Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-10-21
That "InternatIOnal BImetallIsm. u

There are still echoes of interna-
tional birnetalism, but not Of very
promising kind. The first comes from
the editor of the London Statist, who
assumes that the Wolcott commission,
assuming to represent the United
States, and the French minister to
England representing France, have
submitted some sort of a provisional
proposal to the British government
aiming at the restoration of bimetal-
lism, and it is to this proposal that the
Wolcott commission awaits the answer
indefinitely promised for October.
What that proposal is, ie editor of
the Statist, does not essay to divine,
but he makes one shrewd guess that
the tentative proposal submitted to
the British government was, that
France and the United States would
open their respective minis to free sil-
yer coinage, if the British government
would open the Indian mints, And
we doubt not that such proposal was
made. What is more it would have
promptly been accepted by the British
government and a tentative agreement
for the restoration of bimetallism en-
tered into if it had not become appar-
emit to the British government that the
Wolcott commission was promising
something that the United States gov
eminent would not carry out, that
while assuming to represent the Unit
ed States it had no authority to make
any such offer, and that Mr.. Mckinley
would not back up such proposal by
urging its acceptance by congress if
agreed to by Great Britain. So the
British government did not accept the
joint proposal of the Wolcott commits
sion and French government and put
off making any response TO it until Oc-
tober And now we have the Statist
asserting that the British government
ought not to reopen the Indian mints
on any such terms while we have the
Mckinley organ in Philadelphia, the
Press, asserting in response to the
declaration of the distinguished editor
of the Statist that sit is certainly not
probable that this country will agree
to any such scheme" So We see the
chilling reception given by a leading
Republican paper that has professed
its belief in international bimetallism,
to the first proposal for international
bimetalism. When international bi.
metallism is dream it favors it, when
it becomes a reality it scouts it. And
so it is with the Republican party.
In view of all this, the undermining
of the Wolcott commission at home and
the lack of support given it abroad, II
is no wonder General Paine has come
home, in seeming disgust Asked Il
he had seen any indication of England
Joining in q movement for the restora-
ton of bimetallism, he replied II can't
say that l have, we are waiting &c
see." But General Payne evidently did
not think it worth while to wait We
are also told Senator Wolcott is ready
to come home in real or feigned dis.
gust at the lack of support accorded
the commission by Mr.. Mckinley, put
the blame for the failure of the com.
mission to attain international bimet
allism upon Mr.. McKinly, a. he can
very well do, and seek to square him
self with his constituents by reading
himself ous Of the party that has failed
to live up to its promises and by VIC
lently antagonizing the president -EG