The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-22

announcement ended all possibility OF any
practical result from that conference.
Since that time, and within the last year.
ner executive assemblies have specifcal-
~, Dy votes Of Instructions 10 her minis
Iers changed her attitude upon that point.
50 that the specific objection encounter
eu py the conference OF 1892 has been since
reconsidered and Withdrawn.
AT the present moment, Germany,
France, Italy, Austria, Holland Belgium
and the United States wish TO cooperate
Tor the establishment and maintenance of
joint standard by International agree
ment, and Ga most important circum-
stance) Great Britain has recently. within
three months in fact, made a most impOr-
tant concession. She has said: We will
40 Tor you as much as you can do for
yourselves. We will make this great con-
trlbution TO a bi-metallic system. We will
go back upon the deliberately arranged
methods of providing a currency for In
qla. We will reopen the India mints.
We will engage that they snail be kept
open and we shall, therefore, provide for
free coinage Of silver within the limits
OF the British empire for a population
greater in number than the populations
OF Germany, France and America put to-
gether.'
Into this long and now just about to
be successful struggle for the establish
ment of joint standard 1t is proposed
that We should intervene by assuming TO
establish it alone. Against this proposed
in and workers for the cause strenuously
protest.
They say to US you cannot succeed,
and your failure will discredit 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 to advocate and bring to its dominat-
ing position in Germany this cause. one
of the original organizers Of the b.metallic
league in Germany is entitled to be called
one Of the leaders of public opinion in Eu
rope upon this subject 1t was upon his
motion in the Prussian Chamber of Dep
uties that the position of Germany was
modified within the last year
He expresses the opinion that free coin
age undertaken by the United States alone
would simply end in monometallism and
discredit and put back the cause of the
double standard the world over.
1T is question not what we wish, but
what we are able to do. A 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 coinage
by the United States alone will not give
us the gold and silver a [ parity with
each other (Which is the assumption upon
which 1t is undertaken), but will bring us
to 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 to any one. This feeling
Is general and intense. Whether these
differences can be reconciled, 1t is lmpossi-
bic to anticipate. The democratic party
stands for principles desirable to be main
tanned for the good of the country. Al
most any sacrifice might be asked of dem
ocrats for the sake Of the party, and they
would cheerfully make it.. But If the del
egates from this locality should go 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 misrepresenting the
state of public opinion here.
Whether It is so or not it is considered
a proposition to debase the existing stan
dard Of values. And the same feeling of
indisposition to compromise with that
matter for votes or anything else, is as
active and dominant here in our party as
it was found in the republican party when
it bore down and overpowered the McKin-
ley machine.
PERSONALLY, it is my opinion, if the dem
ocratic party goes on to that platform at
trous defeat that any party has ever had
in this country. l understand 1t is honestly
believed in, and people think 1t will bring
relief from their present troubles, but be-
tween now and election day it will be pret-
ty 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 to
their business interests in such a change
in their standard of value as would arise
from such action. And it will, in my opin-
ion, overwhelm the persons who under
"It ought not to be necessary for me to
say anything of a personal nature. find
myself, however, spoken of here and there
as a possible candidate-not very seriously
or prominently, but sufficiently to attract
attention If I should fail to notice it. 1t
sometimes affects ones influence in cases
like the present. have no personal motive
in entering this fight. 1 have SAID that
would not be a candidate. 1 will add, copy
ing the emphatic language used by the
late Gen. Sherman, q think l remember it
correctly L will not run If nominated, nor
serve If elected
'I am not foolish enough to suppose that
any eastern man could be nominated by
this convention, much less that 1 could.
Il sympathize thoroughly with the feel
ing in the south that has caused this up
rising and will find its expression at Chi
cago but as to the principles which the
uprising has brought forth and the issues
being framed, 1 entirely disagree
(Signed.) william c. Whitney"