The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-04
WHY NOT INTERNATIONAL BIMETAL-
IISM

Mr.. Bland is hot. We cannot alto
gether blame him. for no man has been
mere continuously thwarted at every
turn in attempts to reach result which
to him is the one great desideratum in
life. Moreover. Mr. Bland has been de-
nounced as the author of the very meas
ures he opposed, and by which his own
measures were defeated lie bitterly
condemned the bill of 1878. which COM
monty bears his name. although he voted
for it. Explaining that vote, when he
opposed the Sherman purchase law, Mr..
Bland said:
| fell into that trap once; fell into
il in 1878. and the bill became a law
over the veto OF the president. But
every free coinage man in the house a
that time was confident that the next
resident would sign a free coinage bill.
That was our hope and our honest be-
lief That bill passed the house by
vote of three-fourths of its members.
and il passed the senate by "A vote of
two-thirds of that body. There was ex-
element in the country that amounted
almost to a revolution, demanding the
free coinage of silver; and no one sup
posed but that free coinage was in
sight and all that was necessary was an
appeal to the people. And yet Mr.
Speaker, notwithstanding the pressure
exefted by the popular mind on con-
gress at that time and upon the presi-
dent there has never been a day from
that time 10 the present when this
house would pass free coinage bill.
We believe that statement is perfectly
true, and it may be added that there
has been no time since then when
free coinage bill could possibly have be-
come a law. Neither is there any prob
ability that free coinage bill can be-
come a law while Mr.. Cleveland is pres
ident. Mr.. Bland understands that as
we'll as anybody. Under the circum-
stances, what is the wisest course to be
pursued by those who see the evils of
gold monometallism? No intelligent sill
yer man objects to international bimet-
alllsm He realizes that that means not
only free coinage of silver in this coun-
try, but throughout the world. Interna-
ticnal bimetallism means universal free
coinage. 1t is pretty we'll understood
that Mr.. Cleveland favors that policy
Why not try it? Why should silver men
persist in a hopeless effort to force free
coinage on this country alone, while
there is a reasonable opportunity to do
something toward forcing free coinage
on the entire world? Is there any rea-
son in demanding a half-loaf that you
-, 20 n
that you may possibly get?
But, say the free coinage men, we cam
not get International bimetallism. That
is a matter of opinion. The best in
formed and clearest-headed bimetallists
in the country believe we can get it.
Men like President Andrews, Gen. Wal
ker and S. Dana Horton believe that the
prospect for it is better now than it has
ever been before. A few days ago the
Springfield Republican announced the
conversion of Charles Francis Adams to
international bimetallism, and, among
other things. quoted this from him:
If we hang onto our present course
we can whip England into line for an
hANe iAdliOAdl agreement Wllulu lnIee
years.
There is good reason for believing
this. Since the repeal OF the Sherman
law the sentiment for International BIZ
metallism in England has advanced more
than in any ten years preceding, and
Germany. as all newspaper readers
know. has held a special convention for
the purpose of considering the best mode
for an enlarged use of silver Why2
The best Illustration Of the reason has
been given by Mr.. Enrich in this form:
Suppose we have ten mines on noun
tainside. all of which are troubled by
water. Mr.. A. who owns the lowest
one, puts in pump and drains his
mine. but he finds that he is also drain
ing the other mines. He asks the own
ers of the others to help pay the ex-
pense. but they refuse. What is his
best course? Shall he say to them. II