The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-06
Mr.. WOlcOtt Has Little
Chance of Success.
Senator From Colorado Has
Plenty of Pluck, However.
Silver and Anti-Silver Wings of the
Republican Party.

ingnesS To participate In another lnterna
tional monetary conference has attracted
great deal Of attention. MIR. Wolcott goes
with quasi authority from tho president
elect and also as the representative of a
committee OF senator's appointed to deal
with tho subject Of international bimetal-
lism. No better agent could have been
found. Mr. Wolcott Is popular in London.
Durinaformer visits to that metropolis he
received u great deal of social attention
from Big people. He is big handsome,
witty, genial a genuine American and
yet a man Of the world have heard that
in London neither wealth nor rank nor
even fame is an open sesame to high soci-
ety's doors, but that wit. humor, adapta-
bility to the surroundings, power to please
and amuso are the magic wands which
| gain access Co tho charmed circle. IL this
is true, no ono need wonder why Mr.. VOL
cott is favorite in high London society.
| Woicott's Chances.
While in London a year ago Mr.. Wolcott
| was taken up and made much OF by the
| international bimetallists and other i'm
| portant people. His eloquent champion
| ship of the silver cause had won their al
miration, and tho bearing of the man
| himself backed up their first impression
In this way Mr.. Wolcott was able to gain
a status in London which few Americans
enjoy. lie may now DO able to turn his
popularity there to good account. His
heart Is in tho work. He is determined to
leave no stone unturned to bring about
I another International monetary confer
ence, with possibility Of something being
done toward the rehabilitation Of silver as
one Of the worlds money metals
It must DO confessed at the. outset, how
ever, that, so far as tho opinion of men
whose opinions are of value is concerned,
there Is little or no likelihood Of Mr. VOL
cott being successful There Is not tho
slightest sign discoverable TO those who
know English conditions and tendencies
very well OF any intention on the part OF
tho ruling clements of that country to de-
part in tho least from their traditional
policy Of adherlng rigidly to the gold
standard. 1herc arc bimctallists in Eng
land as In every country. They are able,
earnest, influential men; they publish
many magazine and review articles; they
mako speeches.; they agitate continually
and cnergetlcally. But they confront "a
stone wall Of determination stone wall
that seems 60 DO as stolid and unmovable
rs a mountain.
OF Momentous Consequences.
There will bo something pathetic in Mr.
Wolcott's failure on this daring mission,
IL no is indeed TO fail His political future
depends upon it, If he can get a foothold
for international bimetallism-the slender
est sort of n thread TO hang upon--it will
mean much to him. 10 will mean, per-
haps, just the difference between political
and professional ruin and success in his
chosen homo in tho far west. During the
last campaign Mr. Wolcott made "a daring
fight against overwhelming odds in his
state. Even those who do not stand with
him aro compelled to admire the intrepid.
ity-evon tho udaciousness--with which
he mado tho fight for the gold standard
presidential ticket among the silver loving
people of Colorado Mr.. Wolcott does not
hopo TO cecuro reelection TO the senate.
Az the expiration of his present term, four
years hence, no counts upon nothing else
than defeat. And yet great changes in
public opinion may come within that
time. They will surely come if Mr.. VOL
cott can 30 tho instrument by which an
other international monetary conference
shall bo brought about. Even should that
conference result in nothing-even IL 1t
should fail to advance the cause Of silver q
single inch--thc effect would bc favorable
Lot no ono imagine that personal ambi
tions arc the only things that now play q
part in this international bimetallic effort.
am able TO tell something of what is GO
ing on behind tho scenes. in the secrecy
OF their oloakrooms the Republican leaders
of tho senate and house are laying plans
for rcuniting their party. They foreseo al.
ready that enactment Of n new tariff law
Is likely to place their party upon the de-
fcnsivo in 1900. They will DO subject TO
attack ell along the line, and they are very
likely Il find themselves confronted by a
harmonious and stealthy foe. Unless they |
can bring about some measure Of reconcil- |
iation between tho silver and antisilver |
wings OF the Republican party their pros
poets in the next presidential struggle may |
not be very bright. There is q hope among |
them that international bimctallism, or at |
least an effort to secure IL, may prove to |
be the talisman OF peace.
Plays For Harmony.
Whether or not there Is any substantial
basis for this hope remains 10 be seen. So
far as am concerned am utterly unable
To SEQ what good IL Is going TO do. But |
tho men who are engineering the move
mont think thcy can SEQ great possibilities
FOR 10 in tho way of satisfying tho friends
Of silver that tho Republican party Is their
friend and that 10 IL trying its best to ac-
n revolution in silvcrs interest.
At the same time the Democratic leaders
IRE playing n similar game, though with
different tools. They. too, are trying TO
barmonlze their party for future action.
They have better instrument ot the pres
snt moment than the Republicans. The
Democratic spirit Of the hour. as.wo catch
t horo i'm Washington. is To unito In oppo.
'ltlon 20 the Republican tariff policy,
make tho Republicans responsible for the
fort e. bring prosperity back to the coun-
Try and IL thcy fail therein TO pillory
hem before tho people. Tho Democratic
'orty has won all It's successes In recent
years with Just such tactics.
A great deal of progress has been made
with this part OF tho Democratic plan As
10 the currency and the troublesome silver
question which split tho party last year,
ne prevailing tals is that it can be Let
,lono for snno timo. Lot US sce how
matters shape themselves up for a year or
-. .' say thc Democratic leaders There
viii ho time e. take up the silver question
j