The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-03-09
rRANce Axe nlNErAIlse.

The Manchester. England, Guardian, Of
February u, has this report Of the speech OF
N. Ribos. the French Premier, in the Cham
her Of Duputies few DAYS previous on the
question Of bimetalism
We have now received the fall text uf the recCut
important speech by VI. RilnOt, the French premier
and minister 81 finance, in the Chamber nj nepu-
ties on the question Of international himetaltsIl
The incident occurred during the discussion q the
estimates for the department Of agriculture which
anoEsied NJ FougCirol a deputy from the Ariesle
an opportunity 81 calling attention % the relation
between the general depression Of agriculture and
che fall in the gold price Of silver in consequence
Of its international decentralization
NJ Fougeiro pointed out that the agricultural de
preston was common t. all guid-stafdari countries,
and urged that IL was due 70 the fact that with
modern facilities Of communication amt Transport
there can practically b. only one prev Tor. Say.
wheat fhroiigbout the world This being the case.
~ Fougciro contended that the producer in the
silver-standaTd country Is enabled - sell his heat
at the same priCe IN silver formerly his COSTS %.
production being paid In that metal. while owing
10 the appreciation Of gold and The divergence IN
the values Of gold and silver the producer in The
gold-stantard country must accept half The priec
tar1nerly received The silver quotation fixing the
price in all markets. ". FOugeirgd urged that the
Government should not lose sight % ne i'm I-orsar,
of the question. and added that he desile3 also 20
call public attention 20 IT, " Riho5 rcPei As toll
lows.
can not al this hour discuss fully 50 very grave
and very complex question. concerning which !
have recently had many conversations With my
that the abandonment Of the minage of silver, the
responsibility for which incurred IN ls hy The
German Government has proved extremely disas-
irous but We can not attribute the agricultural
crisis In all Its length and breadth solely 10 the ss
pension Of the free coinage q silver. During the
past twenty year. there have been many causes
which have contributed % lower the prizes Of all
wholesale commodities, and especially tho~e ot
agricultural produce.
bineiallism eOinciding with these general causes.
has precipitated the crisis. and has given 3f Ar
more grave character than It would Otherwise have
had / have no doubt az all on this point, and ]
entirely agree With II, Fongeir0l who has studied
the question Win a Aeai y men Adhilre; ana as
made himself an Npert win reference . n etlii
not Immediately bring about the solution. NJ. Fo-
geiro + too well acquainted with the problem no
10 know that the remedy i beyond the power 81
any one country. He has just said that it Is not
France alone that suffers In consequence Of The
demonstration OF silver he Is quite correct and we
can not solve the question except by means ui an
understanding with the other great nations. A
voice ~You can take the initiative
five attempt to settle il alone We shall have "a
pay all the cost Of the solution ". F0ugcirol might
haYE told you that in the countries which have
hitherto hem most attached TO the mouomefallic
system. and notably in England, current Of oPin-
ION in favor Of serious attempt 70 find remedy
for the existing crisis Is being developed and the
action Of the Manchester Chamber OF Commerce. Tor
instance in abandoning the theory Of monometal-
ism and demanding that BY some means the mon
etary value Of silver shall be restored Is very cot
We may iifIer in opinion a 70 the precise meth
0ds TO he employed, but believe that IN England
and in Germany there Is genuine movement In
fayor Of the resumption OF the coinage Of silYeS.
can not say at what moment this progress viii be
sufficiently decisive 20 finally 0NerpOwer The resist
ing forces. which are great In such position
hat should be the attitude Of the French Govern
mentg We were summoned IN isaa 10 conference
at Brussels which. unfortunately, has been without
result. and has been adjourned indefinitely. Al
though have been minister Of finance for bat a
few days, I have already discussed this question
with my colleague the minister for foreign Affairs
We are completely in accord
Although believe that France can not alone set
lie - /
10 restrict herself 10 an attitude OF indifference
in waiting. She ought 90 indicate IN a marked
manner that she desires to hasten the solution she
ought to assume an attitude which viii encourage
the movement OF public opinion in neighb0ring
countries. This is the policy which the minister
for foreign Affairs viii adopt, and which ] have
adopted. I hope that have satisfactorily answered
the question which has been put me. fond aIs
PlauSc,