The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-17
BRITISH BIMETALLIC sENTI-
MENT.

! P-S9Sut TINE cenlefS very largely upon
the mission of the bimetalIic commits
sion now in Europe All are anxious
to know what the result of its labors
Will be. It is now in England, and
What it accomplishes there, or fails 10
accomplish, viii not be definitely
known until its report has been made
to the president, and by him made pub
lie.
But the gentlemen composing that
commission are not the only ones in
terested in the silver question who have
been IN Europe this summer to ascer-
tain what the sentiment in regard to
silver is in Europe. Mr. Wharton Bar
ker, editor of the American. Philadel-
phia, went to Europe also He left
June I, and has just returned. The
next day after his arrival in England
he began to carry out the object of his
visit and had conference with the
British bimetallists. AT this conference
he met Lord Alderman, president Of
the British Bimetallic league; Sir VIII
liam Houldsworth, a member of the
house Of commons and chairman of the
executive committee of the British BIZ
metallic league; A J. Balfour. Henry
Chaplin, J. J. Faraday, editor of the
Manchester Guardian; Moreton Frewea.
". H Grenfell, Mr. Make, editor of the
National Review, a Conservative poll
cal monthly Of great influence; also J.
Barr Robinson and many others.
What was the result of the confer
ence? Mr.. Barker saws that Lord AL
denham said in the most emphatic
manner in his directors room at the
Bank of England, that Great Britain
would, he thought, without doubt, open
the Indian minis to the free coinage of
silver on the old terms the moment the
United States opens the American
minis and France the French. minis.
and that no further contributions to
bimetallism would be made by Great
Britain. He further says that Sir Will
liam Houldsworth confirmed the state
ment made by Lord Alderman, and
said that in his judgment there are no
doubt votes enough in parliament to
force the government to open the In
dian minis, even if some members Of
the government might be opposed to
such course.
This opinion was concurred in by Mr..
Balfour and Mr.. Chaplin, so far as the
opening of the Indian mints is con-
cerned. but that in no event, they
thought, would the British govern
ment at this time either open, or con-
slider proposition to open. the British
minis on Tower hill.
Asked as to the result of his visit to
the French bimetallists, Mr.. Barker
said he had communicated with NJ.
Meline. the prime minister of France.
and also with NJ. Edmund Thery, edi-
tor of the Economists Europeen. the
leading financial journal of Europe He
further said that it was not unfair to
say that France considers the opening
of the Indian minis as a sufficient con-
tribution on the part of Great Britain
to the restoration of bimetallism, and
that the cooperation of that country
can be obtained on that basis.
This is the most definite information
regarding the sentiment of England
on the question of bimetanism that has
been given. 1t is from an absolutely |
reliable source, and is very important. /
1t cannot be said that it gives any very
great hope of International bimetaIIism.
The opening of the Indian mints is a |
matter of comparatively minor impor- |
lance, though not so the opening of I
the French minis. The opening of the |
Indian minis would unquestionably do /
much to Immediately relieve the dis
tress in that country, and so might
do something TO show the English gov
that still greater good would
result from the opening of the minis
on Tower hill 10 the coinage of silver.
But viii the United States consent
to open their minis to the free coinage
Of silver providing the Indian minis
and those of France are opened? That
S the question which concerns this
country most. Every genuine advocate
II free silver would say to the gov
eminent: Accept the conditions and
open the MINIS" VIII the administra-
ion construe the st. Louis platform as
this? The pressure that
viii be brought to bear upon the ad-
ninistration not TO open the mints to
rec coinage of silver on these terms
viii be. tremendous, far more tremen-
lous than any pressure yet brought to
year upon it on any subject.
It is satisfaction to know that the
question of international bimetalllsm is
eaching a stage where it will not be
ong before something definite viii be
-nown about it. If bimetallism is es-
through international agree
nent, well and good; if it is not, the
.merican people win declare in favor
t 1t in 1900. 1t will come with or with
ut international agreement. s
That man who kills fish with dyna-
lite should himself be killed by il is