Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-08-13
The International Agreement.

utterly vain and delusive. The Re-
publican party, holding out this de-
lusive hope, this visionary and i'm
practicable scheme, to the American
people, is using this talk Of an inter
national agreement simply to effect
an indefinite postponement of action
on the great question of silver coin
age. Let it be remembered that the
Republican platform demands the
maintainence Of the existing gold
standard until the double standard
can be agreed upon in an interna-
tional conference. Then if it APP
pears that an international agree
ment can never be brought about,
because impracticable, we have the
Republican party fully committed
to British gold monometalism, and
the people of this country utterly
without hope of a change so far as
the influence and efforts of that
party are concerned.
There is hope for the people, how
ever, in the patriotic stand taken by
the Democracy on this great ques-
ton. Believing that this govern
ment, with its 7O,O0O,OO0 of people
and its untold wealth in resources of
all kinds, is able to maintain a finan-
Cial system of its own, the Demo-
cratic party boldly proclaimed our
independence of England and all
other nations, and, looking to them
terest of our own people, demands
independent and immediate action
without the consent and regardless
of the wishes Of any other nation on
earth.
In its effort to prevent action on
this question by holding out the
hope of an international agreement
| (never to be realized in fact) the
Republican party has an artful ally
in the so-called Bimetalic F"
League Of London, which is at work
to-day in this country in the effort to
influence public sentiment i'm favor
of Mckinley. Touching the efforts
Of the London League in this matter,
Alexander Del Mar, chairman of
tho New York State Committee of
the National Silver party, and Fran
CHS NJ. Rixby, tor the Young Dem
ocracy, have issued a circular in
which they warn the people against
the baneful influences this league is
eXerting.
In recent circular they say:
"The British sBi-metalic "
League is an enemy in the disguise
of a friend. 1t consists of Messrs.
Gibbs, Grenfell. Lauderdale and five
other eX-governors, directors and
eX-directors Of the Bank of England.
besides several hundred sharehold-
ers, dependents and friends of that
powerful institution. These gentle
men, finding large silver senti-
ment in England, especially in Ian.
cashire and among the classes inter.
ested in the East India trade, con.
ceived the ingenious idea of form.
ing League devoted to what they
called International bi-metalism
into which League they might in.
vite all the friends of Silver, and
there paralyZe and render abortive
their demands for the restoration of
silver money in England, by post.
poning the reform to the impossible
day when it should be simulta
neously adopted by the commercial
nations of the world. Thus far this
scheme has succeeded but too we'll
All the advocates of silver money
in England-and they number many
thousands of influential people
have been induced, in the hope Of
currency reform, to join this delusivt
League, though in doing so, they
have in fact postponed such reform
to the Greek calends. Some OF
them, detecting the cheat, are back
ing out of the League; but theil
discovery comes too late. The sur
reptitious alteration of the British
mint laws In 1870 Thy which the
Queens prerogative to restore full
legal tender silver coins by procla
nation, was destroyed), an altera
ton effected by Mr.. Crawford, ther
Governor of the Bank, cannot now
be undone. The Lancashire cottor
trade has gone to India and Japan
never to return. British trade witt
India and British influence in the
Orient generally, has received {
fatal check. Having pulled The
wool over the eyes of their owl
countrymen, the managers Of the
Bank and the League are now turn
ing their attention to the United
States. They are spreading Their
baneful International literature
all over the country; it should be
consigned to the paper basket"
Real, honest bimetalists in Eng
land, like Sir Moreton Frewin, urge
independent action on the part OF
!. this government, believing that this
is the only practicable way to force
action in Europe.
Money is an institution of law
and 10 embarass its regulation and
stability by foreign treaties might
lead to an impairment of the SOW.
reign power. Such impairment has
betallen nearly every State that has
entered into such a treaty. Scien.
titic men have shown that inter.
national monetary unions can only
benefit the capitalist States whilst
the patriots Of all chimes have de-
nounced the proposal as treason
able"
Shortly before the recent Chicago