The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-06
MOI SO EASY A THOROUHG.
FARE TO TRAVEL AS sup
POSED.
England Having Consented to a
Monetary Conference Places a
New Aspect on the Whole
Matter.
Friends OF White Metal Fear 1t Is
Simply Play For More Time
and Is New Game OF the
Goldbugs.
lFrom the Chicago Times


Washington, D. c., Feb. 27.-The
silver road, like the Jordan road.
seems to be hard road to travel. 1t
was but recently that many of the
friends OF silver were highly elated
with the change in the situation
which looked promisingly toward an
international conference. This was
accepted as full of assurances of early
success. Things are coming our
way" it was said. Europe sees the
handwriting on the wall The action
OF Germany shows this England will
have her eyes opened soon and then
nothing can stop the movement. An
other conference will mean an agree
ment and silver will once more take
it's proper place as money metal in
the exchanges Of the world" Com
ment today, however, England having
consented to conference, does not
show that increase in the tone of con-
graduation and utilization which was
naturally to be expected Whether it
is because of the great size of the win
mig, or for the reason that repeated
disappointments have rendered them
unusually suspicious, some of the sill
yer men appear to be already drawing
back and as extremely doubtful Of
where their present course may lead
them. They are cudgeling their
brains with many questions Is this a
new game of the gold bugs? Are they
simply playing for time? Should the
friends Of silver in the United States,
who have made such wonderful pro-
gress within the last twelve months.
suffer themselves to be halted in this
way on the very verge of still greater
accomplishment? The conference,
therefore, suddenly looms up as dam
ger, and much distrust is felt in sew
eral quarters.
Today in comment on the sudden
alleged slide for silver in England one
OF the most prominent as we'll as
promising silver senators-a Republi-
can-spake delphically as follows:
eve shall mistake if we permit this
matter of an international conference
though apparently forced by the
growing power Of silver-to swerve us
in the slightest in this country from
the path we have chosen. Our duty is
plain. We have set out to rehabili-
tate silver without regard to other ma
tiOns, and all our plans and perform
ances must be strictly along that line.
do not mean to say that we should
reject outside assistance when offered
in sincerity and in practical form. We
desire and solicit that. But we should
not be induced to stop and parley
about matters purely theoretical. We
contend that this government alone
can take the initiative in returning
to free coinage, and / think we have
more than convinced other nations Of
that fact. The result is that the gold
men, having no other card to play and
hoping for some advantage from de-
lay, are now cOnsenting to another
solemn powwow. Well, let it come.
But do not let anything of import
ance, SO far as our efforts are concern
ed, depend upon the results. We
should move right along in the direc-
tion Of making free coinage the one
issue for 1896, and perfect our organiz-
alton with that one end in view. If,
meanwhile, silver shall have gained
anything at the conference, we'll and
good. We can utilize whatever it may
be in our national campaign. But if
another disagreement should rise or
some action should be taken tanta-
mount to still further postponement
of the question then no harm would
come to u.s. What we should keep in
| view is the fact that with or without
| foreign sympathy or cooperation the
| time has come for action. If the gold
men. and l suspect them Of the inten-
tion, can succeed in tiding over mat
ters until after next years presiden-
tial contest and array the two old par
ties against each other again on both
issues, then the cause Of silver will
certainly be lost for this century and
may be for twenty years Of the next.
The gold power has been getting
stronger after each Of its victories,
and if another lease is given it there
is no telling how strongly it may be-
come entrenched.