The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1897-02-13
THE slMeTALLIc PLANK.
Republican Endeavors to Give silver the
Fullest Use.

Nothing which has happened In the
political world since the 3D. of Novem-
her has so much interested the people
Ct the east, and apparently the people
of the United States generally as the
unanimous agreement by republican
senators at Washington in behalf OF
the bill formed by their caucus COM
mittee, looking TO an international bi-
metallic conference and authorizing
the calling of one il necessary. The
hill, which was promptly telegraphed
New York from Washington and pub
lished in every newspaper, reads as fol-
lows:
IAN act to provide for the repre-
sentation by commissioners, at an in
ternatiopal monetary conference, here
after to be called
| BE it. enacted by the senate and
house Of representatives of the United
States of America, in congress assem-
bled, that whenever after March 4,
1897, the president of the United States
shall determine that the United States
should be represented at any inter
national conference called by the United
States or any other country with
view to securing, by international
agreement, fXity of relative value be-
tween gold and silver as money by
means of a common ratio between those
metals. with free mintage at such ratio,
he is hereby authorized TO appoint five
or more commissioners to such interna-
tional conference, and for Compensa-
ton of said commissioners, and for all
reasonable expenses connected there
with, TO be approved by the secretary
of state, including the proposition to be
paid by the United States of the joint
expenses of such conference, the sum of
100000, or so much thereof as may
be necessary, is hereby appropriated"
The report from Washington that the
republican caucus agreed unanimously
in favor of a bill authorizing President
Mckinley 10 appoint delegates 10 an
international silver conference and TO
call that conference together if neces-
sary, has been more convincing to the
average mind of the absolute good
faith of the republicans in their prom
iseS to promote international bimetal-
liSm than anything that has happened
before or since the election. Ii must
be confessed that many people, es-
pccially in the east, looked upon the in
ternational binetallic plank of the re-
publican platform rs merely phrase
TO catch votes. But they now realize
that they were mistaken. The repub-
licans were successful in the cam
paign, polling an enormous majority
and obtaining u victory which promises
them permanent control of the govern
ment for years. and il there has been
any lack of interest and good faith in
their assurances of q desire for inter-
national bimetallism it would have be-
come apparent by their action during
the period Immediately following their
victory, but, on the contrary, they have
utilized that very period to inaugurate
such steps as will insure vigorous ac-
tion looking toward international
agreement upon the silver question.
The fact that the very first thing UNI
dertaken by Prcsident-elect Mckinley
and the leading republicans OF the ma
ton was the enactment of such legisla-
lltH Noulu IL W
promptly call an international confer
ence on the silver question, convinces
observers, irrespective of past be-
iicfs. or past political affiliations. of the
absolute good faith upon this question
of bimetallism, not only as to the
pledges of the party platform. but OF
Presideut-elcct Mckinney and those
who are TO be associated with him.
There no longer remains doubt in
the mind of any observer of the
thorough good faith of the leaders of
the republican party in regard TO inter-
national bimetallism. There were some
people during the campaign and a
few since the campaign who were in
clined to smile when the pledges of the
republican platform in favor of inter
national bimetallism were spoken of,
but they no longer do so, Every one is
now convinced that President-elect Nc
kinley and the leaders of the party gen
orally are prepared 10 make an earnest
ond vigorous effort in behalf of inter
national action.
1t goes without saying that all in
terests have been watching the move
ments of the republicans upon the sub
ject since the campaign with great in
terest. Even the people of the east
recognized when the campaign was
over, if they did not so recognize be-
fore it ended, that large majority
of the people of the United States
desire to increase the use of silver If
it can be accomplished with safety.
They also recognized on the morning
of the 4th of November that the people
had mingled intelligence and thought
fulness with their desire for an in
creased use of silver in our currency
by voting for the candidate OF the party
which had pledged itself to genuine
bimetallism through international ac-
ton, rather than the party whose plans
would have produced silver monometal-
lism through an effort TO resume the
free and unlimited coinage of silver
without the cooUeration of any nj ber m.