The Ravalli Republican., 1898-01-19
NDLEDTI'S SPEECH.

NOLEOTI'S SPEECH. %"
Senator Wolcott Of Colorado, chair
man Of the bimctallic commission
that went abroad under Instructions
from President Mckinley to do what
they could for an international bimc-
tallic agreement, spoke in the senate
Monday on the work of the commits
and the causes Of the failure at that
time. He said the commission had
at all times had the cordial support
Of the president and our representa-
tivcs abroad. lie said that France
was sincere in its support Of the
movement. and that the English
government, while not in favor Of
bimctuIlism iur England, was willing
for tho rcopening Of the mints in
India. There was 4 general opinion,
not limited TO En- GLAND, that the In
dian government would be quick to
avail itself Of an opportunity to re-
open it's mints and would welcome an
other international attempt towards
bimctallism that would raise the
value of silver and would be glad to
cooperate in such an event. The
senator said the answer OF the Indian
government protesting against the
rcopcning Of the mints was as mucN
Of d surprise to the English ministry
as it was a disappointment to tho
commission.
The senator enumerated some OF
the obstacles in the way Of the sue
cess Of the commission, among them
being the violent attacks Of the Lon
don press which WAS controlled by The
banking houses. The commission
was, he said, also attacked from tim'
TO time by statements from eNtre
mists in other directions, insisting
! that our efforts were pretended
that We had no hope or expectation
OF success: that the president wa
secretly opposing us: that it was
disgrace to our country that we Wcr
permitted to invite other countrc
to join us in opening the mnts
that it was Illuminating that W
were ever consulting any country ol
that subject: that failure was in
cyitablc and the sooner VIC cam
home the better. 1t was a new an
somewhat IudicrOus view Of the sill
yer question that made it humiliat
ING That this country should invit
other countries like France to joi
in opening the mintS or made it ul
important to ascertain the attitud
Of India with her thousand millio
ounces of silver in bullion, and orn;
mcnts changing hands in the b;
zaars at bullion value and her $40
600, 900 ounces Of silver in silver col
doing duty at about the ratio {
about - to /.
J He excepted Senator Jones Of \
kansas, chairman OF the democrat
national committee, from the charY
but concluded that it was unfOrtul
atcly true that the bitterness Of tt
last campaign blinded the vision
many men SO that the thing they b.
G licvcd to be impossible they came
hope would be impossible.
Mr.. Wolcott said: 1T is my 81
j, ccre conviction that an information;
: agreement is still feasible, BY IL
> terms Of which certain countries "
G Join and open their mints to the II
IS limited coinage Of silver and othe
o. will contribute to the plan Of ;in e
. larycd usage Of that metal as none
This result canllot be brought abo
y Without the expenditure OF bo
e time and patience, and the pcrso
" entrusted with the duty Of negoti
;, tions must have hack Of them Il
- hearty support Of the preside
and congress-" He thought it mig
be necessary to change the ratio
er something like 20 to /.
,c The senator criticised the cour
IT. Of Secretary Gage as compared wi
r, the attitude Of the president, a
~ said they cannoc be rcconcilcd. ad
u ing: "'Ihis is not Il proper occasi
n. to analyZc the bill OF the secretal
Se 1t will reach limbo long before
ro reaches the senate. I
=. not intend to discuss the bill viii
10 the presidents message spccifca
or does not indOrsc. and it is prcmatu
to crlticise the secrctary's repuE
canism, for his advent into the pal
ne and the cabinet was practically 81
!, u]tancOus."
"Ne must accept the situation.
Il my opinion the great majority of t
IS republican party are bimctallis
I'd and the fact that they are misrep
Y sented by cabinet officer is I
i, pleasing, but it is endurablc. L
~ selection Of the members Of his 0
cial household is the Presidents O
affair, and so long as he stands uE
~ the question Of bimetallism where
T. has always stood, there is no scrit
# ground for apprehension. I trust
- may still find warrant for faith a
~ hope in the pledges Of the party a
IL the wisdom of it's councils. We "
y. cross our bridges when we come
them. The time when this count