New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-22

nations Germany was the one that In 1S32 prac-
.icallv broke up the conference. which met at the
s,,ooestion of the United States. She Instructed
her delegates to meet and talk. but to state 10
the conference that she would not change her I'M
perlal standard. As her standard was gold, that
announcement ended all possibility OF any prac-
teal result from that conference Since that tihie
and within the last year her legislative aS9Vi"
blies have specifically, by votes OF instruction 10
her Minister'S changed her attitude upon 'hut
point. SO that the specific objection OF GERMANY
encountered by the conference of 1SJZ has been
since considered and withdrawn.
FOREIGN COOPERATION.
At the present moment Germany France Italy.
Austria Belgium and the United States wish 10
co-operate for the establishment and mainte-
nance Of the Joint standard by international
agreement and Ga most important circumstance
Great Britain has recently-within three moh'hs'
in fact-made more important concession" Hhe
has said: 1--WE will do for you as much as YOU
can for yourselves We will make TINS great con
tribution 10 a bimetallic system we VIII go oach
uron the deliberately arranged methoas oi pto-
yiding a currency for India. We Will reopen l!ie
Indian minis. We will engage that they shall De
kept open. and we shall therefore, PROVIDE LOT d
free coinage of silver within the limits oi 'hV
british Empire for population greater In num-
Der than the populations of Germany. France ana
America put together
Into this long. and now just about to be sue
cessful struggle for the establishment OF the
Joint standard II is proposed that we shouId
intervene By assuming to establish AZ "iun a
Against this proposed action on our part 'hese
earnest believers In and workers FOR the cause
strenuously protest. They say to us you can
not succeed. and your failure will discredit the
cause" r,
The recent article of DR.. Ahrendt. in The
North American Review" shows very. clearly
the view taken ~ our friends abroad upon this
subject He has done much. and probably more
than any other living man, to advocate ana orins
to its dominating position in Germany inns
cause one Of the original organizers OF the 81
metallic League in Germany he is entitled TO be
called one Of the leaders OF public opinion III Eu-
rome upon this subject. 1t was upon his motion
in the Prussian Chamber of Deputies that the
position of Germany was modified Wlthih the last
year. He expresses the opinion that free coinage
undertaken by the United States alone would
simply end in silver monometallism and dlscredit
and put back the cause of the double standard
the world over.
A QUESTION OF ABILITY.
1t is a question not what We wish. but what we
are able to do A strong man may undertake Il
task too great for his strength, and break down.
1t cannot be denied that the feeling among our
people is that this free coinage by the United
States alone will not give us the gold and silver
money at parity with each other (Which is the
assumption upon Whlcn IL is unucItdhci), put
will bring 10 silver monometallism and
change In our standard OF values. And that
change. it is believed. means immediate ruin to
our industries and no permanent good 10 any one.
This feeling is general and intense.
Whether these differences can be reconciled it
is impossible TO anticipate. The Democratic
party stands for principles desirable 10 be MAIN
tained for the good Of the country. Almost any
sacrifice might be asked OF Democrats for Inc
sake Of the party. and they would cheerfully
make IT,
l,ie1, cb,
TO that Convention and represent that the rank
and file Of the party would follow the lead of our
Southern brethren and vote for the free coinage
Of silver by the United States alone he would be
disappearing the state Of public opinion here.
Whether II is 50 or not it is considered PROPOSE
ton to debase the existing standard of values.
And the same feeling OF indispOsition 10 COM
promise with that matter for votes or anything
else Is as active and dominant here in our party
it found in the Republican party when it
bore down and overpowered the Mckinley ma
chine
IT WOULD MEAN DISASTROUS DEFEAT
Personally. 1t is my opinion that If the Demo-
cratic party go on to that platform at this time
they will meet the most disastrous defeat that
any party has ever had In this country. l under
stand it is honestly believed in. and people think
It will bring relief from their present troubles
but between and Election Day 1t will be
pretty thoroughly sifted. and the people Of this
country will not face the disturbance OF values
the loss OF confidence. the general distress and
ruin which would come 10 their business interests
in such change in their standard of values as
would arise from such action. And il will, in my
opinion overwhelm the persons who under
take II.
MR.. WHITNEY'S EMPHATIC REFUSAL
II ought not to be necessary for me 10 say any
thing Of personal nature. find myself how
ever. spoken Of here and there as a possible
candidate-not very seriously or prominently.
but sufficiently TO attract attention If should
fail to notice 1t. 1t sometimes affects ones in
huence. III cases Ike the present / have no per-
sonal motive in entering this fight | have said
that j would not be a candidate. / will add
copying the emphatic language once used by the
late General Sherman Il think remember il cor
recty): Il Will not run if nominated, nor serve
II elected"
am not foolish enough 10 suppose that any
Eastern man could be nominated by this Con
vention, much less that could be- ! sympa thize
thoroughly with the feeling in the South that
has caused uprising and that will find its EXPIRES =
sion at Chicago; but TO the principles which
the uprising mas brought forth and the issues
being framed entirely disagree.
WIN. e. WHITNEY
New-York, June 21 1896
VAGARIES OF DEMOCRATIC IDEAS