The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-26

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-Great IN
terest was excited In official circles
here to-day by the publication by the
Washington Post under o New YORK
date, Of q cirGumstantlal statement 70
the effect that the Russian government
has offered 10 lend the United States
any amount OF gold up to four hum
dred million dollars-one-halt or It's
total possessions OF this specie-in or
der 10 maintain its credit against as
snultB from the great money powerg az
other European nations, ana tnat
learning OF this tender the Rotha,
chllds, through Messrs. Belmont ana
Morgan, had made overtureS 10 let the
United States have any amount OF sold
needed. The statement, II Is learned, 10
accurate, so far as concerns the fact
that Russia rendered the United States
a part OF its store Of gold but the nat
ural Inference that this offer was . re-
cent one. made In consequence OF the
late Venezuelan message and HubSe-
uuent panic, Is not warranted, for II
may be asserted positively and on ex-
ceIlcnt authority that the tender was
in no manner influenced by the compu-
cations now existing between the Unit
cd States and Great Britain as the re-
suit OF the negotiations over the Ven'
ezuelan boundary question, ana was, IN
fact, made two years ago.
History OF IL
The history OF the matter is brief and
runs back only 10 the beginning. OF
the present administration OF Presi-
dent Cleveland. Soon after he came
into office for the second time the Pres
ident was confronted with q rapidly
shrinking gold reserve In the United
States treasury and heavy loss OF
revenue due TO radical changes In tho
tariff. This situation resulted in the
United States being asked larger rntea
than usual for any bonds II might wish
to float
The Russian government for ten
wears had been nccumulating gold, az
many times at disadvantage, owing
10 the hostility OF the money lenders
of Central and Western Europe, ana
much OF this gold was purchased In the
open market by secret agents OF the
Russian government. The purpose was
not only TO provide proper reserve In
the Russian war chest, but also to pro-
vide against contemplated change IN
tho Russian monetary system by rails
ing the silver rouble to q parity with
gold The procedure in this case was
similar 10 TINT OF Secretary Sherman,
when he accumulated the 500, 100000
gold reserve rs preliminary to deolar-
ing the treasury ready to redeem In
gold the greenbacks issued during the
'N'' sun Hold Good.
Taking eognlzance of the situation OF
the United States government with
which II always has been on terms OF
the closest friendship and between
which and itself there was no conflict
ing interests likely TO occur, Secretary
Gresham, through Prince Cantazu-
zene. then Russian minister TO Wash-
inVton, was notified that Russia stood
ready TO part with half her store or
gold. IL so much were necessary. TO the
United States In order to protect her
old time friend In the family Of nations.
This tender was made about eight
months after President Cleveland as
sumed the presidential ONCE for the
second time.
Al the time the offer was gratefully
acknowledged, but rs the capitalists OF
other nations gained an inkling OF the
fact that the tender had been made, II
was found that the terms upon which
gold could be procured in the open mar
ket as O consequence Of Russias ten
der. were SO favorable as TO render II
unnecessary to tax the friendship OF
Russia. At present, so Il Is under
stood. the Russian offer still holds good.
gand about the only new phnAe OK the
situntlon is that this fact has been
made known freshly to the European
I rold brokers.