Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-09-04

retribution. Bryan's victory will nc
doubt prepare the way for an inter
national agreement. Should Bryan
be elected, we the bimetallists, woull
gain formidable allies, while American
bankers would certainly do all in their
power TO forestall the depreciation oI
American values by backing oui
cause Of international bimetallism.
Now as to the prospects in Europe
The possessors OF American values
fearing depreciation, would influence
the BOurse to such an extent as to
cause capital to reconsider its attitude
toward bimetallism, whereupon the
European governments may be obliged
to adopt bimetallism in order to re-
store confidence and equality. All
Europe has formally declared that bi.
metallism shall not be introduced
without Great Britain's cooperation.
The English Cabinet, at Balfour's
instigation, desired March 18th that
nothing should interfere with the
gold standard. Belfour represents
the remar ksble and questionable view
that no change of coinage should be
imposed on financial men. In other
words, the world of finance rules, the
thief is jailor. Belfour waits and hopes
patiently for the bimetallic conversion
OF London. That famous debate of
March 17th has clearly shown what is
thought of the question in the city
The Shylock standpoint was never
presented with more brutal effrontery
than by Harcourt. The American
silver advocates will find Harcourt's
speech the best campaign document.
A producer who reads this speech and
does not vote for Bryan cuts his own
throat.
In order to prevent some OF this
moral suicide l quote few character
lied phrases. Said the leader Of the
English Liberals: England has
been called the land of Shylocks. No
body who was present will forget the
memorable speech delivered by Mr..
Gladstone in this House on this same
question in which he submitted to the
worlds ridicule the proposition that
this land OF money lenders should go
from country to country, hat in hand,
begging that we should be paid ten
shillings for pound. This is prac-
tically the goal to which bimetallism
would lead us. (Hear! Hear.D OF
course we are told that we are to re-
ceive more money. The truth is, that
we are paid not in gold, but in goods.
1t is out of this merchandise that our
people make their living, and now it is
expected of us that we shall 60 around
the world begging that we shall re-
ceive less merchandise for our gold.
Can anything more ridiculous be sug-
gested? (Hear! HearD We who
have lent hundreds, nay, thousands OF
millions, to foreign nations shall ask
them that for this money they shall
give us less in return than We now re-
ceiye. (Hear! Hear)"
With this speech Shylock Hart
court has laid bare the kernel of the
whole matter. Shall the producers
pay double value in goods or noti
The English creditor grows rich while
his American victim goes to ruin.
When once it becomes fully under
stood in London that Bryan is bound
to enact free silver coinage without the
permission of the Stock Exchange,
will not the fear of the decrease of
American values bring about Eng
lands conversion? Then Balfour will
follow his bimetallic convictions and
in that case all Europe is conquered.
1t is self-evident that the American
people desire to be as independent OF
the manipulators of the bourse of
New York and Chicago as they must
be absolutely free of the conditions
that govern speculation in Berlin and
London.
The so-called silver fanaticism that
we hear so much is really but pro-
test against shady bourse manipula'
tions that threaten the small man
year in and year out. The American
silver party, if it means TO do its full
duty, must not be content TO break
the gold monopoly, but must also put
an end to fluctuations of the value OF
silver.
This should be accomplished as fol-
lows: Immediately after Bryan as.
sumes his Office, the Government OF
the United States should ask the pow
ers OF Europe whether they desire a
mutual understanding in reference to
coinage. The powers will not be long
in formulating requests and submit.
ting propositions by whose adoption
all the contracting parties will gain.
Thus it may come about that interna-
tional bimetallism and the best posi-.
BILE solution of the financial and eco
nomical problems of the day will be
the ultimate result OF Bryan's and the
peoples victory.
But how will it be should Mckinley
be elected. Nothing could act more
disastrously on the American stand.
ard. Only Bryan can save the Ameri-
can standard by an International un.
derstanding. The "honest money
party overlooks the fact that the pres
ent American standard is endangered
| more by causes emanatinp from itseli