The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-09-24

The silver democrats are making
considerable use at present of letter
written by Prince Bismarck to Gov.
Culberson of Texas. Here is the let
ter
Your esteemed favor of July l has
been duly received. | have always
had prediction for bimetallism, but
/ would not while in office claim my
views Of the matter to be infallibly
true when advanced against the views
of experts. | hold to this very hour
tnat it would be advisable to bring
about between the nations chiefly en-
gagged in the worlds commerce mutual
agreement in favor of the establish
ment of bimetallism.'
"'Considered from a commercial
and industrial standpoint the United
States arc freer by far in their move
ments than any nation in Europe, and
hence if the people of the United
States should find it compatible with
their interests to take independent
action in the direction of bimetallism,
/ cannot but believe that such action
would exert most salutary influence
upon the contamination of interna
tional agreement and the coming into
this league of every European nation.
Careful perusal Of this letter de-
strOys its value as a silver argument
He says IF the people of the United
States should find it compatible with
their interests to take Independent &C
ton &c"
The most pronounced gold bug who
favors international bimetalism and
thinks it possible could say without
being inconsistent just what Bismarck
has said. That one word "if' is 6
serious qualification of the sense the
silverites want to attach to Bismarck
letter
1t is a singular circumstance that
the silverites who have been SO active
in protesting against adoption of for
eign financial systems, should all al
once be struck with the wisdom of 6
foreign suggestion. Germany is on 6
gold basis. Its silver is coined OF
government account as in the United
States. The gold standard was adopt
ed while Bismarck was in power, and
every one conversant with compare
lively recent German history knows he
was supreme. From his letter it is
evident he does not think it wise fol-
Germany to experiment He does not
say 1t is safe for the United States tc
do so, but it would not break his heart
if they did SO. While the other fellow
assumes the risk the experiment vii
be watched with interest.
Sweet is the dance and
dOubly sweet the lays,
When for the dear delight
another pays"
Mr.. Bryan has bounced upon this
letter of Bismarck's and is laudins
the once iron chancellor to the skies
Some years ago when every bill boart
in the land had large placards con
tanning utterances of Bismarck favor
able to protection did Mr.. Bryan ap
prove? He does not want foreign die
tatiOn IL American matters. WHY
does he accept Bismarck's? lie ever
goes to the extent of placing a wrong
construction on Bismarck letter witt
view to giving it hortatory, if moi
mandatory character.
La obedience to the unerring law OF
trade We have adopted a financial
system, which England, the leading
commercial country of the world
adopted in the early part of the cen
fury. Her example was followed by
the other countries of Europe and the
United States not because she set it
but because they had reached thai
period of commercial development
which she had reached earlier, and
which made necessary the change. II
was about the same as exchanging the
horse street car for the trolley line
But we are called imitators and we
are asked to make a declaration OF
independence. Against what? Against
protiting by the experience of other
nations ? A singular declaration of in
dependence that!
The constitution of England is simp-
ly the growth of experience, no doubt
the wisest that human ingenuity, with
the limitations to which fundamental
law Is always subject, could devise
The trainers Of cur constitution mod
eled it upon that of Great Britain, and
that after we had made a declaration
OF independence which was replete
with patriotism and good sense. The
fathers of the constitution were not
childish enough to refuse to profit by
the experience of England when they
come to fix the foundation of this gov
eminent They had the pure patriotic
spirit, not the spurious kind which is
fed on prejudice. Would Mr.. Bryan
have the constitution of the United
States rejected because it is fashioned
on English precedent?