The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-29
INTERN arroxAL MONETARY
CONVENTIONS.

CONVENTIONS.
when ox-rresissnt Cleveland ~ ~. r--
ess,t dinner og the Reform cluo condsnnn-
csl bis Republican successor for not TAX
gnv some steps to insure reform in the
carrency and a general settlement OF ths
money question. Il might have been sup
pssses thar the ex-presideut had never
Aaa an opportunity TO dc anything him
SELF IN the matter. Although the whole
country has never before been so gem
orally exercised on the subject rs II was
III the year 1895 when a moribund party
seized upon il as an excuse FOR living
short time longer. II had occupied the at
fantlon 81 many eminent men for come
years The agitation had alternately sub
sided and revived several times. but Mr.
Cleveland, who knew nothing OF the his
tory Of the country until after be became
president. and then only learned 1t very
slowly. might he excused for his ign5r-
aaee OF tho action taken prior TO that
time. But no can hardly be excused for
not knowing that a monetary conven-
tlon was called By the United States and
met AZ Brussels so recently as November
e. isss Had the convention adjourned
finally. 40 unimportant a matter of cur
rent Craftsmanship might not have call
ed 1or his attention. but he ought not TO
have been unminaful OF the fact that
when the delegates adjourned IL was with
the understanding that they should meet
81 Ra f8ssrsx
scented chose 20 call them together.
There Is every reason 10 believe that
the attention or DIR. Cleveland was called
to the opportunity afforded him. but IL
WAS very early Ia his second term, and
Re was quite unconscious OF the very
serious menace to our interests until he
VAS awakened BY the blow struck at bis
party By Organism.
Therefore. his criticism OF President
Mckinley within sixty days 81 his taking
office. unwarranted ss Il would be under
auy circumstances. has a still more I'M
pleasing aspect now that II becomes
known how utterly n neglected the mat
ter although his attention was called to
the fact that he had all the machinery
~ BITS command. and mad only 10 sc; II
ia motion.
There have been four International
monetary conferences. and although they
DID not result ia TIE adoption OF a iic-
sitous ratio between silver and sold. they
we're the means Of anoFding considerable
Information upon the relation of money
IN modern times - the transaction OF
alsiness The first International CON
:frence Of late years WAS held In 1861.
fnr the purpose OF establishing. II prac-
tieablc. an International silver ootI.
This would have been a great advance
independently OF any parity between tha
metals. bat II was unfortunately without
result II Nin he remembered that the
Unltcd Stases VAS represented at that cor
ference - Republican. appointed by
s. Rcpu9l.eua president. on tho recon-
mendatiou 81 prominent meA In that
party.
The next international conference was
held AZ Parts n 1873. at the insiigation
o. tho Uaijcd States. through legislation
initiated by - Republican senate sup
ported ~ Republican house. called ~
- Republican president. and having IN its
membership a delegation from the United
States In which the majority were Re
puaucauo In ISL Fganoe joined with
tic United States In Initiating a confer
enee under a suggestion 90 President Gar
6ald. made IN hts Inaugural message. IN
which he said: ~ coandently boHeve that
an arrangement can ee made between
Tire leading commercial nations which viii
secure tia general use OF both metals
The most important step taken toward
securing international agreement was
made az ths conference ea ei-mstallisn
held at Brussels In lisa IL was called BY
President Harrison. authorized ~ an
amendment attached 60 the sundry civil
hln by the Republican senate The dele
cation from the United States Included
taa following distinguished statesmen. Of
whom = majority were Republicans; Will
lam Is. Allison. John I. Jones. Hcnry ".
cannon. Prof. Z. BENJAMIN Andrews. Ed
Win II. Terrin and James =. MeCreS-y.
The Instructions te these delegates were
prepared by a Republican secretary az
state. Hon. John ". Foster. ana con
tAlnes ths fsliowsux expression; 1T =
the cpinion - ths president Mr. Harrison
and 50 he believes, - the people q the
United States wtth singular unAnimity.
that The fun Use % silver as 3 coined
nsefsl - = ratio 10 gold e Be nNed by
agreement between the great commercial
promote ere prosperity % 81 re ccuVtrlcs
ef shs werla. Ter this reason your HTst
ard most important eufy viii ~ 20 secure,
= posssele en agreement among the chief
commercial nations - the werid looking
70 International es-EneszInsm-th@s is. The