The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-22

Ii woala he expected that wIsh such gen
eral CONSENSUS % opinion as Is - Be fo'ihA
abroad upon taIs subject. Il weats come
rapidly TO De the generally received opinion
of the nations 70 be affected "a a wise
settlement OF the problem OF the CON
vention os the nations Germany was the
one that IN Issz practically broke up tlie
conference which met az the suggestion OF
the United States She instructed heT
delegates 70 meet and talk. but 20 state 10
the conference that she woald not change
her imperial standard. AS her stsncari
vas gold. that announcement ended al
possibility of any practical results trola
that conference. Since that tine. ana
within the last year. her legislative as
s@-nel.es have specifically. by votes o1 IT.
struction 10 her ministers. changed her
attitude apoa that point. So that the spe-
cifie objection OF Germany encountered oy
the conference of iSss2. has been since con-
sidered and Withdrawn.
AT the present moment. Germany,
France. Italy. Austria. Holland Belgium
and the United States wish 20 cooperate
for the establishment and maintenance Ct
the Joint standard by International agree
ment ard tulost important circumstance
Great Britain has recently. within six
months IN fact. made a most important
e0ncession- she has said: We viii do
self We will make this contribution 10
bs-m staliic system We will go hack upon
our deliberately y-arranged methods OF pro-
viding a currency for India We viii re-
open the India nnints. We viii agree that
they viii be kept open and we shall
therefore provide for free coinage or
silver within the limits OF the British en-
pire, for population greater in number
thar the populations Of Germany. Fran>e
and America put together
Into this intense and now Just about
10 be successful struggle for the establish
ment of joint standard, II Is proposed
that we should intervene by assuming
10 establish it alone. Against this propos-
ed action on our part. these earnest work
eFs for the cause strenuously protest They
saw TO US. you cannot succeed, and your
failure viii discred!t the cause.
The recent article OF DR.. Ahrendt, In
the North American Review, shows very
clearly the view taken by our friends
abroad upon this subject. He has done
much and probably more than any living
man 10 advance this cause. He Is entitled
10 be called one OF the leaders Of public
opinion In the Prussian chamber Of depu-
ties. and that the position Of Germany
was modified within the last yearls due
TO his efforts. He expresses the opinion
that free coinage undertaken by the Unit
ed States alone would simply end In silver
mono -metaiiism and 6iScredit aud put back
the cause OF the double STANDARD The
world over.
1T is a question not what we wish but
what We are able 10 do, as strong man
may undertake a task too great for his
strength and br.ak down. IL cannot be
denied that the feeling among our people
Is that this free coinage by the United
States alone will not give rs the gold and
silver money at parity with each other,
v hich is the assumption upon which IL is
taken. but will bring US 10 silver mono
metallism and a change of our standard Of
value. and that change. it is believed.
means immediate ruin 10 our industries
and no permanent good TO any one. This
feeling is general and intense.
Whether differences can be reconciled
1t is impossible TO anticipate. The Demo-
cratic party stands for principles desir-
able 10 be maintained for the good OF the
country. Much sacrifice might be asked
OF Democrats for the sake of the party.
and they would cheerfuny make it. But
IL the delegates from this locality should
go to that convention and represent that
the rank and file of the party would follow
the lead Of our Southren brethren and
vote for the free coinage Of silver by the
United States alone, they would be misrep-
reseufing the state OF public opinion here.
Whether fl is SO or not. IL IS considered a
proposition TO debase the existing stand
ard Of value. And the same feeling OF in
disposition 10 compromise With the mat
ter, for votes or anything else, Is as active
and dominant here In our party. as II was
found In the Republican party when it
bore down and overpowered the Mckinley
machine.
Personally. Il Is my opinion. II the
Democratic party goes on that platform
az this time. they will meet the most dis
as.rous defeat that any party has ever
had in this country. | understand that il
is honestly believed IN. and that people
think IL will bring relief from their present
troubles: but between now and election
day Il viii be pretty thoroughly sifted.
and the people OF the country viii not
face the disturbance OF values. the losing
OF confidence. the general distress and
ruin which would come 20 their business
interests with such a change in their
standard OF value as would arise from
such a change II will oyerwhelm the
persons who undertake II.
1T ought 70 not be necessary for me 10
say anything Of a personal nature.
find myself. however, spoken OF here and
there as possible candidate; not very
seriously or prominently but sufficiently
20 attract attention Il / should fail 20 no.
tice 4. II sometimes affects ones infiu-
ence In cases like the present. I have no
personal motive In entering this fight.
have said that I would not be a candi-
date VIII add, copying the emphatic
language once used by the late General
Sherman q think remember Il correctly.
! will not run II nominated. nor serve IL
elected I am not foolish enough 20 sup
pose that any Eastern man could be nomi-
mated by this convention. much less that
| could. ! sympathize with the feeling in
tire South that has caused the uprising
and will find expression At Chicago. but
as to the principles which the uprising
has brought forth and The issue being
framed. / entirely disagree.
ssp-FF FFYAAF WHITNEY