The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-05-21
sIMETALLIo ooNFERENoE.
History Of Past Efforts to Secure IN
farnaffonnE Agreement.

]
an increased use Of silver and the res
tOration Of bimetallism in the past 80
years. The first was held at the invita-
ton of France and met in Paris June
II, 1867; the second met at the invitation
of the United States at Paris August Is,
1878; the third was called by the United
States and France jointly and held in
Paris iD 1881, and the fourth was called
| By the United States and net at BTus-
! sells, November %, 1892. A fifth might
have been held in 1893 had President
Cleveland chosen to follow the example
Of preceding republican presidents and
called together again the delegates to
the conference OF 1892, who adjourned
with the understanding that they would
meet again in case any of the nations
represented chose to cGii 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 it now remains for repub-
lican conference. The preliminary steps
for such action have already been taken
in the appointment of commission.
The first international conference
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 re-
publican senate, whose members were
to make an inquiry into 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 be-" 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 Y. DOGGY, 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 III
ternationai monetary conference. This
conference was brought about through
legislation inaugurated by the repub-
Hcan 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 to meet delegates from
the United States at Paris, August II,
1878, was accepted by eight nations, The
delegates from the United States were
ex-Gov. 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.. Groesbecll, were republicans.
The next international silver confer
exec 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 hay
iug been made by a republican presi-
dent, and all the delegates, with one ex-
ception, being republicans. The dele
gates were Hon. William N. EvaTts
Hon. Allen G. Thurman, Hon. Timothy
o. Howe and S. Dana Horton, whose Of
fees at the former conference and
whose writings on bimetsllism had at
tracted much attention. Not only was a
majority of the delegates chosen from
the republican party, but the Tepub-
HCan president OF that date tGarfeld)
in his inaugural address a few months
earlier indicated the earnestness Of his
party in behalf Of international action
by saying, with reference to the dis
parity between gold and silver: leon
fdently believe that an arrangement
can be made between the leading com.
mercial nations which will secure the
! general use of both metals"
The fourth and last international con.
ference on bimetallism was held at
Brussels, November %. 1892. having
been called by a republican president
Benjamin Harrison, authorized by an
amendment attached to the sundry civi
bill by the republican senate and the
representation of the United States OF
the commission being, as on all former
occasions, made up largely Of republic
ans. The delegates Of the United State;