, not at the capital, but
at one of the watering places in which the Aus
TRAN valleys abouDd-Gastein, for example;
suppose that not only the chief funetionaries
of tine imperial court were 10 meet him there
under conditions OF less restraint than would
be possible in their formal diplomatic inter-
course at Vienna, but the emperors OF Ger
many and Russia, their chancellors or
both, should happen to visit Gastein i'm the
same way that they have done in
former years; and, finally, suppose that, out of
this pleasant and health-gaining sojourn of
Minister Manning at the baths should grow a
change of feeling the part of the chief states
men OF continental Europe toward the plan for
the rehabilitation OF silver which the United
states have twice proposed at international
monetary conventions; could the Secretary
whoreiinQuished the control OF the Treasury of
single government in order to remOuId the
financial policy of the whole world be said TO
have moved from a higher to a lower plane or
the reverse?
Mr.. Manning Is not in need of another office
when he surrenders the one he now fills. He
has means enough. and honors enough, Tor any
man. The only reason tor the Presidents olIer
Of such change as is now proposed, or of his
considering its acceptance, would be founded
on desire 10 round out noteworthy Career
and 10 do a measureless service to the country