Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-05-20
elMETALLIc CONFERENCE.
History OF Past Efforts to Secure In
ternatfonaI Agreement.


conferences have been held looking to
an increased use of silver and the res
toration of bimetallism in the past 90
years. The first was held at the invita-
| ton of France and met in Paris June
IL, 1867; the second met at the invitation
of the United States at Paris August 10,
1878; the third was called by the United
States and France jointly and held in
Paris in 1851, and the fourth was called
/ by the United States and met at Brus-
sells, November %, 1892. a fifth might
have been held in 1898 had President
| Cleveland chosen to follow the example
of preceding republican presidents and
called together again the delegates to
the conference of 1899, who adjourned
with the understanding that they would
meet again in case any of the nations
! represented chose to call them together.
Mr.. Cleveland, however, although urged
| to take this step to reassemble this con-
| ference, which had made considerable
| progress at its first meeting, omitted to
do so and 1t now remains for a repub-
lican conference. The preliminary steps
for such action have already been taken
in the appointment of a commission.
upon this subject was called as above
indicated in France and was held dur
ing the Paris exposition in 1867. The
primary object of this was the estab-
lishment, if practicable of an interna-
tional silver coin. The United States
was represented at this conference by
a republican, Gen. Samuel B. Ruggles,
of New York, appointed by republican
president, and at the recommendation
of the leading members of the party.
The work of that conference. although
not successful in the work for which
it was called, is looked upon by bimetal-
lists generally as extremely important,
and Gen. Ruggles' report of the records
of the proceedings are highly priced by
the students of this subject. The next
step in behalf of bimetallism was also
the work of the republican party. 1t
was the appointment of a commission
under joint resolution passed by a re
publican senate, whose members were
to make an inquiry Unto the change
which had taken place in the relative
values of gold and silver and the causes
thereof, whether permanent or other
wise," and, second, Into the policy of
the restoration of the double standard
in this country, and if restored what the
legal ratio between the two coins, silver
and gold, should bes This was not an
international commission. The repub-
licans present in this commission were
Senator Jones, of Nevada; Hon. George
S. Boutwell,, Hon. George Willard, of the
house of representatives, and Prof.
Francis Bowen, of Harvard college,
while the secretary of the commission
was also a republican, Hon. George
Weston, of Maine. The democratic party
was represented on this commission by
Lewis V. Bogey, Richard P. Bland, Ran
dali L. Gibson and William Groesbeck.
Three members of this commission,
headed by Senator Jones reported in
favor of the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of fifteen and one-half to one,
the standard of the Latin Union. Other
members of the commission, including
Mr.. Groesbeck, Mr.. Bland, Mr.. Boutwell,,
Mr.. Bowen and Mr.. Gibson, presented
separate minority reports, but did not
concur in the recommendation for the
new ratio of fifteen and one-half to one. |
While the report of the commission of
1876, which was appointed by President |
Grant, did not lead to congressional
action, it was quickly followed by an in !
ternational monetary conference. This
conference was brought about through
legislation inaugurated by the repub- |
lican senate, supported by the republic
an votes in the house; the conference
was called by a republican president,
and distinguished republicans formed a
majority of the representation of the
United States in it. The invitations to
various nations 10 meet delegates from
the United States at Paris, August II,
1873, was accepted by eight nations. The
delegates from the United States were
ex-Goy. Fenton, of New York, chair
man; Gen. Francis A. Walker, Hon. W.
S. Groesbeck and S. Dana Horton, the
latter being appointed as secretary of
the delegation, but given the same
rights on the floor of the conference as
the members of the commission. All
these gentlemen, with the exception of
Mr.. Groesbeck, were republicans.
The next international silver confer
ance was held at the joint invitation of
the United States and France, April Is,
1881, the call for the conference and the
appointment of delegates thereto hav-
ng been made by republican presi-
lent, and all the delegates, with one ex-
,eption, being republicans. The dele
gates were Hon. William NJ. Evarts,
Hon. Allen G. Thurman, Hon. Timothy
}. Howe and S. Dana Horton, whose Of
ices at the former conference and ]
whose writings on bimetallism had at
racted much attention. Not only was n
majority of the delegates chosen from
he republican party, but the repub-
lean president of that date (Garfield) ,
II his inaugural address a few months
'arlier indicated the earnestness of his ,
,arty in behalf of international action
" saying, with reference to the dis I
parity between gold and silver: III con- ,
identity believe that an arrangement ,
an be made between the leading COM I
nercial nations which will secure the l
General use of both metals" ,
The fourth and last international con- I
erence an bimetallism was held at {
November %, 1892, having I
'een called by republican president. I
benjamin Harrison, authorized by an |
attached TO the sundry civil r
ill by the republican senate and the i
representation of the United States on Q
he commission being, on all former c
ccasions, made up largely of republic
ms. The delegates of the United States S
we're Hon. William B. Allison. Hon. John v
;. Jones' Hon. Henry w. Cannon, Prof. o
:. BENJAMIN Andrews, Hon. Edwin II.
'errill and Hon. James B. McCreary.
Al \, &c..