Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-03
Some Suggestive P1atform-Mnkfng.

The strength of bimetallism in the repub-
lican party is indicated in the deliverance
of Mr.. Reeds friends and representatives
in Maine yesterday. They did not declare,
rs some had predicted they would, for the
gold standard without reservation. They
old not assert that international bimetal-
ism was impossihls. and that therefore no
Change from the present gold standard
TO be expected or should be advocated.
They simply declared against free coinage
except by International agreement, thereby
signfying Willingness to accept free coin
age if by international agreement the
double standard should again be recon-
mended- So that. as conservative republic
cans reason, If state as far east as Maine
can take such ground at such time, bimet-
allism conditioned upon international agree
ment Is still assured of strong support IN
the republic an party. This declaration Is
not. however, accepted by the radical silver
men as a concession to the white metal,
since they view free coinage by interna-
tiooal agreement as demonstrated impos-
sibility. and count as an avowed enemy one
who announces himself friendly only upon
an impossible condition.
The Maine plank Is subjected to compar-
ison with the financial plank of the plat
form adopted by the republicans of Ohio
The friends Of Mr.. Mckinley go further
than do the friends OF Mr. Reed. The
phrase, free coinage" does not appear in
their deliyerdnce at all. They declare for
gold and silver standard money either
in accordance with a ratio to be fixed by
an International agreement-ff one can be
secured-or under such restrictions and
such provisions, to be determined by legis-
latiOn. will secure the maintenance of
the PARTIES Of values of the two metals"
They do not rest the case on an fnterna-
uonal agreement. The substance of their
declaration is that If an International agree
ment fails. some legislation by Congress in
silver's interests should be enacted.
Herein, it is thought, is to be found the
key 70 the contention at ST. Louis I'll.
silver men under Mr.. Teller's leadership will
call for specifications on this score. Sup
pose an international agreement does failo
Suppose it is demonstrated that if silver is
to be rehabili.ated it must be done by the
initiative of the United States? What then?
What shape will that silver legislation take
designed to secure the maintenance of the
PARTIES of values of the two metals?' This
point, it Is asserted, is certain to be pressed
and upon the answer may depend the final
action of the silver republicans. If it is
satisfactory, there will be no bolt; IL not,
then a conference. at least, of the western
men Will be called to consider future steps
Meanwhile, II is observed that no gold
plank, properly SO called, has been adopted
by any state BlmetalIism, conditional or
unconditional, is Endorsed everywhere A
genuine gold plank would, 1t may be sug-
gested. be thus expressed:
Resolved: That gold. and gold alone,
measures values among advanced COM
mercial nations, and that the double stand
ard is neither to be expected nor desired
a declaration at Chicago for free coinage
at Is to l. coupled with the democratic
nomination of a radical silverite for Pr,si-
dent. would, however. render practically
equivalent to a direct gold single-standard
announcement. so far the radical silver
men are concerned. either the Maine plank
or even the Ohio plank in the financial Ge-
lIverance of the St Louis convention