New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-19

THAN TO SEND BACK THE AMERI-
CAN DELEGATES-THIs WILL
KILL THE CONFERENCE.
Washington. April 1s.-Presdent Clrvfland has not
yet announced his decision to the return OF the
American delegates to til, Brussels Conference even
to those whose plans depend on his determination and
who are therefore entitled TO know II as soon as he
feels himself In position to speak But he has said
number Of things which, taken together. Justify the
belief that he will send back the delegation without
a definite commission. This without doubt will result
In the prompt conclusion OF the Conference. Unless
the United States goes Brussels with definite plan
TO propose. 1t Is unlikely that there will be more than
two CT three stings. Mr.. Cleveland Is profoundly
unwilling to assume the responsibility Of formulating
any such plan as the Conference could possibly adopt
The original instruction TO delegates, while leav
Ing them great latitude. stated that the main purpose
sought TO DO served by the United States the
bringing about OF stable relation between gold and
silver. " Your first and most important duty" said
the Secretary OF State in his letter OF instructions TO
the delegation, will be 10 secure II possible,
agreement among the chief commercial countries Of
the world looking to International bimetalsm-that
Is. tie unlimited coinage Of gold and silver into money
OF full debt paying power ut fixed ratio in coin COM
mon TO all thu agreeing powers" But the Govern
men OF General Harrison did stand this propo-
sition entirely II said that the commission falling
w 'uIc uHl'l1lnSm SnOuln seek >" 10
secure. II possible. some action upon the part Of the
European countries looking to larger use Of silver
currency"
Under this second clause Of Secretary Fosters litter
the delegates having ascer'aned the utter impossi
bllity OF procuring agreement In favor Of unlimited
free coinag" or Of fixing ratio by international enact
mcnts. proceeded TO consider III, various schemes for
purchases Of silver that from time 10 time pro-
posed. The Conference was well inclined to do some
thing. Nobody pretended that the situation was what
II shond be- Nobody claimed that remedy i'm
possible. The distinguished Belgian Senator Monte
horc Levi. who presided over the Conference IN his
opening speech described the evil grave and por
'entous and said that tho hesitation which checks
all great enterprises and which paralyzcs many mar
kcts Is the direct consequence Of tho instability In the
price Of silver rs compared with gold" Even Sir
Rivers Wilson, Of tho British delegation. who described
the faith of England that Of the school Of
mcGlism pure and simple" was moved to declare
that there could be question that all the Govern.
mcnts who have sent representatives to this Confer
cnc even those who have Instructed their delegates
to act with the greatest ccoenzc tho presence
OF danger" Mr.. Tirard speaking for France made
similar statements, and. indeed. delegation after dele
gallon declared the condition Of arnrS financially In
every country TO he extremely critical and recognized
that the constantly changing relation between the
values OF gold and silver the chief source OF. rri
tatlon and trouble.
SIM there wa no possibility OF inducing the Con-
ference 10 apply drastic remedy Many Of the
delegates who were least willing 10 discuss the sub
lect of fixed ratio and Of international lmotalli,m
frankly admitted that the evil suffered woad never
u" cured except by The application Of thu, remedy
Th'iI reason for refusing consider the measure
which they admitted TO bc the only effective one
was found either r. the instructions Of their Govern
mcnts. or in their belief that n sudden change was
nearly as danecrou, IA continuation Of c present
ro-i'ons.
They stand now Just whore they stood when the
conference assembled. unless the mononieialic pin
cir" has been somewhat further strength ned by Mr.
Gl@d''onc's accession 10 power In Great Britain Mr..
'lads'onc has declared himself with franhness that
Is nothing less than brutal. lie has said in Para-
mcnt that fngan T. great creditor nator, that all
III" world owes her money, and that their debts
England amount 10 many thousands Of mililoxs. and
that England would be- foolish. II It be true that all
other values dcpiclac In comparison with gold TO
accept anything less than the value she has the right
20 compel. Nevertheless, Mr. Gladstone hai India
hi, hands. the largest user OF silver I'm the world
and he has the declaration Of Sir 'ul ford Mocsworth
Who rcprc -entcd India nt The Conrrcrc", ana with
dcsr"" 81 ability which won great respect for his
opinions. that India will never De- content while Great
Britain refuses to Cooperate with other Powers To
avert the financial caasrorhicN from which hci
greatest dcpcndoncy has long suffered. and on
account Of which II I, now in great Distress There
Is good roa'on to believe that the English delegates.
notwitlS aiding Tr. GiadstOncs recent speech viii
i" found quite flvorahy disp Sod toward some sort
NJ relief legislation. but they ard all the other
delegates viii expect Tia" American commissioners
PROPOSE that g,aiior and t. propcs, 1t ~ the
| Of the tcveland Administration.
For 1t mainly. II not wholly, because OF the
change In administrations here that the Conference
adjourned without action last December. 1t Is true
that immense difficulty experienced I'm the for.
mutation Of IA plan upon which agreement could
he had. and that the excuse afforded by Mr.. Me.
Crcary's speech indorsing adjournment was ac-
copied Without much regret. 80 strong, however.
the feeling OF all that something ought TO be
done, and that NJ. De ROthschild spoke truly when
he said that Ill this Conference breaks up without
arriving at any definite result. there will be- de-
probation In the value Of silver out Of which Il
monetary panic viii cnsue. the far-Sprcading effects
Of which 1t Will be- irshtul to contemplated" 80
-trong This feeling that il the American dele
gates had opposed a long adjournment 1t would not
have been taken Congressman McCrcary was un.
dcrstood by his colleagues and 10y other wcnformcd
delegates To be- In regular cable communication with
;hc gentleman who had Just been elected President
Of The nit"d States, and who was soon to displacc
the President by whom the Conference had been
formed. ana 10 bring with him into the Government
another poll ical party and another line Of policies
can delegation thus from the first compromised.
and when Mr. McCrcary recalled 10 the Conference
the political changes that had taken place in the
nit.d States since Its delegates left their country
and said that on the 18th Of March next those changes
would have full effect. and that then such action
regarding This Conference rs seems proper bc
takcn," natural significance was attached to the
stalcmcnt, and especially TO the word 81 Them" The
conference. when II rcassemblcs will expect Mr.
McCrcary's words To be mad. good. Ii will expect
that such action he foretold will have been taken
and that he somebody else will arrive In brussels
equipped To define that action and 10 give the Con
ference something 10 work
But this expectation is likely to be disappointed
Mr.. Gle, Gland has no mind propose silver pur
chase sclcm". lie wants To get I'D of the purchases
H..
United StnteS by international agreement 10 keep on
buying silver. lie viii PROBABLY his way out Of
the dilemma by taking neither horn. lie will say. In
sub'iancc, The United states called this Conference"
cach Government was duly advised, for the purpos"
OF general discussion and In the hore that the nit
Of such discus sion would be tac establishment OF Il
fixed International ratio between gold and silver and
unlimited international bimctai-m. II app from
the discussion that tb, Is impossible and that the
only thing that be done Is the maaing OF an
attempt 10 sustain silver by International purchases In
which the United state, will b. expected 10 take The
chief part and bear the heaviest burden. We rot