The herald., 1896-06-22

Of the United States. She instructed her
delegates to meet and talk. but to state
to the conference that she would not
change her imperial standard. AS her
standard was gold, that announcement
ended all possibility of any practical re-
suits from that conference. Since that
time and within the last year, her legis-
lative assemblies have specifically by
votes Of instruction to her ministers,
changed her attitude upon that point So
that the specific objection of Germany
encountered by the conference Of 1892
has been since considered and with
drawn.
"At the present moment Germany,
France, Italy, Austria, Holland Bel
gium and the United States wish to CO.
operate for the establishment and MAIN
tenance Of the joint standard by interna-
tional agreement and (most important
circumstance Great Britain has re-
Gently within three months in fact made
a most important concession. She has
said: We will do for you as much as
you can do for yourself. We will make
this great contribution to a bimetallic
system. We will go back upon our de-
liberately arranged methods of provid
ing currency for India. We will reopen
the India mints. We will agree that
they shall be kept open and we shall
therefore provide for a free coinage of
silver within the limits of the British
empire, for a population greater in num-
Der than the populations of Germany,
France and American put to gether.'
Into this intense and now just about
to be successful struggle for the estab-
lishment of the joint standard, it is pro-
posed that we should intervene by as
suming to establish 1t alone. Against
this proposed action on our part, these
earnest workers for the cause strenu-
ously protest. They say to us, you can
not succeed, and your failure will dis
credit 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 liv-
ing man, to advocate and bring this
cause to it's domination in Germany. He
is entitled to be called one of the leaders
ers Of public opinion in the Prussian
chamber Of deputies so that the position
of Germany was modified within the
last year. He expresses the opinion that
free coinage undertaken by the United
States alone would simply end in silver
momometallism and discredit, and put
back the cause of the double standard
the world over.
It Is question not what we wish but
what we are able to do, as strong man
may undertake a task too great for his
strength and break down.
1t cannot be denied that the feeling
among our people is that this free coin
age by the United States alone will not
give us the gold and silver money at
a parity with each other, which is the
assumption upon which it is taken. but
will bring us to silver monometallism
and a change of our standard of value,
and that change, it is believed, means
immediate ruin to our industries and no
permanent good to any one. This feeling
is general and intense.
Whether these differences can be re-
conciled, it is impossible to anticipate.
The Democratic party in the majority
stands for principles desirable to be
maintained for the good Of the country.
Almost any sacrifice might be asked of
Democrats for the sake of the party
and they would cheerfully make 1t. But
if the delegates from this locality
sent that the rank and file of the party