The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-16
THE COMMISSION AND aR. STEVEN
son

There Is an apparent majority n favor
% silver on the commission selected by
President Mckinley 20 sound the Euro
pean governments on the subject Of an
international monetary conference. That
body consists of Senator Wolcott. very
decided advocate OF the free and unlimited
coinage of silver at fictitious ratio by
this country, independent Of any other; Of
MIR. Paine. who Is an advocate OF the
single standard and ex-v.ce President
Stevenson. Mr.. Stevenson Is a very agree
able old gentleman. whose faculty for
avoiding inconvenient convictions landed
him In the vice presidency. and whose
natural innocuousness was matured by
service as presiding officer In a body which
promptly suppresses any indication OF de-
cisiveness In its chair. He is respectable.
as any ordinary--as even any very ordi-
nary-citizsn must be who is entitled TO
call himself ex-yice president OF the
very pleasant at public dinners and other
social functions.
so far from influencing the statesmen OF
Europe 10 abandon the ripe experience Of
centuries for an experiment fostered by a
demagogic motive. IL Is more than prob
able that Mr. Stevenson will return to this
country a convert to the single standard.
lie would Go this beyond any doubt IL any
prominent person in Europe took the
trouble % try and convince him. but even
without that there Is doubt that he will
retain his innocence in the gay capitals OF
ld-buggism.
Mr.. Stevenson's profound faith IN the
idea that he has convictions will prove TO
be his weakness rather than his strength.
His entirely unexpected rescue from OBJ
nvlon and his sudden emergence from
gloom into the blaze of publicity has rat
tied him a little, and he has been tempted
out OF his usual reticence to express him
self lie assumes an attitude OF unalter-
able determination and exalted purpose.
lie fully realizes the great Importance OF
any duty for which he Is selected. Had
he observed his usual caution he might
have impressed Europe with his weight.
because most Of Europe has probably not
read MS speeches. Euf LccoNc aware OF
his delay In declaring which policy he be-
leved in until be had seen which way the
cat was going TO jump. Bus he has
spoken. and Europe Will be ready for him.
lie has. so 20 speak. permitted the public
TO put It's finger on his peiluoid surface
and they feel that It's consistency is that
Of calfs foot jelly. It's MASSEY fiabblness
that OF the discophorous hydrozoan
The sonorous solemnity OF the dsclara-
tion that the Importance OF the question
cannot - overestimated. that IN this
country the Increase IN the volume OF
business Is beyond computation. and that.
therefore. in light Of these facts the re
habuitatson Of silver "a prime necessity
naturally eonvinces Mr.. Stevenson that he
Is coping with = great responsibility and
knows sli about q. but Il viii not have
the same conclusive effect upon the states
men he viii have 70 meet
Ha viii BE waS-nOt ordinary wax. but
pure wax mobile wax ia the hands Of
the man he will deal With. snd II re does
not return a convert 20 the single standard
Il viii DE because Europe refuses 20 take
him seriously enough 10 care what hs
tanks or what ne thinks he thinks.