Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-21
EVENTS IN THE EAST
Interests Of This Country May Be
Affected.
4 new PROBLEM FOR CONGRESS
Need Of Currency and Revenue
Legislation.
n
lew PROBLEM FOR CONGRESS
PUTTING THINGS IN ORDER

Congress is likely to come together after
the holiday recess with an entirely different
conception of the duty Of the session from
that held on the separation Of the members.
The events developing now so rapidly with
respect to China have, in a measure, been
anticipated for some time by the few men
whose political vision extends beyond their
local boundaries. 1t Is felt by these men to
be impossible that this country should not be
affected by these events, and those which
they foreshadow. An attempt to ignore
the fact that the interests of this country
will be affected will simply render more
serious the consequences when they come.
Not taking into account the speculative or
prospective interest this country may have
in the commerce of the orient, or the pos
sibility of the interests Of this country and
Japan becoming one in the event of an at
tempt at the partition Of China, the in
lernal interests OF this country may be at
fected to an extent to demand carly prepa-
ration. The fact that England is appar-
emily to be ignored by Germany and Rus-
STA in dealing with the Chinese question
develops a situation which is likely to be
interesting to the United States.
Opportunity for international Bimet-
allisn..
There are two points of view from which
the situation appears affecting the
financial situation of this country. From
either view there appears the Importance
of having an abundance of secured revenue
and of strengthening in the best possible
way the finances of this country.
There is too much conservatism in this
government for it to appear likely that
Will Interfere with the grabbing OF China
CT participate in it. Nor does it seem
probable that any effective effort will be
lnaue to secure our share in the develop
lnent of the oriental trade, though there
might be good opportunity to derive some
benefit to American commerce from the
promised contention between Germany and
England for supremacy On the seas. Men
who are fanatics on the subject of internal
tlcnal bimetalllsm think they see, at
least pretend to see, an opportunity for
International agreement which ignores
England, the det eiopment of oriental trade
nlaklnS 1t possible for Germany, Russia
and France to use the amount of silver
winch 1t would be necessary for them to
carry in order to maintain international
blmetaiiism with the United States.
These men in whose minds everything is
associated with international bimetalllsm,
IN contemplating the possibility of not get
ting what they want through the medium
CT these three powers switch around TO the
other side and say that isolated" England,
contending against those powers and seeing
her commercial supremacy departing might
be driven to seek alliance with the
United states VIII CHI would include bimeta.-
llsm. The idea, how ever, proceeds upon the
assumption that we want 10 restore BIZ
metallsm by an international agreement,
and that it would be 10 our interest to do
SO.
Time to Correct Evils.
Those who look at the matter from an
entirely different point of view see in the
situation a necessity for prompt action to
strengthen and maintain our present finan-
cial system, and find additional reason for
desiring to avoid any compiled ton with the
silver business.
From either point Of view 1t appears that
the United States cannot help being affect
cd by the promised development.
Those who do not associate the situation
with any Idea of advancing the interests of
silver think they the necessity OF
strengthening the financial position of the
country and of inSuring a large revenue to
a greater extent Independent Of customs
duties. In such a struggle is threatened
between England and the other European
powers they contend there will result d
scramble after the worlds supply Of gold
and the United States is liable to be tram
pied on in the scramble if our finances are
rot OH permanently sound basis, and II
our revenues are insufficient If the events
in the orient develop as rapidly as Is now
threatened. it is believed that very early
in the session Congress will realize the i'm
portance OF securing larger revenue, and
of forcing substantial financial legislation
If that can be done.
The necessity for more revenue will ap-
pear, it is thought, from the need of prop
erly equippirg our navy and our national
defenses, the construction of docks and in
ternal improvements. which will be de-
manded TO maintain us in an independent
course, isolated from The contentious of the
ether powers Of the world 1t is believed
that the situation developing will weaken
the opposition to the annexation of Ha-
wall, and will develop a continental poll
cy" enveloping this entire continent and
the Islands adjacent thereto"