The Van Buren press., 1896-01-18

The great body Of those who declare
themselves sound money men say that
they are in favor OF International
bimetallism. Almost everybody in this
country admits that if the United States,
England, Germany, and France should
agree to open their mints TO the un-
limited coinage of silver at l51 to l, or
at 16 to | that silver would at once
resume it old value and that conditions
of general prosperity existing prior TO
1878 would be at once and permanently
restored. Nobody would suffer wrong
even the bondholders would get their
own with interest. True, they would
fail to get double what they are entitled
to BY the terms of the contract, as they
nov think, perhaps, that they are sure
to do, and IA they will do without some
change in the present laws; but surely
this fact Is not an objection. The world
would once more be prosperous and
civilization and the arts Of peace would
develop as they never have developed
before. Mankind would enter upon a
period Of advancement and progress the
like of which has never been seen.
A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
Il This / believe ia the the AHA almost ess
universal conviction. But we are
assured that Great Britain will not
consent to this, and for the selfish
reasons of small class of bankers who
disregard other interests. even in
England.
When it Is clear that England will
not consent to an international agree
ment and that France and Germany
will not move except in company with
England, then the question comes home
To us, what will the people of the
United States do7 When they see that
our people are suffering these great
wrongs, and they will certainly become
more and more aggregated as the years
go by, what will we dor With no
chance in sight for international
bimetallism, can the United States,
acting alone, undertake this great work
with reasonable hope Of successf A
tremendous responsibility in this
emergency, in my opinion, rests upon
us as a nation. That the complete re-
establishment of bimetallism would
greatly benefit and advance the masses,
would tend to check and to strangle the
startling aggregations of wealth into a
few hands which are now taking place,
there can be no doubt If other nations
will not join us in this great movement
in the interest of humanity, it is our
duty to undertake it alone.
BIMETALLIsM IN FRANCE.
From 1903 to 1873 France practically |
alone. maintained bimetallism Can
we do it now. 1t has been little more |
than twelve months since the President, |
having already issued hundred |
millions of bonds, declared in his |
message that he would continue to |
issue bonds whenever and as often as it |
became necessary to maintain suffi-
cient gold reserve. believed then, as
now, that the unlimited coinage of |
silver would, by reyiving commerce, |
increase our revenues, and do away |
absolutely with any pretense of a
necessity to issue bonds, and that under |
that bill such revival in business
would take place that no issue of bonds |
could be claimed to be necessary. |
There is nothing for us to do but to |
present the system we believe in, to
discuss it, and appeal at last to the
great tribunal which must decide it. |
The friends of bimetallism are ready |
and anxious to have the people settle |
this question. They hope and believe
it will be speedily done, and we'll done.
Mr.. Jones spoke for about two hours.
When he had finished Mr.. Teller asked |
him what speed it was proposed to
make with the consideration of the bill !
and when vote would be asked.
Mr.. Jones replied that as there was
quite number of Senators who desired |
to be heard no move would be made |
toward bringing the bill to vote for
some days at least.
The Senate then, at $50 adjourned
until Monday