The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-25
INTERNATIONAL BIMETALLISM.
The United States Can Bring 1t About
by Taking Aggressive Action.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal
There are but few gold monometallists
among the public men OF the United States.
1t is generally conceded in this country
that the demonstration of silver by Eng
land, Germany and the United States has
resulted disastrously to all business affairs
everywhere. Men who are the most con-
sentative on this subject do not deny that
it would be wise thing for the world to
go back to the gold and silver standard
of the past. All our national conventions
of two years ago took decided ground in
favor of silver as standard money-not
subsidiary silver coins, nor redeemable sill
yer coins, but silver coins that should be a
standard of value, the as gold is
standard of value. There can be no doubt,
therefore, that the great mass of peo-
pie are favorable to silver as standard
money-that is, money to measure values
and pay debts with. They do not at all
give their consent to the proposition that
all values ought to be measured by an ex-
clusively gold standard, is now done.
The only question that creates trouble is,
how are we to get back to the gold and
silver standard? Should the United States
attempt the movement alone? 1t is claimed
by many wise financiers that this would
work disaster. and perhaps 1t would,
though never could see how But 1t Is
not necessary TO try the experiment, for
a course that is entirely safe is growing
in favor, and. if l am not much deceived
by the signs of the times" will soon
command popular approval throughout the
country. That course is an agreement
among all the nations of the earth that
are i'm favor of both gold and silver as
standard money to discriminate in their
commercial policy against those nations
which will not consent to an interna tional
standard of value. l know it is claimed
that we cannot coerce other nations to
adopt the gold and silver standard, but it
will not escape notice that those who claim
this are perfectly willing TO admit, and do
admit, that other nations are coercing us
into the policy of gold recommendation. 1t
is said that coercion is a dangerous game
because two can play at 1t 1ns is un-
doubtedly true; and what / insist on is
that two shall play at 1t. Great Britain
and Germany now trying to coerce us
into their policy of gold recommendation.
But we have a better hand in the game
than either of them, or both of them to-
gether. We are in a position where We
can coerce them great deal more than
they can coerce US; and, 50 long this
cion with them Great Britain has been
saying TO US for years You cannot adopt
the free coinage OF silver until We do the
same thing, and We do not intend to adopt
il at all" The men in this country who
are so much afraid of coercion do not OBJ
ject 10 this coercion of us by Great Brit
ain. They go into spasms only when
talk about cOercing Great Britain 10 let
go our throats and quit choking into
/ am not afraid of the word coercion.
If we cannot get what belongs 10 us with
out coercion, then / am for coercion. We
are in a position where all the nations of
the earth cannot coerce us into
the adoption OF financial policy
that the country is very nearly
unanimous in condemning; and all we
need is the spirit to resist their coercion
with a stronger coercion. While other
tions are firing on us with their batteries
of coercion there will be nothing wrong
in our capturing their artillery and turning
Ii against them. l want to see every man
who is a candidate for Congress in this
campaign, whether Republican, Democrat
or Populist. pledge himself 10 the policy
of defensive coercion If bimetalism is
right, then let US have bimetallism 1t is
worse than childish tor any man TO say
that he is in favor of bimetallism. and
then to propose its adoption only after all
other nations shall have voluntarily agreed
TO it. One might as well favor the passage
of free coinage bill to go into force att
er the day OF judgment. People OF COM
mon sense are becoming tired OF such Jug
giery. We have got to resort to some he
rotc measure TO brine about interna tional
free coinage. and the Republican party is
the one which should have the glory OF in
augurating II. The Indiana State Repub-