The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-22
AND THE WoLCoTT
CoMEISSIoN.

A Washington special to the San
francisco Examiner tells very re-
markable story about the failure of the
mission of the Wolcott commission. 1t
is that the Silver Republicans of the
Wolcott stripe are accusing the admin
istration Of treachery. It is stated that
it has just leaked out that the failure
OF the commission to obtain the con-.
sent of Great Britain to the opening of
the Indian minis is due entirely to the
interpretation of the administration at
Washington, which is said TO have
stabbed Its own commission in the
back The dispatch goes on to say that
when the commission left for Europe
last s9ring it had no written instruc-
tons, but Senator Wolcott. as its head,
had several conferences with the ,presi-
dent and with Secretary Gage, on the
establishment of an international
agreement. Cordial support met its
proposition in Paris On arriving in
London, the negotiations progressed ia
vorably until Ambassador Hay commu-
nicated the formal propositions of the
commission to the administration at
Washington. At the next cabinet meet
ing the subject was discussed in detail
Secretary Gage bitterly opposed the
proposition. He pointed out that even
were the mints of India and France
thrown open to US, owing to the situa-
ton of an International exchange and
the immense DISTRICT that would be en-
gendered, this country would have to
he If +fa IL
instructed to use his good offices to save
US from an awkward position, and he
directed his efforts to having India
withdraw her consent to open the
minis. With midas withdrawal from
the concert, the whole international
agreement fell to the ground. Senator
Welcott came home Immediately. but
it was not until his arrival that he as
certained the cause of the sudden fail
ure Of the commissions efforts.
In politics it is impossible to say what
is and what is not true, but judged on
its face. this is one of the most unlikely
stories ever sent out for acceptance by
a credulous public. We have never be-
lieved for a moment that the presidents
AAOeeAS was Ii llAC WOlh VI Liz w OLCOlI
commission. or that he had any faith
that it could bring about any prelim-
mary agreement for international BIZ
metallism. but we have always be-
lieved that that commission was sent
abroad in most perfunctory way as
a fulfil.ment of the pledges of the ST.
Louis platform. To accuse the presi-
dent of having sent the commission
abroad for the sole purpose Of stabbing
it in the back, is to accuse him of be-
ing a knave and villain. an vlnprincipled
trickster of the lowest type 1t would
take proof positive to make US believe
any such thing of the president. To ac-
cuse the president of this. is to accuse
him of being a fool as well as a knave.
1t was just as certain before the VOL
colt commission went abroad that
England would refuse to do anything
for silver. as it was after it came
back.
The only effect of this story will be
to make those who are circulating it
appear ridiculous in the eyes of the
people, as it would have made the ad-
ministration look ridiculous. had it been
guilty as charged, in the eyes of the
various European countries visited by
the commission.