Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-29
An International Bimctaliic
Conference.


Whether the Wilson bill to repeal the
SHERMAN silver act shall be3ome a law or
not, the demand for another inter
national bimetalic conference will con-
tnue until all nations shall have been
freed FROM the nightmare which now
sits upon the heart OF the commercial
world. Whatever may be said to the
contrary, the Brussels conference did
much towards opening the eyes OF the
expert fiuauci RS of Europe to the fact
that all wisdom would not die with them.
TIL various phases of the money
problem aud of the currency problsm as
distinguished from the money problem,
if indeed line of distinction may be
drawn in this connection between real
money and currency, were presented to
that conference in light in which they
had never before appeared to the
European participants in the delibera-
tons thereof.
he fact is that certain theory has
been almost universally accepted by the
statesmen OF. Europe as indisputable, and
those statesmen had been regarded as
able to settle upon the basis of that
theory all financial questions which
could possibly arise. All Europe had
walked or tumbled into financial mt,
and more than satisfied with the theory
above alluded to, had come to what was
considered a financial conclusion of the
whole matter, and dismissed every theory
but one from their minds as unworthy
of moments consideration.
In England, as on the continent, dog
matte utterances had come to be the
only reply to all the arguments that
could be made in favor of bimetallism.
"Oh, the question is settled against you,
and you cannot reopen it." was the
language of the rulers OF the world.
In the Brussels conference, we say. were
American members who endeavored to
pull the financial question out OF the rut
alluded to. They had "freed their minds
from can't" and had approached the
questions submitted to them for consid-
GRAFTON and settlement with fixed aud
steady purpose either to find or force
way ont Of the financial wilderness in
which they found all the commercial ma
tons of the world wandering. Som of the
European members came to scott but
remained to learn" and some OF the
American members undertook "a CAM
paign OF education" OF course the
members who "knew it all did not
give themselves much concern. They
had settled tho matter to their own sat
isfaction when they left homo, and de-
sired TO hear nothing more said on the
subject. Like the Pennsylvania JUS
toes Of the peace, they had heard one
side and had made up their minds, and
did not wish to have their notions rude
ly jostled.
Again: The closing of the minis Of
India 10 the free coinage OF silver pro.
duced a condition Of things which calls
for universal international bimetallic
conference. II is absolutely certain that
the world cannot do without silver
currency. Gold cannot be used for
ubsidiary coins Gold has not the bulk
which the peoples money must have.
Gold halves. quarters. and tenths.
would DO an intolerable nuisance.
Whether silver shall DO left free TO rise
and fall day after day, ssany other CON-
modify 10 allowed to rise and fall day
after day. or shall be placed In such
position that IL will servo ~ part Of an
International or universal currency and
b. - stable as gold. 10 the question