The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-01-15
FOR AN INTERNATIONAL AGREE
MENT.

The free coinage people have as
serted all along that the Republicans
have had no idea of carrying out the
pledge which they made to secure if
possible an international agreement
as to the use of silver. They have de-
clared all along that it was simply a
bluff to fool the people with. But the
Republicans have not waited for the
new administration to get into power
before making move to carry out the
pledge, and the present congress will
doubtless have the chance to vote up
on resolutions looking to the calling
of monetary conference of the lead
ing nations of the world. More than
this, Senator Wolcott, of Colorado,
who declined to follow Senator Teller
out of the Republican party last sum-
mer, has gone to Europe to confer
with leading financiers and bimetal
lists there, to learn if possible what
the real feeling is, and what the ulti-
mate chances for success along this
line is. There is every reason for be-
lieving that the move for a confer
ence now being inaugurated, is being
pushed along more practical lines
than ever before. The mission of
Senator Walcott abroad is wholly un-
official, except that he has the assent
of the Republican senatorial caucus
committee, of which he is member,
and it is also known that his mission
has the approval of Major Mckinley.
His visit abroad is one of the best evil
dences of the sincerity of the pledge
made by the Republicans at st. Louis
last June, in favor of an international
system of bimetallism, and good re-
suits are likely to result from it, be-
cause it will secure the latest express
sion as to the possibility of such a
plan. Senator Wolcott represents, as
the New York Mail and Erpress well
says, ''the best intelligence of the
west on che silver question. He speaks
for the progressive and courageous
classes who believe that the Republi-
can party is the truest friend of the
silver interest, through which free
coinage has its greatest chance Of ulti
mate success. Acting in this capacity,
as one who favors honest interna
tional bimetallism, and opposing the
ruinOuS silver recommendation which
independent free coinage on our part
would surely mean. Mr.. Wolcott goes
to Europe abundantly equipped to
render valuable service to the cause
he has at heart" He has not gone
sanguine of immediate success for the
cause, but there is no doubt but that
he will accomplish much good for this
important move.
The step undertaken entirely dis
poses of the oft repeated assertion
that the Republican pledge lacked
sincerity. The Mckinley administra-
tion will do everything possible to
bring about conference Of the ma
tiols upon this important question.
That far at least it is likely to meet
with success. Further then that
nothing can yet be said. A con-
ference might, or might not, reach
some agreement as to the larger use of
silver which the nations represented
would agree to follow. And any &C
tion which such a conference mi hit
agree upon might, it followed out by
the nations, prove successful, or it
might end in dismal failure. That
is problem which will not be solved
until the bridge is reached.