The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-16
THE INTERNATIONALM MONETARY
COMMISSION.

There is a disposition i'm some quarters to
criticise the President for appointing COM
missioners to represent the United States
i'm an international monetary conference
on the ground that, if not concession to
free silver it at least looks in that direc-
ton. The criticism is unjust. A little in
quiry into the facts will show that the ac
ton of the President is entirely consistent
with the st. Louis platform. and that, un-
der existing circumstances, his failure to
appoint such a commission would have ex-
posed him TO severe criticism and put the
Republican party in a false position. The
money plank in the St. Louis platform
says:
We are unalterabIy opposed TO every
measure calculated to debase our currency
or impair the credit of our country. We
are, therefore. opposed 10 the free coinage
of silver except by International agree
ment with the leading commercial nations
of the world which We pledge ourselves to
promote, and until such agreement can be
obtained the existing gold standard must
be preserved. All silver and paper cur
rency must be maintained at parity with
gold.
This commits the Republican party to
maintaining the parity of silver with gold
under all circumstances. and pledges il to
promote" international agreement on the
subject. The Last Congress passed a bill
authorizing the President to appoint COM
missioners to represent the United States
i'm an international monetary conference
Ito secure a fxity of relative value be-
tween gold and silver as money by means
of u common ratio between these metals.
with free mintage at such ratio" or in his
discretion cali such conference. This
was the form in which the bill passed the
Senate. The House added the following:
And he (the President is further author
lied, il in his Judgment the purpose speci-
fled in the first section hereof can thus he
better attained, 10 appoint one or more
special commissioners or ENJOYS to such of
the nations of Europe he may designat tie,
10 seek by diplomatic negotiations an inter-
national agreement Tor the purpose speci-
ned in the frst section hereof. And in case
of such appointment SO much OF the appro-
priation herein made as snail be necessary
shall be available for the proper expenses
and compensation of such commissioners
or ENJOYS.
The bill passed the Senate by a large ma
jority and the House by vote of 279 to B.
Ii was supported by Republicans and gold
Democrats as well by silver men. In
view of the declaration of the st. Louis
platform. if the President had failed to ap-
point commissioners under the foregoing
act he would have been justly chargeable
with repudiating that part of the platform
which pledges the Republican party to
promote" International agreement on
the money question. The Journal does not
believe the commission will be able to ac-
complish anything or that an international
| conference will be held. but under the cir
| cumstances the President was in a sense
| bound to appoint the commission Under
| the bill as amended by the House the COM
missioners are not only authorized TO rep
resent the United States in a conference,
| il one should be- held. but 10 open and
carry on diplomatic negotiations with other
| governments. through our ministers
abroad. looking TO the holding OF such a
conference. IL their efforts in this direc-
ton fail 1t cannot be said that the Presi-