The Portland daily press., 1896-06-22

Foi, UHo sufferers as usual, pelDB tue
poorer classes.
There has never been time when a
prospects Of international action favor
able to the joint standard were at all as
promising as at the present.
But an i'll advised, unsuccessful at-
tempt here, would discredit the cause he
world over. What Is the situation as re-
CARDS thisp From the discussions of the
last twenty years, it has come to pass
among persons in Europe. who are trained,
recognized scientists upon monetary and
economy, that scarcely a one is not at pre-
sent advocating the desirability of joint
standard as the real solution OF the
monetary difficulty of the world. This
includes every professor engaged in
teaching or lecturing ON these SUBJECTS
In the universities of Great Britain.
1t, and that 1t is entirely practicable If
established and maintained by agreement
of the principal commercial nations. 1t
would be expected that with such gen.
eral concensus of scientific opinion. as Ia
to be found abroad upon this subject, 1t
would come rapidly to be the generally
received opinion of the nations to be
affected by the wise settlement of the
problem.
Such is the case. Of the continental
nations, Germany was one, that in 1899,
practically broke up the conference,
which met at the suggestion Of the
United States. She Instructed her dele
gates to meet and talk, but stated to the
conference that she would not change the
imperial standard. AS her standard was
gold, that announcement ended all possi-
bility of any practical result from the
conference.
Since that time and within the last
year, her legislative assemblies have
specifically by votes of instructions to
her ministers, changed their attitude up
on that point, SO that the specific objec-
t1on of Germany, encountered by the con-
ference of 1892 has since been considered
Germany, France Italy, Austria, Hol
land, Belgium and the United States
wish to cooperate for the establishment
and maintenance of joint standard by
international agreement, and Great
Britain has recently, within three
months in fact made most important
concession. She has said: eve will do
for you as much as you can do for your
selves. We Will make this great con-
tribution to bi-metallic system. We will
go back on deliberately arranged methods
of providing currency in India. We will
reopen the Indian mints. We will en-
gage that they shall be kept open and
ws shall therefore, provide for free
coinage Of silver within the limits of the
British empire for population more in
number than the populations of Ger
many. France and America put to-
gether.
Into this long and just about to be
s successful struggle for the establishment
of the joint standard, it is proposed that
we should intervene By assuming to
establish it alone. Against this proposed
action on our part, those earnest believers
n fau kh,
strenuously opposed. They say to US you
cannot succeed and your failure will dis
credit the cause. 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
but will bring us to silver mono
metallism, and change in our standard
OF values, and that change 1t 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 recon-
sidered it is impossible to Indicate
The Democratic parity stands for
principles to be maintained for the good
of the country. Most any sacrifice might
be asked of the Democrats for the sake of
party, and they would cheerfully make
1T, but if the delegates from this locality
should go to that convention and repre-
sent that the rank and file of the party
would follow the lead of the southern
brethren and vote for the free coinage of
silver by the United States alone, they
would misreperesent the state of public
opinion here, where, whether, it is SO
Q not, 1t Is considered proposition to
debase the existing standard of values.
The same feeling of indisposition to COM
promise with that matter, for votes or
anything else. Is active and dominant
mere IN our party, AS was found in the
party when 1t bore down and
overpowered the Mckinley machine.
Personally IL is my opinion that if the
Demooratic party goes on to that plat
form at this time, it will meet the most
disastrous defent any party ever had in
this country. understand 1t is honest
ly believed in, and people think it will
bring relief from their present troubles.
Between now and election day it will be
pretty thoroughly sifted, and the people
of this country will not face the disturb
ance of values, the loss of confidence,
general distress and ruin, which would
come to their business interests in such
change OF standard of value, as would
arise from such action. 1t will, in my
opinion. overwhelm the persons who
undertake it. 1t is not necessary for me
% say anything of a personal nature. II
lind myself spoken here and there Sas o
posSlDle cauuludOes nOG very seriously or
but sufficiently to attract
attention If l should fail to notice it. 1t
sometimes affects ones influence in cases
ike the present l have no personal
motive in entering this fight. I have said
will not be a candidate. will add,
copying the emphatic language once used
1y the late Gen. Sherman: 81 will not
run If nominated, nor serve If elected.''
am not foolish enough to suppose that
my Eastern man could be nominated by
this convention, much less that I could.
sympathize thoroughly with the feeling
n the South, that has caused this upris-
ng and will find it's expression at
Chicago. but as to the principals which
the uprising has brought forth and being
framed, I entirely disagree
GOLD DEMOCRATS AT WORK.
Efforts to Stem the Tide of the Silver
Washington, June 20.-The edministra-
Ion Democrats hero are cooperating
With W. g. Whitney in New York, il an
'ffort to stem what is termed the silver |
1de and change the apparent silver COM