Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-29
S,lver-Once More.

Silver-Once More.
We said only word 10y way of comment
rpon Mr. RoYAII's letter III yesterdays
IsSprtch but ~ we have since had our At
tcntion recalled to bimetallism 10y articles
IN London. Boston, and Atlanta papers
we shall be excused for recurring 80 the
subject. We ruust notice the Atlanta Con-
saaeio4.'s article TO say that we do not pro-
pose t. have any question rs to bimeta'-
ism incurpoln,ed into the platform OF the
Democrats Of Virginia. We omit the Con-
sfi4aioy.'s remarks As 10 that platform. but
COW what it saws on the general question.
We quote:
The farmers Of this country endure no
rrcatcr burdens than those that are piac,
on them boy the discrimination AGAINST Sli-
Yer I'm the markets of Europe. this as
crininatiou al ects the price OF cotton ana
wheat in this country. and n Will be Kept
lDuntil the United states make vigorous
move in the night direction.
Thewav 20 ramOuctize silver - toqnake
+hc coinage OF tho metal As free rs that OF
cold. when this Is done the European
nations who find II TO their interest 10 ue-
grade silver VIII speedily come 10 their
souSes.'
The Boston A3rcrtiST has an article which
coes 10 show that thu people of Boston
have leaned good deal on this subject
since 1873. That paper was once the organ
of Beacon street. If 1t is not now, We do
not knowthc fact. 1t says Of the final re-
port Of the British Royal Commission ON
limetallism:
1.-THE commissioners are practically
agreed that the many evils complained OF
under the single standard may be traced
70 the abolition Of q SILVER coinage IN the
latter part Of the preceding decade. or
thu biuetslic standard which was pre-
Viouslv used the commissioners say 10
long as that standard was IN force we
think that, Notwithstanding the changes
I'm decentralization and Use Of the precious
metal il kept the market price Of SILVER
UNFORTUNATELY steady at the ratio hXed 10y
law between theut-namelv, l58 TO l.
Ihis is view taken iIy the SILVER men al
TINS country, and the fact that II i CON
cured in by the COMMISSION Aiter
thorough investigation OF the subject Is IA
strong argument in favor Of Its accuracy.
Having agreed thus far, however, the
commission as whole goes no further
rs 20 the means % bee employed there IL "a
difference Of opinion, upon which the com
uittee arr equally divided. One half,
while admitting that the changes IN the
relative value Of the precious metals are
causing important evils and lnconve-
nieuce and admitting that binetaillsln Is
the best known remedy, are unprepared TO
recommend "a return 10 double standard
of coinage because Of the tremendous i'm
p0rtance of such a step. The principal
cause II their hesit8ncy may arse
from the fact that England Is the
worlds creditor country Of debts paya-
hein gold. and any change which entaued
a rise IN the price of silver might thus de
crease the PURCHASING power OF gold. Inc
other half Of the commission recommends
nm international conference between Great
Britain and lis colonies. the United States,
Germany. and the Latin States % adopt
some agreement for the free coinage OF
both metals iutoa lcgal-teuder currency.
at "a ratio to be fixed by the conference.
1T is 20 be- hoped that this latter recon-
mendation may be accepted. The adoption
Of "A single standard by European countries
has entailed certain evils upon the financial
world. Ii these evils can be done away
with hv an unlimited coinage Of silver,
such o fact, If clearly shown 10 the Inter
national Convention proposed. might
bring about return 10 the blmetalllc
standard If the nations do not think the
evils complained of can be removed 10y a
re<uru TO bimetallism. the sooner the fact
f~ KNOWN liIt DtLl+l IL Will bt AOl ia I"-
4ions concerned. We think that Congress
should, in every possible way, strive Ia So
cure an international conference on this
subject. IL might be productive OF much
good
When We see how little silver the whole
world produces annually, and how much
Of il India can absorb, we are surprised
that the governments of Great Britain,
France, Germany, and tho United States
do not at once restore silver to It's proper
place IN tho monetary system OF the
world Ivy opening their mlnts to its
free coinage There cannot be doubt
that silver bullion and gold bullion would
nj once become Of equal value. We be-
leve tins country could itself accomplish
this desirable end but Of course It would
be better 60 have the cooperation Of the
other countries named.
We now quote from the London 81.
Jdpes's GGzet'e:
A debate on the bimctallc theory is not
perhaps % very agreeable preparation tor
the holiday season, but the discussion
which followed Mr. ChAplin's motion on
Tuesday ctu hardly fail so be advantageous.
The problem - both interesting and I'M
portaut and a great many people viii have
90 peace II mind tll II j, solved. They
themselves are firmly convinced, and they
me irving hard 70 convince others, that the
nation generally will never ARISE from
ltS present depression till england adopts
biIuefalhC currency; but this point
must still DO left in the realm Of
conjecture. II is enough TO know that
Mr. Chapliu's man contention will before
long b. The subject Of inquiry by an inter
national conference to be held III Paris
aud BY that . Ine English public opinion
ouoht 70 hav. formed some definite views
on the subject. Tuesdays debate has not
altogether cleared the atmosphere; but in
some directions there Is certainly less OBJ
scuritv One point Is abundantly clear.
The upholders a bimetalllsm. ssnsnipe rs
they are. arc stlll unable 10 say that their
remedy for certain class OF economical
complaints "a a panacea.
MIR. Chaplin an-ues that The English
wbcat-growers and cOtton-splnners would
be benefited. and he quotes a lettcr from
Lord DuheTin 90 show that all classes of
the Indian community would also profit
by any means which could 6e devised for
maintaining a steady relation between the
value of gold and silver. But although a
minority of the Gold and Silver Commits
sion had no doubt as 10 the probable re-
suits OF accepting bimetAlllxm. the other
members were IL 10 way inclined 10 pro-
phecy. Our experts are either unwilling
70 say precisely what would happen If we
adopted gold aud silver currency, OF arc at
variance a. to the probable result"
. This is temperate DISCUSSION, The BIZ
neiallists are now quite rs respectable rs
tue monometallists. and their arguments
are now weighed by men who elyen years
ago regarded them as no better than green
back INMATES. We Eecall at this moment
tho prediction that in six months time
Qhis was years ago) gold would be driven
out Of the country, silver would constitute
on our metallic currency, and business
would be ruined