Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-05-07
TIE LEAvEN Ar WORK.
0I9nilcant Action of the Enelish House Of
Commons-Favoring BimetAilism-

6ISniflcant Action of the English House Of
commons-Favoring Bimetailism-
That the Gazette has not exagger-
nted the growth of timetable senti-
ment in England is proved by the sig
nificant action Of the house OF COM
mons in adopting the White1ey resolu-
ton favoring international bimetal-
ism. The Importance of this step will
be appreciated when it is stated that
this Is the first instance, since the adop-
ton of the gold standard by Great
Britain, that parliament has even con-
sidered the question of q change OF
monetary standards The Associated
press report Of the proceedings upon
Mr.. Whiteley's resolution lacks the
defniteness supplied by the resolution
ITSELF which rims as follows:
Resolved. That this house is of the
opinion that the establishment of in
ternational bimetallism would be BEN
eficial to the best interests of this coun-
try. and urges upon the government
the advisability of doing all in their
power to secure by international agree
ment stable monetary par of ex-
change between gold and silver"
This resolution, which fatty repudi-
stes the existing monometa1lic system
of England, was adopted without divi-
sion, signifying that the majority for
it was so great that the monometallists
were unwilling to expose their weak
ness. For the same reason, probably,
an amendment that had been prepared
insisting upon the necessity of the
maintenance of the gold standard was
not presented.
The mover of the resolution comes
from the north of England, and his at
tention was drawn to the currency
question by the great industrial de-
preston among his constituents Its
most distinguished advocate was Mr..
Balfour, first lord of the treasury and
government leader in the house OF
commons, who, in reply to the argu-
ment of Sir William Vernon Harcourt,
the leading English cham pion Of mono
metallism, said that nothing could per-
suade him that it was in conformity
with civilization and common sense
that England should tolerate the pres
ent inconvenient and ruinous system.
Such language from the ablest states
man in England and the second man
in its government is striking com.
mentary on the mouthings of curb
stone politicians in this country who
assert that silver has ceased to be con-
sidered where civilization is at its
zenith, and that only ignoramuses and
cranks advocate its use as standard
money.
The history of the Whiteley resolu.
ton is full of interest It was formu-
lated at the Paris congress of British,
French and German bimetallic leagues
held early last December. for introduc.
ton in Identical terms in the parlia-
ments of the three nations. Senator
Wolcott, of Colorado, was present at
the time, though not as a delegate,
and agreed to present the resolution
to congress, giving the assurance that
it would pass that body.
France is strongly committed to the
doctrine of bimetallism, and the BIZ
metallic party in Germany has been
making rapid Roadway in the last Il
months. If in this state of the inter
national mind, the United States
should advance at one step to bimetal
1ism, every nation in Europe would
undoubtedly be quick to follow its
lead, and the rout of the money gam.
blers Of the world would be complete.
Fort Worth (Tex.l Gazette