The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-02-26
E0RoPE ANe BlMETALlisal.
Opinion in Frzhoe and Ehgiaha ises
sarding Fnsernafiona5 Agreement.

Opinion I'm Frencs AID England ises
saTding international agreement.
by far the most important utteraRce
made in any part Of the world during
the last month" IS the National Re
views estimate Of Il. Meiine's declars-
ton in favor Of bimetallism. II. Meline
is the French premier, aud in the cham
Der Of deputies December 9 he pointed
out that the depression in agricultural
Industry was due to "a cause which can
be expressed in s word"
There has been a progressive fail in
the price OF agricultural products dur
ing the past ten or fifteen years. It
has not been confined 10 one particular
country, although silver standard eoun-
tries nave not felt it. In them values
have remained stable. This proves 10
the premier. he declares, that silver has
rot fallen, but gold has risen, and that
gold prices have fallen for the very sim
pie reason that in gold standard eoun-
tries ''the enormous privilege OF free
coinage is now confined to gold alone. +"
Upon a member exclailning; THAT is
chimera," 81. Meline retorted: ~No,
that is 10 chimerai it is the law which,
up to 1873, governed the world"
If. Meline is not in favor OF the free
coinage of silver by the republic of
France, independent Of other nations.
And he is right. Geographical situa-
ton aud other conditions forbid, but
it is easy to see where he would stand if
an American, or how lie would act if
France was a considerable exporter OF
foOdstufs and a producer of silver.
As it is, he favors international agree
ment to bimetalIism, and promises 10
use his influence to that end.
Here is chance for Maj, Nc
Kinley and his party, if the declaration
at St. Louis was made in sincerity.
France is one of the great powers, and
the prime minister of France is an earn
est supporter of what Maj, Mckinley
affects to advocate.
Turning from France to England, we
find but one avowed mOnOmetallist in
the tory cabinet to-day, according to
the National Review, very high au-
thority.
The convinced bimetallists are Mr.,
Balfour, Mr. Chaplin, Sir M. White
Ridley, Lord James Hereford, Lord
Lansdowne, Lord George Hamilton,
Mr., Goschen, Lord Cross and Mr.. Doug
las.
Mr., Chamberlain, Mr.. Long and Lord
Balfour, of Burleigh, are classified as
"open-minded." Five members are IN
classified, and Lord Salisbury himself is
set down as benevolent toward bimet-
allisn."
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach alone is
hostile.
The Review predicts that the cabinet
viii take the initiative and place Great
Britain at the head of this great in
teTnational movement" We do not
think SO. It seems to us that as a
creditor nation the mother country has
nothing to gain by the exaltation OF
restoration of The white metal. But
this opens up another argument, and
une apart from the object of this arti-
Gle. What we wish to do is 10 impress
upon the incoming American admins
tration the fact that if it is not hypo-
critical it win be met even more
than half way by France and re,
ceive a not unfriendly hearing by
England in any effort looking to
a reconciliation between the estranged
but regal pair-the royal gold and the
queenly silver"
Act!-Chicago Dispatch.