Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1894-11-02


the debate on that repeal we heard
much Of international conferences
and the hope was frequently ex-
pressed that an international arrange
ment could be made by which for
eign governments might consent that
the people of the United States
might go to the free coinage of sill
YER. ~. ....
Yet all who expressed this hope
knew that an international confer
ence had met at Brussels less than
year prior, and that it failed. to take
any steps favorable to silver.
All the leading Republicans ex.
pressed perfect willingness to
adopt free coinage for the United
States, provided Great Britain and
the other governments of Europe will
do 80 for their own countries.
The Brussels conference was the
third that had been held upon the
subject; and it seems impossible to
believe that any sensible person can
expect from q fourth conference a re-
suit in any way different from that OF
tho third. Not one of those confer
ences (extending over a period of six
teen years) held out shadow of hope
that international free coinage would
be adopted. .I.... ..
At the conference OF 1892, which I
attended as delegate on behalf of
the United States, every man who
spoke for what might be called the
Official set Of his own country ridi-
ouled the idea of bimetallism Of any
kind-international or otherwise.
The language in which their views
we're expressed was Of course diplo-
matte and polite, but those who heard
the speeches had an opportunity to
observe the truth of the old adage
that language was given to man to
enable him to conceal his thoughts.
The gold standard men were
restive and impatient. They wished
to choke off debate on the merits Of
the question involved by insisting that
there should be no discussion of BIZ
metallism. They were averse to what
they called academic discussion.
Perhaps they did not wish to listen to
any disagreeable truths, but as one
of the delegates from the United
States, felt that a duty rested upon
me, the performance Of which could
not shirk. / determined that at least
they should know what the silver men
of the United States thought ON the
subject of bimetallism. Not that ]
had the slightest idea that anything
said there on behalf Of silver would
produce any result, but I did not
wish to have it charged against the
silver advocates of this country that
we had been offered the chance to be
heard and had run away from the dis,
cussion-that we had been offered
our day in court and were afraid to
face our opponents with our argument
The Austrian representative said
that his government had only just re
Gently changed from a silver to gold
standard. We could hardly expect
therefore that Austria would under
take to change her system within @
few months. ..
The representative of France, Mr.
Tirard, stated that France was bi
metallist country in fact, but that il
she would not resume the free coinage
of silver, and il she would not go back
to absolute bimetallism, it was only
because England and other countries
of Europe had declared that they in
tended to remain monometallist. He
therefore declined to recommend tc
his government the free coinage Of
silver.
Germany adopted the gold standard