The news & observer., 1895-08-25
GOLD MEN ARE HAPPY
BALFOUR Is AGAINST AN INTER-
NATIONAL MONETARY con-
FERENCE.
ENGLAND WILL NOT COOPERATE

ENuLANU WILL NuI Iu-UE CnA (
In Securing the Free Coinage OfSiiver
International Agreement-B the
Members OF the Bi-MetaIlic League
are by no Means Discouraged But
Say that the Statement of the Lord of
the Treasury Gives them New H0pe--
The Burns Statue Unveiled.
copyrighted by the Associated Press.I
LONDON, Aug. 24.-There has not
been much in the world of politics dur
ing the past week. The new members
of Parliaments who have had the moral
courage to remain in town when Lon
don is in a state of social collapse, have
been quietly settling themselves into
their seats, and the older members have
not been distinguishing themselves y
any great show of activity. The House
Of Commons, as rule, has presented
a dreary appearance and but little out
side of routine business has come up for
| discussion.
An exception, however, should be no
ted in the case Of the reply made on
| Thursday last in the House, by the first
Lord Of the Treasury, the Right Hon. A.
J. Balfour, to Sir John Leng, Liberal
memker for Dundee, who asked whether
| he would advise the government to in
| vIte an international monetary confer
ence. Ar. Balfour said;
II am, and have always been in favor
Of an international agreement; but l
/ have not the right to pledge my col
| leagues, and | do not believe that an in
/ ternational agreement would re ult from
an international conference"
This reply caused much satisfaction
among the supporters of the gold cur
rency, especially in Berlin, and caused
the National Zeitung, to say: "He has
| burst the bubble which German bi-metal
list blew from the votes in the Reichstag
and Prussian Diet Undoubtedly Mr..
| Balfour's statements will put an end to
the deliberations of the Federal govern
ment on the question. Only noisy agi
tator believe that action is possible with
out England's cooperation"
The Daily News this morning says" Mr..
Balfour's answer disposes of bimetal
lism so far as this government is con-
cerned and We are heartily glad of it,
because We believe that bl-metallism
spells ruin for the great creditor coun
! try Of the world Mr.. BalfOur has gone
| further even than Sir William Harcourt,
who did not object to a conference, pro-
yided the British delegates were in
structed to vote against debasing the
currency"
In bEmetaiic circles, however, an
| other complexion is put on the matter.
| The officials of the bi-metallic league es-
pecially dwell on the fact that Mr, Bal
four's remarks referred to an immediate
/ conference and it is claimed, that as
matter Of fact, his reply reveals the eX-
pectance upon the part of the govern
ment that a successful conference can
subsequently be arranged. The bi-metal-
| lie league officials therefore declare
/ themselves pleased with the answer Of
the first Lord Of the treasury.
One Of the most interesting events to
Americans which occurred on this side
Of the Atlantic during the past week, !
was the unyeiliDg on Wednesday last, at
Ayr, Scotland, of the fourth and last
panel of the Burns statue at that place, |
by Mr.. Wallace Bruce, formerly United |
States Consul at Edinburgh. The panel |
was subscribed for by American admirers |
OF the poet, and is the handiwork of |
Mr.. George Bissell, of New York, and |
representing the parting of Burns |
and Highland Mary. The ceremony
took place in the presence of a large
crowd Of people, the town council and |
members of the Burns Club. Mr.. Bruce |
made speech during the course of |
which he SAID that he experienced great |
delight at standing there, "a connecting
link between the lovers of Burns in the
United States and Scotland"
The Rev. DR.. David J. Burrell, Of
New York, who presented the panel
upon the part of the donors to the Scot
tish people, remarked that he was 1.-The
mouth piece of the expressions of the
Republics love for Burns"
The panel, which was concealed by
the American and British flags, was
then unveiled amid loud cheers.
In the evening the Burns Club gave
a banquet TO the American visitors, and
Mr.. Bruce, replying to the toasts OF
"the President Of the United States,
paid a patriotic tribute to the Chief
Magistrate of the United States, his re-
marks being warmly applauded.
The great topic of discussion in rail-
road circles during the week has been
the railway races from London to Aber-
deem by the East and West routes. The
West Coast Companies took the initia-
tive and did the distance, $40 miles at
the rate of a mile minute throughout.
These companies thus made new
worlds record while completely smash
ing the record held for Uhe past
three years bv the Empire State Express,
from New York TO Buffalo But, as
the Eat route companies improved
on This time on Thursday evening, the
West Coast did five hundred and forty
miles in 512 minutes. The train, how
ever, was only composed of an engine and
guards van and TWO passenger coaches.
The struggle ceased yesterday and the
rival companies resort to their ordinary
times. But the racing led to a question
being asked in the House Of Commons
yesterday, by Sir John Leng, member
from Dundee, as to whether the Board
of Trade could not prevent such prac-
tees. But, the President of the Board
of Trade, Mr.. Charles T. Ritchie, said
the Board had no power in the matter
and intimated that the railroad compa-
MES might be relied upon not to en-
danger life in these trials of speed.
Ex Speaker Crisp has spent most of
/ l., l. In mil rt1ff |