Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-27
DIR. OTTO ARENDT.
ms VIEWS ON THE ALL-fwroRT-
ANT CURRENCY QUESTION.
HE WISHES TO SEE BRYAN ELECTED.
IL would lie the beginning of the
Peaceful solution of Many Social
Questions, and Might Lead tn In
tcrnnffOnnI Dimctnlltsm.
(New YORK JoUrnall

coinage propaganda. and its diSrepute
among genuine blmetallists abroad. that
the Journal has induced some OF the
most famous European economists OF
that school 10 write their views upon
our political situation. The discussion Is
opened by Or Otto Arendt. who has
received many catering certificates OF
character from the msnomeialhc press on
account Of his recently published opinion
that free coinage by the United states
alone would prove disastrous 20 bime-
tallism in Europe. II will be seen that
DR.. Arendt has now changed his views,
and Is an enthusiastic advocate Of Mr.
Bryans election:
To the Elitor Of the Journal:
The people Of the United States have
never been called upon to decide a ques-
tion so important as that Of the coming
presidential election.
Persons and parties do not count IN TINS
campaign az all-the great fundamental
principles Of modern national lie are a,
stake shall these be upheld. or shalI
they be trampied under foot? THIS Is the
all-absorbing question.
Europe. the mighty grandparent Of the
young Colossus. feels in her bones that
the ballOt-boXes which are soon 10 be SET
up IN the cities and villages and hamlets
Of America VIII speak the destlnies OF her
leading nations.
Never before was the dividing line so
sharply defined. and we understand that
the sovereign people Of the United states
mean once for all 70 solve the soelai
question which has In late years cause1
81 Nef IN
tions.
Look at the two sides and mark the
striking contrasts. Mckinley ana his No-
fsries representing the party OF so-caled
honest money" and dishonest profits, the
party Of trusts and monopolies. the party
that brought the pillage Of national re-
sources for the benefit of capital 10 fine
polnt and inLo method on the one size.
Their opponents we find under the proud
banner OF Bryan. These are the produc-
tive classes-worlsingmen and farmers
who refuse to permit themselves TO be
bed in future for the cause Of the Gold
standard
European bimetallists. who have been
fgltiug the gold standard for many years
past. regard international bimetallism as
tho tue solution OF all the questions in
volved.
Ny own views on that subject I have
laid down In an essay published In the
June issue Of the North American Re-
view. when i gave il as my opinion that
the question OF free silver should be set
tied only after an international agree
ment regarding the relative values OF
gold and silver had been arrived at; for
at that time / took II for granted that
both parties would favor silver I'm their
platforms. though not TO the extent OF
free coinage.
With respect to the possible candidates,
bimetallists. taking Mckinley TO be q
thorough silver man. certainly regarded
him with much favor.
What sad disappointment, however,
came with the s.. Louis convention, IL
was obvious that the shirt Of that con-
vention was Inspired by wall street while
Mckinley himself deserted the peoples
cause and closed. an alliance. offensive
and defensive. wllh all-grasping capital.
Heaven-high above him. unfettered. ard
unmerccnary. rose Bryan. who at once
gained the respect and sympathies Of BIZ
metalllsts the world over.
TIE PEOPLES CHAMPION.
II were an American citizen I would
unhegitGtingiy vote fer the peoples cham
pion. A fres-coinage President appears
20 me a lesser evil than a stock exchange
President, who would walk in Clevelands
footsteps. There are superficial people In
this and other countries who imagine that
II Bryan IS elected in November free
silver coinage will begin next March.
They forget that Congress must finally
decide the question. Even should Prest-
dent Bryan. as win be most probable.
call an extra session, II would take sew
era, months before free-silver coinage
would be leea.lLed
l. r. fully appreciated IN Europe that
free coinage would prove a more formula
bic menace thQn the proposed suspension
OF the Bland ard sherman acts. Euro
pea.n falanoiers and mono7olists have had
a taste OF the fluctuations In American
values. ard fear them more than even
McKinlcy's prohibitive tariff.
America offers US the tantalizing al
Tentative between a prohibitive tariff and
a silver standard But our money mo-
nopoiis,s In this case harvest the storm
where they have been sowing the wind.
Their long continued opposition to inter-
national himetallism Is on the eve of re-
eoiving its proper retrbuton. Bryans
victory wiz. no doubt. prepare the way
for an international agreement.
Should Bryan be elected we, the BIZ
nefallists. would gain formidable allies
while American bankers would certainly
DO all IN their power 10 forestall the de-
probation OF American values by backing
our cause OF International bimetalliem
Now. as to the prospects in Europe:
The poS2ssors OF American values. fear
Ing 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
bimetallsm In order TO restore confidence
and equality.
All Europe has formally declared that
bimetallism shall not be introduced with
out Britain's cooperation. The English
Cabinet at Balfour's instigaton decided
on March 18th that nothing should in
terfere with the gold standard. Balfour
represents the remarkable and question
able view that no change Of coinage
should be imposed on financial men, in
other words, The world OF finance rules
the thief is the Jailer.
THE SHYLOCK STANDPOINT.
Balfour waits and hopes patiently for
the timetables conversion OF London
That famous debate of March 18th has
clearly shown what Is thought Of the
question IN the city The Shylock stand
point was never presented with more
brutal effrOntery than by Harcourt. The
American silver party viii find Harcourt's
speech the best campaign document
producer who reads this speech and doe
not vote for Bryan cuts his own throat
In order 10 prevent some OF this moral
suicide. l quote few characterize
phrases Said the leader OF the English
Liberals:
England has been called tho land OF
Shyiocks. Nobody who was present Will
forget the memorable speech. delivered
by Mr.. Gladstone In this House on this
same question. an which he submitted
10 the worlds ridicule the proposition that
this lard OF money lenders should 90
from country 20 country hat IN hand
begging that We should be paid ten shli-