Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1892-05-26
The Silver Conference.

The Silver Conference.
Great Britain will accept the invi-
tation OF the United States to take
part in the proposed international
conference. This decision
is peculiarly gratifying to the United
States, and the cordial and friendly
language OF Mr.. Goschen, the British
Chancellor of the Exchequer, in an
the determination of the
Government, warrants a strong
hope that the conference will not be
in vain. It is a great point gained
that England consents to consider,
Tor the common interest OF all COM
n,ercial nations, and without prede-
termined antagonism, plans for the
larger use OF silver as money. For
years the attitude OF Great Britain
has appeared to. be irreconcilably
hostile to any such plans. consent
to take part in the proposed confer
ence does not commit the British
Government to any new policy, it is
true, but it implies q willingness to
seek with candor and fairness some
monetary adjustment upon which
Great Britain and the Uniten States
can agree. Mr.. Goschen interpreted
the decision of the Government in
his statements to the bi-metallic de-
putations on Wednesday when he
said: He trusted that the confer
ence would go far in the direction of
arriving at satisfactory conclusion
of th:. vexed question, and that it
would meet all the difficulties that
had teen raised
1T will not be inferred that Great
Britain will consent, or that the
United States will be prepared to
propose, the unlimited coinage OF
silver by all nations on the ratio OF
l6 to |, or Ii 1-2 to 1, or on any
new ratio. Measures to increase
the use of silver in the currency sys-
teens OF the nations" do not neces-
sarily involve any coinage whatever.
The United States does not now coin
any silver at I'LL, but it nevertheless
uses that metal largely as a. basis
for circulation, and with the concur
renee of other nations similar meth.
DDS, for instance, the same method
which Secretary Window officially.
proposed il, his report OF $50, cnulG
he rendered far more effective and
useful than any plan could possibly
be when confined to the operation OF
u singlecountry. Undoubtedly SOM,
such plans will be suggested in thu
International monetary conference,
and the fact that Great Britain is
now willing to consider them gives
much reason to hope that the meet
my will not be found fruitless. H..
truth, the increasing difficulties OF:
English commerce with India force
upon the attention OF the British
Government the necessity OF adopt
ing some mode Of extending ami
uniiying the monetary basis. And
while this country has been learning
thai free coinage would do no good
even to silver miners, othercountries
have been learning that the disuse Of
silver as money does serious harm.
The consent Of Great Britain to
participate in the conference renders
II highly probable that Germany nj
so will accept the invitation. There
has been no reason to doubt that
Frilnce aud the other nations OF the
Latin Uliion would accept the inyi.
tation and join with the United
States in an earnest effort Jo settl
the vexed question. Their difficulty
has all the time ben That they could
not afford to adopt monetary sys
tenn antagOnistic to that Of Great
Britain and Germany even with The
supporter the United States. But
it;ill the great commercial nation.
could unite upon any plan, so that
tile interests Of some would no longer
be sacrificed for the benefit Of others
a monetary adjustment for tile whole
world might b. reached. Il is in ca.
highest degree creditable to the Ad
ministration that it has taken tht
Initiative in this matter with such
success. The silverprod ucing State,
will assuretlly be brought to realiz,
THAT, while the Administration can
not and will not assent to free coin
age Of silver By the United States
alone. Throwing ,lra0n thia cn,,nfrt