The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-09-19


THAT 2"
l. A. ..It.is quite possible that the Presi-
| dent, who is a man much occupied with
other matters, had not given his mind to
| it. have no doubt sufficient explana-
tions were put befor, him, but it he did
not give his mind to it he might not rec
ollect."
c. GAS soon as the American people
found out what really had been done. did
there not arise a great agitation in Amer
ica?" 800
A. II think the proper way would be
to say, as soon as certain people, who
were bimetallists, found out what was
done, and as soon as the agitation Of Mr.
Cernuschi began to make itself felt gen
orally, an agitation was stirred UP result
ing in the Bland act OF 1878. But that is
all you can say. There was no general
Indignation among the American people,
and there could not be, because compare
lively few understood anything about it. !"
Mr.. Everett: Il am afraid that be-
longs to monetary legislation generally.
The key to great deal that has hap
pened is that the common people do not
understand it and the owners Of money
do"
The witness was then examined as to
other matters. =
1t is, of course, awkward that Robert
Giffen, Of London, who thus indicated
the bill of 1873, by testifying that all
who were really 'interested'' on both
sides of the Atlantic knew all about it,
should, before the enactment was passed,
have also been aware that it would re-
suit in contraction and falling prices. It
is awkward because Edward Atkinson,
Congressman McCleauy, and free-trade
gold monometallists with them, are
straining the truth tremendously in
vain and farcical effort to prove that an
effect, which is not only manifest, but
was predicted with the certainty of lnath-
enatical computation by the ablest gold
standard economist Of the present time,
is really not in existence at all. While
the President of the United States, Gem
eral Grant did not know that he had put
down half the money of redemption OF
the Union he fought SO hard to save;
while he was unaware that his signature
gave force to measure which placed the
shackles struck from sable wrists on the
producers and labor of the land in gen
era1 Robert Giffen, of London, consult
ing economist of the British board of
trade, not only knew what that bill con-
e Io1s
ly on it's power as an agent to destroy
the price of that which American indus
try produces to. sell. 1t matters not it
this or that member of the close corpora
ton of conspirators responsible for it did
or did not drop an occasional word in
congress for the purpose OF subsequent
tricky appeal, stealthy advantage was
taken of the trust placed by legislators
in their leaders and followers, and that
trust was deliberately betrayed to the
black shame of John Sherman and his
coadjutors, as were the interests Of the
revolutionary heroes by the military
treason of Benedict Arnold. It needed
not the testimony of Robert Giffen to as
sure the American people that those who
were interested" knew all about that of
which their President was held in ignor-
ance. John Sherman's accomplish, Sam
uel B. Ruggles, was in Berlin in 1868, in
the midst Of the war, negotiating with
DIR. Farr, of London, the Registrar Cen
eral Of Great Britain, and associate of
Robert Giffen, and with the gold going
out of the Union Golfers lie pledged him
self to farther a scheme to conf1ne the
United States to gold payment Of war
debts thereafter, and to contract the gold
currency, as much of it as was left, by 311a
per cent. OF course, Robert Giffen knew.
The interested" parties to the transac-
ton all knew. OF course, it was not done
in corner. London is no corner, nor
yet was Berlin a corner in 1863, nor Paris
in 1867. De Parieu, the Frenchman,
knew, and so did Baron Won Hook, of
Austria, the Belgian delegate, Pirmez,
the Swiss delegate, Feer-H erzog, and one
or two others of the interested" There
is no question at all about it. 1t was not
done in corner. It was simply the re-
suit of MISUNDERSTOOD compact be-
tween those whom Mr.. Giffen describes
as the ''interested,' their number, how
ever, not including the speaker of the
American Congress, James G, Blaine. the
President, U. S. Grant, nor the people of
the United States and their representa-
tives generally. Let the work of revela-
ton go on. The facts are coming brave.
ly to light.