The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-29
sfArrIs. fRTDAr. SIR. 20.


The presidents letter 70 Gov. Northen,
of6eorgia, Published yesterday, and which
was of conrss meant IS an address TO the
public. makes il evident that Mr.. cleve-
land RiIi refuse 20 accept anything short
Of unconditional repeal Of the purchase
clause Of the Sherman act lie knows
that ali the logic OF his message falls to the
ground the moment he accepts anything
short OF unconditional repeal. tits not
question Of the mere amount OF the
monthly purchases OF silver; 1t 10 ques-
tIon Of principle.
The president Is not treated fairly when
lie Ii described as a rnono-metalIist; in his
letter 10 GOV. Northen. rs in his message,
he points out clearly inst as do The Repa5-
ilcan Senators Justin =. Morrill,. John sher-
man ard George y. Hoar. that the only
practical bi.metallisn. il international BIZ
netailism. and that We can never hope
TO get that 80 long ~ We persist In paying
out our gold 10 Increase our stock Of un-
used silver bullion. This policy persisted
In would eventually bring us to the mono
metalism that Congressman Bland wants,
that IL. the silver standard forced through
free silver coinage. As for the gold stand
ard. we have been at the gold standard
since 1873. and II we were not at the gold
standsrd our silver dollars and silver notes
would not today purchase ~ much as .
gold dollar.
Mr.. Cleveland knows that until we lift
the spectre OF free silver. near or remote,
except on the basis of international BIZ
metalllsm. from off our treasury chamber
door there will be no full return OF conf
dence in American securities among Euro
pean or American investors. There can
be no such thing as bi-metalllsm for this
country alone. for free coinage of silver
exeep. on an international ratio would
send US 20 the SILVER standard. and the
siiverites who sowed the wind would reap
the wh!r!wind. Today the only reason
why the worklngman can afford to accept
silver dollars and silver paper is not be-
cause of the silver bullion stacked up in the
treasury: ID il because the United States 10
pledged on demand TO redeem these silver
dollars and this silver paper In gold.
II we really had independent bi-metal-
the present ratio, everybody who had 50
cents worth Of silver bullion In the world
would coin IL at our treasury for q dollar
that was legal tender for 100 cents would
then turn his silver into gold. and every
body who held silver dollars or silver paper
would hssten 10 DO tho same thing. and
we woald 20 TO silver standard, for we
would he at once drained of our gold.
Any man who talks about hl-metallism.
meaning hy that the free coinage of gold
and silver by the United States independ-
ent OF Europe. is. n honest. not well In
formed. The brains and character of both
parties are agreed on this, that the only
practical bi.metallism Is international BIZ
me,aliism. that the insuperabie obstacle
TO international bi-metallism is our pres
eat system OF silver purchase. which. as
John sherman in bis recent speech said.
Was drawing rs away from practical BIZ
ms.allism and pushing as slowly but
steadily in the directioa OF the mono.
metaliism OF silver standard. Until
We set international bl-meiallism We
cannot do better than 90 stop the fur
Their purchase aud coinage of silver, which
would leave us practically where France
Is today. France. like the United states.
holds 10 the gold standard, bnt has q
large amount Of silver that is legal tender
hat Is easily carried. ~ the minis of
France have been shut TO further silver
coinage. Here We can safely halt until
England - forced TO consent TO inter.
national hs-me,allism.
The talk about s'the American nation
being great enough and strong enough in
iss industrial policy to maintain biz
metaillsm independently of Earope is al
sard We are not Gains. nor ancient
sparta nor Patagonia. nor Mexico: We are
q great trading nation that buys enor-
Tnousy in Europe and sells enormously TO
Europe. and We are no more independent
OF Eavope Than Ne are OF the Winds that
racs and the waves that roll between
America and karope, business is husl-
ness, International hi-metaIllsm is sound
business; any other bl-mslAllism is IN.
soand business and means not bl-metal-
lwm. but recommendation by drop 10
SILVER standard. Mr., Cleveland sees shis,
his supporters, among both Republicans
and Democrats. see il. and Of coarse Re
can nos cFomrTomise, The Sherman pRr.
chase clause viii ultimately he repeated
without condition. because the faisare 10
repeal Il leaves the spectre Of free silver
coinage constantly rising on the sight Of
both the EasseFn and the European in
vestoFS.