The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-29

TUE SILVER OUTLOOK.
Bimetallism across the water, as we
have seen, is in the hands az the ablest
students and writer's on finance in the
old world. Likewise ia the United
States the advocates Of International BIZ
metallism number some Of our foremost
political economists. President An
drews, Of Brown university, who was a
member OF the late Brussels conference
on the part Of the United States, tells
the April number Of the Quarterly
Journal Of Economies Of the first organ
ization for the promotion Of interna-
tional bimetallism in Boston, on Feb. s.
1894. Tho meeting was attended by
about fifty gentlemen, bankers, manu-
facturers, merchants, railroad men, law
yers and state and national officials
There we're few theorists in the number,
the great majority being capitalists an
men of affairs. An Of these gentlemen
signed the following declaration Of prn-
ciples:
''The committee is formed for the pur-
pose Of promoting the establishment Of
international bimetallism upOa the gen
eral plan OF the Latin Union, but with
broader basis. Those concerned in
the movement, while earnestly opposed
to the free coinage or to any increased
use Of silver by this country indepeu-
IDENTIFY OF international action and agree
ment. believe that the repeal Of the
purchase clause Of the Sherman act af-
fords a fitting and fortunate opportunity
for advancing the cause Of international
bimetallsm. They believe that the day
is not far distant when the necessities
Of commerce will compel an interna-
tional use Of silver as well as Of gold in
curreneies throughout the world"
1t was determined that the east
should have a preponderance Of num-
bers in the committee in order that the
eastern people should not conceive a
prejudice against il by confounding il
with the western free silver movement. /
The committee does not propose to
make use Of any political agencies, or to /
attempt to influence, otherwise than I
through public opinion, the action Of the /
administration or congress. Its work is 1
TO be educational 1t will endeavor to 4
instruct the community IN what it con
siders the only sound theory OF hard 1
money, that Of international bimetal-
lism, preparing the public sentiment Of
the country for the adoption Of this
so soon as Great Britain's concurrence
can be secured. Tho committee be-
lieves that Great Britain is now far
more interested in the silver question
than we, and is rapidly coming 70 see
that she must move for an amendment
Of the monetary situation, asking our
assistance instead Of our asking hers.
In answer TO the question as 10 why
this country now needs 70 agitats FOR
bimetallism, in view Of England's neoes-
sites, President Andrews says ITO as
sure the English bimetallists in their
gallant and gaining fight, as well as
well as their opponents, that in repeal.
ing the Sherman act tho United States
has not abandoned the cause ~ silver
money, as the gold monometallist press
in London and IN New York So assidu-
ously represent. BY tho loyal and pa
triotic support which they gave 20 the .
effort Tor repeal tho bmetalliste did .
nQt mean 70 imply the slightest pausng
IN their belief that tie restoration Of .
silver Is Indispensable 20 the proper
progress Of civilization. They view the
advance Of gold monometallism as a
grave threat 81 production and trade.
to the welfare Of the masses. and oven
to the stability oi society; and tAoy con
slider that no small par. OF tho indus
trial and social suffering of the past
twenty years is traceaa.e 70 THIS cause.
These convictions neol public express
sion for another reason. The persistent
effort Of certain eastern newspapers to
represent our cossati8rs If SILVER p4r-
ohases as the final doom 70 silver has
had a most unhappy effect uuoa the .
south and west Il las lel ueofle
there TO think ~ tIe east as opposing
the coinage Of silver free or restricted.
national or international. az any ratio. I
From the painful effects 40 dear goIf f
coupled with tho conviction that tic
east was resolved a. r.get and ferpetu-
ate these, there was fast arising an IN
tense and angry secfonalism which .
boded the republic no good"
The friends q silver ia tho south aud .
west cannot afford 20 sneer 10 OF Lsllttie .
the efforts Of these men who ars sim .
cere in their purpose % aId them. These
eastern bimetallists are henceforth TO I
be powerful allies, working along their /
own lines toward the same goal as our /
selves
There is another point brought out by /
President Andrews in this discussion. /
He and his associates stand fast uy the 4
proposition denied BY the monometal- /
lists, that the cause Of low prices IS the |
appreciation OF gold. Says Dr. An