Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-11-01
SILVER ABROAD



Interested Sources.
The status Of biI.etalliain in England
is impossible tode.crmino from the con
tradictoiy accounts that como over tho
cable. Orc set Of CORES pordcnts give
the assurance that Tic bimotadliss are
ezUltcrt over tloir gains in the recent
election, state that a large section Of tho
members Ct tic louso Is committed to
the bimetallio policy and predict that
the question viii cut large figure in
the coming debates
Another set Of correspondents follow
tho next day with the statement that
nothing is heard Of the bimetallic ques-
tion in or out Of politics; that the Brit
ish olecsgf Is absolutely indifferent on
the subject, aud that tho government
will do nothing.
1t is probable that both accounts are
from interested sources and state what
their authors wish instead Of represent
ing an examination Of the facts. The
truth appears to be somewhere between
the two statements. There is not in
England the wide popular interest in
the question that is found in the United
States. As Speaker Crisp found, tho
people "do not discuss and do not seem
educated up to it. - The membership Of
the Bimetallic league is stated by its
secretary to be increasing rapidly,
'but, says Mr.. Crisp shrewdly, "what
they consider rapid in England would
be very slow i'll America 4"
There is no doubt, however, that the
bimotallio party has increased its
strength in parliament, but it is proba-
BILE that the numbers it could command
on a division ON the question to estab-
lish the system in England would not
be large. The outlook is better, how
ever, for q partial action, such as in
creasing the coinage Of silver in Eng
land or reopening the Indian mints. The
ministry has for its leaders strong BIZ
metallists who will be ready TO 20 as
far as they can carry parliament and
the people Balfour, Salisbury, Goschen,
Chaplin and others of the cabinet are
known 10 believe in the theory, and
they will doubtless do what they can to
put it into practice
In Germany the movement appears to
be in a more advanced state. The talk
Of the international monetery confer
ence has been stated by the gold men to
bo merely sop to the agrarian or land
holding party. But recent advices indi-
cate that the movement is much broader
than this, and Shat the government is in
earnest in its plans for holding the con-
ference. The banking classes and heavy
investors Of Germany are as strongly
opposed to the movement as the same
classes in England or tho United States,
and are just as determined in shutting
their eyes to the strength Of the move
ment. Ludwig Bamberger of Berlin
writes;
"The entire trade and mechanical
world, as we'll as the greatest part of
the educated class of the people Of Ger
many, are for tho gold standard. The
opponents Of the gold standard are the
landowners and the lords Of the nobil-
ity, who believe and desire through tho
introduction Of bad and cheap money
to pay their debts with it
and receive higher prices for their ce-
reals and other products. These land
owners have great influence at the
courts.of the kings and princes of the
empire, and through this it was posi-
BILE in conjunction with the present adj
ministration Of the empire to receive
the promise of call for an international
conference.
He admits, however, that there is an
increasing agitation" for silver in
Germany, and the extent of the alarm
among the gold men may be Judged
from his statement that eve have
formed some time ago a Gold club for
the protection of the gold standard; hold
lectures, issue pamphlets to instruct
and show the people the fallacy and
swindle Of the promises. " Whatever
the movement in Germany may be, it
is evidently not insignificant.
In all this there is encouragement for
those who are looking and hoping for
sounder basis Of money than the rising
standard of gold. While the situation is
not as rosy as some have represented it,
the bimetallists may reasonably hope
for this result of a conference-an
agreement for enlarged coinage by Ger
many, the United States and the Latin
union, and for free coinage if suitable
ratio can be determined; the opening Of
the Indian mints once more to silver,
and an increase Of silver coinage in
Great Britain.
If free and equal coinage Of gold and
silver can be had ON any reasonable
ratio, and the faith and credit of three
great nations pledged TO its maintenance,
the question will be permanently set
tied. and until such agreement is Sc
cured there viii be an unceasing and in
creasing agitation among the people
and the financiers. San Francisco Ex-