Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-24
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER %. 1892
The Brussels Conference-Again

The Brussels Conference Again.
The opening proceedings IN the Brussels
conference were highly interesting.
These proceedings indicate, If we have
read Alright the reports we have received
from that conference, tina. a most catholic
spirit prevails among the delegates. and
that they are not only animated by O sin
cere desire to solve the silver problem, but
prepared 10 proclaim 10 oil the world that
there are two sides 10 the silver question.
The "all-knowingneS" " of number OF the
delegates is not likely so have the effect OF
Fastening the adjournment of the confer
ence and thereby preventing action either
in the direction Of bimetallism or IN the
direction Of recommendation.
NJ BATRSHRr. the Belgian Prime Minis
ter, who is also the Belgian Minister of
Finance. manifested most praiseworthy
desire 20 enlist the sympathies OF the
delegates In favor of action. The law of
progress, be said, called for an interna-
tionsl understanding. The law of 1.-THE
survival Of the fittest" comes into opera
ton Just here That law demands a uni
versal currency-a currency as good in one
country have q currency that is good in
every one of fortv-four States. aud IN a
number of Territories. IL is accepted
already, without much hesitation, in the
foremost commercial centres in Christen-
dom. 1t would seem that the Belgian con-
ference could hardly, by any possibility
fail TO draw the inference that a cosmo-
politan currency ought to result from
conference of cosmopolitan fnanciers
assembled for the purpose of placing the
finances of all Christendom in good con-
dltion. There is not a shadow of reason
for doubling that like causes produce
like effects" in the world of finance.
Mr.. BIERNEBT made what ought to be q
highly -signifcsnt remark that numerous
international understandings had been ar
rived at for the regulation of the common
interests of the civilized world in tele-
graphs. railways, weights and measures,
&c, &c. The meaning OF that remark
ought TO be that Mr.. BAKRNERT would
favor bimetallism. seeing that more than
half the people in the world use silver as
money. We had the good luck TO throw
out yesterday hint IN the same direction
when we said what we did in regard to the
understanding which the late Inter
statutory" labOminable world convention
would like TO have among the several
States Of this Union on many different
subjects. One important subject OF au
understanding of this sort was, we sug-
gested, the currency of the United States
Mr.. BAKRSERT politely said that it was for
the delegates of the United States, which
country had called the conference to-
cether. to put forward the views of their
government and how it was proposed to
carry these views into effect. If our dele
gates were a majority of them bi-metal-
lists there would be good reason to hope
for q better outcome Of the conference
than can be expected from delegates cling
ing TO monometallism as TO an idol.
However. as we have often said heretofore,
we hope for some beneficial action on the
part Of the conference.
Mr.. j. MoNTEHoRE-LEvY, the president
Of the conference. said that the worst fea-
ture of the present monetary situation was
its instability. His other remark, that he
hoped the members of the conference
would sink their individual interests and
keep in view the interests of 1.-THE great
human family" would seem TO point him
out a. in favor of universal currency.
There Is nothing else up for public con-
sideration which is more important to all
mankind than the subjects which will
claim the consideration of the Interna-
tiopal Bimetallic Conference.