Evening star., 1896-10-09
Mr.. BLAINE'S RECORD
He Did Not Favor Unlimited Silver
Coinage.
4 PROPHETIC LETTER WRlrFENU 1891
Friendly Relations With Major Nc
kinIey Always Maintained.
THE RECIPROCITY SCHEME

Much has been SAID and written during
the pending campaign concerning the atti-
tude assumed by the late James G. Blaine
toward silver as a money metal. and an at
tempt has been made by democratic writer's
and speakers to cause it to appear that the
Maine statesman was favorable to indepen-
dent free coinage. This has en- denied by
those who were close to Mr.. Blaine in hts
lifetime, and in this line were the utter
ances to Star reporter today Of Mr. Louis
A. Dent. who was Mr.. Blaine's private Sec
retary during the later years of his life.
Mr.. Dent. when asked II he knew of any
facts that would warrant the assumptions
of the democrats, said:
Il have noticed that an effort has been
made IN tie present campaign by democrats
to make 1t appear that Mr.. Blaine favored
the unlimited coinage of silver by using
garbled extracts of some Of his speeches.
Mr.. Blaines position on the monetary ques-
friends. plainly deducible from his public
policies and his speeches and votes in Con-
gress. In December. 1867. and again IN
1876 he made vigorous speeches against the
propositions then afioat in favor of green
beck and silver imitation, and his vote
against the Bland bill should be conclusive
on this point. But evidence Of later years
Is still more convincing.
The Reciprocity Scheme.
"Mr. Blaine believed that the gold supply
would fall tc answer the needs OF the
worlds coinage. and he was therefore in
favor Of introducing the double standard
by international agreement, and for that
purpose he maintained an agent in Europe
during his last term as Secretary whose
business 1t was to encourage, foster and
watch. the development Of the silver feel
ing The final outcome was the Brussels
conference. which failed through the oppo-
sh:on Of the British government.
Failing in an international agreement,
Mr.. Blaine believed in a limited coinage of
silver by the United States government,
coupled with reorganized trade relations
between the United States and the nations
of the western hemisphere. His idea was
that by the extension Of our trade rela
tions with the American nations the silver
dollar Of the United States could be made
to circulate as a monetary standard among
them, taking the place Of the Mexican dol
lar SO necessary to the volume of their
circulation. because being maintained at
parity by the United States 1t would not
lie subject to the fluctuations Of the Mex
lean dollar.
mir. Biaine's reciprocity scheme was a
necessary part OF this comprehensive plan.
The extension of trade relations were es-
sential to furnish the outlet for the silver
coinage. and reciprocity was the only ap-
parent method by which our trade on this
hemisphere could be enlarged. The success
Of the latter meant the success Of the
coinage scheme. and the success of both
meant the absorption Of the trade south of
US. and an International confederation.
with the United States at the head. which
could successfully dictate its own terms in
large measure to the older civilization of
Europe, in time of peace, and effectualiy
bid defiance to them in case of war.
Proposed nm International Dollar.
"As further development Of this plan,
es especially cognate to the coinage Ques-
ton, Mr.. Blaine put forward in the
International Conference his idea Of an IN
terl atiOnal silver coin for the nations of
North. South and Central America.
AS matter of fact Mr.. Blaine was op-
posed to the unlimited coinage of silver by
the United States. He held the irrevoca-
bile opinion that this country could not
force silver as a monetary standard alone
and single handed against the world, any
more than Mexico. which had become
practically bankrupt in the operation. He
did believe. however, that by concerted ac-
tion on the part of American nations the
principle Of bimetallism could be promoted
II not actually introduced into use the
the world over His position on the none
tary question Is proven by the propositions
advanced and the measures supported by
him in the International Conference, all
tending to great American confederation
An IntcrestinR Letter.
"Apropcs to this subject 1 think your
readers will find very interesting the fol-
lowing letter written by Mr.. Blaine to his
friend. Col. Conger during Mr.. McKin-
iey's campaign In 1891. Mr.. Blaine exhibited
in this letter. as he has done on so many
occasions. his great gift, the faculty which
alone indicates the statesman-that fore
sight which places before the eye of his
inind the imminence OF public question
or the outcome of a policy long before 1t is
apparent or even occurs to the general or
the Individual mind. In prophetic vein
he predicted in this letter the position
which the democratic party has TODAY as
sumed in favor of deprecated currency
The letter follows:
'STANWOOD, Bar Harbor, Ne,
September %, 1891.
Col. A. L. Conger Akron Ohio:
My Dear Sir: Your favor received. 7
cannot take part In the Ohio campaign this
year. for many reasons which l need not
give. But l hope that no effort will be
spared to elect Mckinley His victory at this
time is very important to the country and
TO the republican party. He and Mr. Camp
bell represent the honest difference between
the two parties at this time. There is no
lodging and no evasion, and the voter need
rot be deceived. The election of Mckinley
means the policy of protection and honest
money. The election Of Campbell means
free trade and corruption of the currency.
l believe Ohio will stand by Mckinley
Very sincerely yours,
Relations With Mckinley.
'Mr. Blaine's relations with Mr.. McKin-
ley continued Mr.. Dent, were always of
the mos pleasant and friendly character
Much effort has been expended to make 1t
appear that Mr.. Blaine was inimical to Mr.
Mckinley because of his letter to Senator
Frye in 1890, in which he complained that
the Mckinley bill would not give to the
United States a market for a barrel of
flour or a pound of pork Mr. Blaines OBJ
lection was not to the general features of
the bill. His complaint was against the alb
surdity of throwing open a market for $5O,-
W.OOo of sugar, when it was possible to
gain advantages by making that market
the subject of bargain and trade. He was
incensed at the panicky feeling which pre-
vailed in Congress on the subject of free
sugar. and which blinded so many to the
advantages to be gained by reciprocal ar
rangements on the basis Of free sugar He
made vigorous protests to both committees
of Congress, and in personal interviews
with his friends in Congress, and finally sp-
pealed the subject to the public in his let
ters to Senator Frye, resulting in the
adoption of his reciprocity idea in the COM
promised form proposed by the President
No Personal Feeling.
But in all the discussion there was not
the slightest personal feeling. Mr.. Blaine
cOu1d