Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-17
THINKS We HAVE GALL
Does a Writer on the Rehabilita.
ton Of Silver in the Lon.
don Times.
DOESN'T PUT IT IN THOSE WORDS,

But Calls the Silver Commission Our
"Crude and Bold Diplomacy" and Ad-
vises John Bull to Let the White Metal
Help Itself, il 1t Can, and Refuse to
Open the India MINIS ut the Request Of
Uncle Sam.
London, Aug. l!.-The Timespublishes
a two-column special article today re-
viewing the effects of closing the India
minis in Connection with the visit of the
American bimetallic commission. 1t
says: The closing saved the Indian
government from losses incident to a
heavy fall in exchange and consequent
ly from disastrous increase in the
burden of its gold obligations It is
undoubtedly true that it also helped to
Keep down the gold value of silver bullion:
but may not the question be raised
whether the low price of silver is rec
esarily disastrous to that India which
purchases it so largely? Since 1893 India
has been the only real wholesale GUS
toner for silver. Other customers are
OF the retail order. The delicate adjust
ment Of the relative prices of the rupee
and silver formerly existing has been
ru0ely shattered by recent events Since
1886 the rupee has risen and silver has
fallen.
Forces Are Too Tremendous
The fact is, the forces now acting
upon the price of silver have become TOO
tremendous to be dominated by such del
icate influences as preceded the defeat
OF Bryans silver party and Japan's
adoption of the gold standard. These
events have proved causes too potent to
be withstood." The article in conclud-
ing says: The closing of the mnts was
justified, and all that is now NEEDED to
bring a great experiment to a success
full ending is little courage and pa
thence, as well as resources. on the part
OF the firanciers of the Indian empire
At the same time plain and strafghtfor-
ward language is advisable upon one
point. The Indian statesmen tempered
too long with bimetallisn. The firta-
tior. which seems so innocent and in
nocuous, has already cost them dear.
But for that the government would have
assented to the closing of the minis long
before 1S93.''
Comments on Our Bold Diplomacy.
The article comments on the character
istic cruderess and holiness of American
diplomacy in sending a bimetallic COM
W dsh lOT TeOpeGlnG OF the
Indian minis, while at the same time
dealing the worst possible blow at Brit
ish commerce by passing the Dingley
tariff. 1t is clearly impossible" says
the writer, ito treat seriously a COM
mission which argues that unless we do
something for silver the next election
in the United States will return Mr..
Bryan to the White House to the lasting
injury of British interests. 1t is not
certain that Mr.. Bryan will be elected.
1t is not even certain that II he were
elected We would suffer more than we
should from a new Mckinley with an
other Mckinley act.
Opposed to Help for Silver.
Moreover. British investors in Amer
lean securities have time before the next
presidential election and before the
crash to get rid Of them. One thing is
certain. We would be very foolish to do
anything for silver. Even should the
United States and France agree to adopt
bimetallism and England to reopen the
Indian minis, it would only bolster up
silver for brief space. to fall again to
its proper market prices; so that Indian
finances would be in a position as bad as
before, if not worse than before