The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-24
SEATTLE, WEDNESDAY, JULY "a.
Is BI-METALLIsM A DELUsION I

Is BI-METALLISM n DELUSIONs
Many advocates OF free silver and nearly
all advocates of gold mono-metallism de-
clare that bi-metallism is a delusion. It
can readily be understood why the latter
should be Interested in creating than Inn
preston. but It In more difficult to compre-
bend the attitude OF free silverites. BY BIZ
metallism they get all that the honest
among them want. with no fear OF the dan
gers which are at least possible with the
unlimited coinage OF silver by this country
alone.
The fact of the matter IL that there is
not one man IN one hundred thousand off
men full grown at the time of the crime
of IS who knew anything about the silver
question or bi-metallism. or troubled him
self about either. Nor until the past two
or three years has popular attention been
drawn TO the subject In Europe however.
there have been several attempts 20 unite
thu civilized nations in an agreement 10
preserve the parity OF gold and silver
We may turn 20 some of thes6 authori-
ties. then, TO discover how far we are ius-
tilted In believing International bi-metal-
Iism not deitrslon. /, is not necessary 60
60 back 70 tho Paris conference of 1857. be-
cause AZ that time the resolutions were in
favor Of the single gold standard The Oh
tect was not 10 iujure silver, 20 use col
ioquial phrase. but TO decide upon an in
ternational unit or common denomination.
Indeed. the conference decided by almost
unanimous vote. We believe. that all ma
sions participating should use an interna-
t'onal coin. and the French fve-franc gold
place was agreed upon as the standard.
II was not until some years later that
interest became awakened 20 the need OF
On increased use for silver. BY the act OF
February Is. fs7s, ito authorize the coinage
~ the standard silver dollar and 10 restore
It's legal tender character land by virtue
OF which the United States bought saS-
s6i ~ sliver). she president was directed
20 invite the Latin Union. and Eurh other
governments as he deemed advisable. TO
Join the United States IN n conference "a
adopt a common ratio between gold AMI
silver. for the purpose Of establishing in
ternatlonaiiy the uss Of NJ metallic money
and securing Hxj'y Of relative value be
tween those metals" This was very
clearly defined purpose
The United States. from that time until
,sa2. stroye alone 70 nla,p,ain the parity
II had purchased sos &c. SIS In face Of On
ever declining market. We have not a,
be ssa aeo
period. but in the fiscal year 81 iS1e-as alone
almost twice the quantity bought was Of
fersa. Had ths government accepted all
81 must have taken nearly one thousand
millions IN Justice - the free sllverites
~ should "a mentioned that they claim
that The unlimited coinage would have
kept tlse price up. This forms one Of thu
Vita differences - opinion. u would haye
established she price. ~ course. bat would
We not have h~en Swan1rei before long,
~ the conference ~ fS-S ths r'nftel
States submitted thu proposition that IN.
ratio could - hxea hy international srree-
ment, bat the European delegates united
"a declaring that differences Of oVinop ~.
Guided the adoption ~ a common r.tfo
Pgt IN ISL different conclusion v-.s
reached ard a declaration waS made ~.
. ratio ot 1s's 70 could he maintained
with less disturbance TO existing monetary
systems than any other.
II would - inexpesiienf, ia the space u a
newspaper article. 20 give ~ any ienrth
ERE views az the members 90 these com
missions On the Feasibility ~ ss-nletalli,
systcin. bat a few extracts win suffice.
giving the preference % foreign opinion.
In iSs3 SIR William Hoaidzworth. Tor
Great Britaln. Sals; - frankly admit thaa
IN MY opinion. sherc VII never he PER
rnaneat solution % this aifs>ulty unfn we
have an International sl-uetailic agree
ment." MesSrs. Nanaen Berg and BOISE
vain. 81 the Netherlands. and A. AiIsr,i.
~ Belgium. agreed VI. TirsTd sala France
would .o!n IN agreement VITA csneE ma