The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-09
SEATTLE, SATURDAY. JAN. 3.
INTERNATIONAL nl-uErALLrsM.

l.t< y -
There are quite number Of prominent
nesspapers in the Fist. particularly OF
those when formerly supported the DEM
o-raslc party which md a great deal OF
fault with the position taken By Mr. Nc
Kinley that he vii 10 everything IN his
power 10 secure an international agreement
to re-essabllsh bi-metailism. These Jour
nails have taken Il upon themselves 20 In
terpret the result Of the last election "a
a victory fer the gold standard. and TO de-
clare that the people. by their votes have
decided against bi-metaIlism. by inter-
national agreement. or otherwise.
The sufficient answer TO this IL that the
Republican platform adopted at a.. Louis.
in express terms pledged the party to do
everything possible 70 bring about an IN
tsrnauonaI agreement BY which bi-metal-
lie currency can be restored. That is
the platform upon which Mr.. Mckinley
was elected president. and its pledges
should be kept II should not be taken for
granted that an international agreement Is
snpraoticable. as those critics assert. on
the contrary. the prospects for interna-
tionaI agreement are better DOW than they
have been any time within the last ten
years But even the prospect OF failure. II
Il were greater than 1t is at present.
would not excuse the incoming admins
traitor for failure 70 honestly ard per-
ssstently attempt. during IFS whole term.
20 secure an international agreement on
the subject. In accordance with the
pledges Of the Republican platform.
Again. II should be remembered that the
the people OF the United States had de-
cided 10 adopt 3 policy of gold mono
Tustalllsm, on the English plan. No such
issue was presented or determined The
cole question was Whistler the United
States should attempt the hazardous ex-
pertinent OF opening its minis TO the free
coinage OF silver az the present coinage
ratio. The great and convincing argu-
ment which was urged. with sound rea-
sons. against this proposition. was that it
would result. not In bi-metallism, but Ia
silver mono meiallism. that Il would be
simply exchanging the gold standard. the
measure Of value OF the leading nations
OF The world. for the silver standard Of
the petty states OF Spanish America. We
believe that II any practicable method
could be arrived az by means OF which
gold and silver could be coined at any
Fixed ratio Of value. and that such ratio
couli be maintained, without fuctuation.
As The market value OF each metal IN
terms OF the other. that the great major
iiy OF thu people OF the United States
would heartily favor such a measure.
The great argument agains, free coin
age OF silver was that II would not and
could not accomplish this object. No
power existed TO compel other nations to
accept our silver az value which we
alone attempted 10 place upon It. There
are many and potent reasons for believing
thar what no nation can singiy accom-
p'ish could be done by international agree
ment among the leading nations OF che
world. having intimate commercial rela-
tons wtth each other
II is rot at ali likely that the restoration
rency 81 the world would he followed BY
any wonderful Improvement I'm the coudl-
tlon OF thugs. or result IN making
money" substantially any more plentiful
than Il is a. present. The primary good 10
Re accomplished would be TO restore sub
staniial value 20 large share OF tn.
coinage - the world. which now circaiates
upon the pledges OF she various govern
ments 20 redeem g. % double The price OF
sn important product % American irdus-
try, and . Increase the purchasing power
~ thc AsiatIc and Spanish American ra-
lions With which We have trade rela-
tions. ~ doubling the value 81 the money
with Watch values are measured n these
countries
These Advantages can be gained BY any
measure which vii restore silver 2, its
former market ard present nominal coin
axe value. II Al iatsrnati1naI agreement
eoad accomplished th3s. there are Ger
tainly no scoa reasons why such an agree
Hasu; shepla not bs sought.
- course, Il - SIN an ocsn snss,t,-
whether even sa international seree,,s,,
can accomplish this result Thls rss in
The DOMAIN ef ia~ogy purely. p IS the Ia
lief that International sxres-na~t v,,,,s =.
ss futile So isosssea act,au BY e,e e,y-
sruHsnt. which s,oas coals ve-~a-. .,,.-
posisien 70 al iR,ernationai agreement nv
any cae IA this co9Rfyy. Rus ere pe-.,s-
lear party Aas nse3xess i,ssls Co sees -,
International sgreemeat. srt taat rles~s
shouE se kept.