The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-10-08
Is international Bimetallism Pos
sible?

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One of the chief claims of Mr.. Bryan
in his speeches about the country is
that the republican party is not honest
in its declaration for bimetallism, which
it's platform declares must come by in
ternational agreement, and he seeks at
all times, both by implication and di-
rect statement, to attempt to show that
because we object to the dumping OF
the cheap white metal Of the world
upon us and believe that true bimetal-
! lism can come about only by the con-
certed action of all the present gold
standard countries, that therefore we
are attempting to subordinate our
financial system to the power OF
England, that country being creditor
nation.
We do not care to impugn the mo-
tives of Mr. Bryan in making these
charges, oft repeated as they are. But
we do desire to call attention to the
fact that it is only by the election of
Mai. Mckinley that bimetallism can be
brought about without injury to the
business interests of the country, which
is the same thing as saying that inter-
national bimetallism is possible. Not
only that, but that the conditions of the
parties of the foreign nations which
favor bimeUallism are now ripe for &C
ton and only await the decisive step
of such a country as the United States
to give the movement the proper i'm
petus. They look to the United States
to take this decided step for the reason
that this country is not so tangled up
with the affairs and jealousies Of other
nations as to render such step amat-
ter of long diplomatic skirmishing.
The election Of Mr.. Bryan would act
as a set back to the great cause, for the
principal reason that the ratio Mr..
Bryan proposes is a fixed one and could
not be changed to meet such conditions
as might be found necessary under in
ternational agreement.
Take look at the conditions in the
foreign countries as Senator Hoar, of
Massachusetts, calls attention to them.
He says:
Il have had an opportunity OF con-
versng with many prominent English
bimetallists who are influential leaders
in the party now in power in England.
There is undoubtedly a strong opinion
there for the restoration Of silver to It's
place by the side of gold as a standard
of value, a legal tender and a servant
Of national and international trade and
commerce as currency, | suppose in
deed | think knoW-that this is the
opinion of a majority Of the present
cabinet.
"It is we'll known that the French
assembly passed a resolution within a
few months expressing the desire Of
France to cooperate ia such STEP
there is a large party in Germany OF
the same way of thinking. NJ. Meline,
the present prime minister, has de-
Clared that whenever the Otn6f ndUlOnS
were willing to take that step they
would not have to wait for France"
The English cabinet, although ma
jority are bimetalIists, do not desire to
take the step unless they can see their
way clear to disentangle themselves
from the banking and investing classes
in London They look to the United
States to take such a step as will give
Thorn, an opportunity to break loose.
Uudou0tedly Maj Mckinley can: if his
administration be wise, effect an inter
national agreement which will remove
this vexarious question from our poll
tics.