Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-28
silver in Germany and EngInnd.

silver In Gcrmany ana Ehs'"n"'
The recen, movements in Germany on
the silver question have had new race
put upon them by the New York Journal
| OF Commerce. which suggests that II is
possible the far-sceing statesmen of Eng
land end Prussia wish to keep the ques-
ton Under their own control, and so
have declared for an international bi-
metallic conference I'm the expectation that
that conference will prove TO be a mono
metsllist conference, aftss all This sug-
gestion is not very creditable to the
statesmen mentioned, who are supposed,
in this country at least. TO be In favor
OF an international timetable conference
because in such body the silver problem
ray possibly find solution; or, II not.
that the declarations OF such conference
will be received by the commercial world
as worthy OF being pondered and studied.
In word, the delegates sent from the
United States TO such a conference would
be expected to profit by talking with the
leading statesmen and fnanciers OF the
commercial nations Of Europe, and these
latter to profit by talking with the states
men sent from this country.
But the Journals shrewd suggestion
could hardly be expected to apply TO
Spain, which is the last country that has
been reported as disposed to shake the
dew-drops from its main on the silver
question. However. we quote from our
New York contemporary paragraph-as
follows:
1T is reasonably certain that II the
government Itself favors the perpetuation
OF the present monetary status. 1t will
not be found an effective supporter OF
bimetallism in an international confer
ence. There Is no practical incompah-
billty between giving the Prussian BIZ
netallists d chance Of presenting their
case before a conference Of the nations,
and yet taking care that the vote OF the
empire, In such an assembly, shall be
given in favor OF monometalllsm II Is,
therefore, far from being a safe inference
that, because Germany finds II politically
convenient TO favor an international con-
ference, she therefore also favors bimet-
allism. Ii is not Impossible that the
resolution, adopted at the instance of
member of the Privy Council. combining
the initiative steps for a conference 10
Great Britain, may have very important
significance In this connection. Whatever
may be the Influence OF English blmetal-
lists on this question, there has so far
been no reason whatever for supposlng
that the British Government has any real
sympathy with bimetallsm, nor any
other motive for favoring a conference
than a political one like that which actu-
ates GERMANY
1t is possible the administration dele
gates from this country might act with
the monometallists OF Europe. and thus
do more harm than good by their pre-
sence in an international conference.
But the congressional delegates from
this country would use all their innu-
ence in favor of real bimetallism.
The Journal Of Commerce says that the
effect OF combining the initiatory steps 10
Germany and England would be to give
to those Powers the prerogative of fixing
the scope OF the subjects to be specified in
the letters of invitation, and thus largely
aid them in controlling the deliberations
and results of the international confe-
renee. This Is indeed a new view Of the
matter.
SO much for the Journal Of Commerce.
We must say that we fear no such
game" The delegates from the United
States will find the European delegates
as candid in the expression of their opin-
ions as they themselves will be. Every
thing will be open and above board
Disagreements will be real disagresments
and agreements win be real agreements.
In a word the International Bimetallic
Conference will assemble, If it assem-
bles at all, as delberative body. or we
might almost say as legislative body.
The whole world will profit by its de-
liberations.