The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-18

tions between France and the United
States and other countries and the
1 question of a change of ratio are for
the moment held in allegiance. While
we hope for continued joint action,
| France owes no further duty to us. She
| stood shoulder to shoulder with us in
\ our attempt to secure from England
I even the concessions she voluntarily
Offered few months ago. In days
/ when the influence of the money lender
| is potent in almost every capital of the
world, and dominates courts and ma
/ tional policies. the ministry of France
stood fearlessly by the interests Of the
whole people and counted the welfare
of its hundreds of thousands of small
holders of land. dependent for their
existence upon the fruits of the soil, as
paramount TO that of the powerful
class which wants money dear and
grain cheap"
His Resignation.
Here Mr. Wolcott announced his in
tention to retire from the commission.
He said: 1T is my sincere conviction
that an international bimetallic agree
ment is till feasible by the terms of
which certain countries will join and
open their minis to the unlimited coin
age of silver and others VIII contribute
to the plan of an enlarged usage OF
that metal as money; and | say TINS
more freely because / shall give way
fitted for such negotiations and better
able to give them his constant time.
This result cannot be brought about
without the expenditure of both time
and patience and the persons intrusted
with the duty of negotiations must
have back of them the hearty support
of the president and congress.
He thought il might be necessary TO
change the ratio to something like 20
to ].
At this point he referred to the atti-
tudc of Secretary Gage on the financial
question. contrasted with The presi-
dents position, his words on this point
being as follows: When congress con-
vened on the 18th Of last month the
president in his references TO the sub
ject of international bimetallism spoke
earnestly and anxiously of his desire to
see an international bmetalIie agree
ment consummated. His assurances
gave renewed hope to DmetalllstS all
over the country and seemed final
and conclusive answer 10 those VINO
had claimed that the president was not
in earnest i'm his efforts toward inter-
national bimetalism. For myself |
needed no such proof. j had again and
again been made to know now genuine
was the presidents devotion to the set
Element of the vexed question. With
in fortnight after this, with no event
meanwhile which would change exist
ing conditions, the secretary of the
treasury in support of bill which he
had prepared respecting the currency,
said as follows to a committee of con-
gress: CHere he quoted the remarks of
the secretary of the treasury
lie Gets After ,.nEe.
'The two statements are utterly at
variance" he continued, "and contra
dictory TO each other They cannot be
reconciled. This is not a proper occa-
sion To analyze the bill of the secre-
tary. 1t will reach limbo long before
il reaches the senate. He proposes to
capitalize the premium on our bonds
sold recently and 10 make them, with
others to be issued. security definitely
payable in gold. He forgets that only
a few months ago when the country
was in dire distress we We're compelled
to nay nine millions of dollars for the
privilege of keeping the word gold out
of some of these very bonds. lie ought
not to forget that the bank of which
he was president got. it is said, some
of the bonds and received some of the
proceeds of that transaction. But |
do not intend to discuss the bill which
the presidents message specifically
does not indorse, and il is premature
to criticise the secretary's republican
ism. for his advent into the party and
the cabinet was practically contempor-
aneons.
I'VE must accept the situation. In
my OPINION the great majority OIL the
members of the republican party are
bimetallists and the fact that they are
misrepresented by a cabinet officer is
not pleasing, but ii Is endurahle. The
selection of the members or mis- official
household is the presidents own affair.
and So long as he stands upon the queS-
tion of bimetallism where he has ever
stood there is no serious ground for
apprehension. / trust we may stil find
warrant for faith and hope in the
pledges of the party and the wisdom
of its councils. We viii cross our
bridges when we come to them. The
time when this country will submit to
the final imposition of gold monometai-
lism is far away"
Continuing his presentation OF the
desirablity of an international agree
ment. which had been dieressed from
to refer To the secretary Of the treas
ury. Mr.. wolcott said: Whatever diff
ference Of opinion may exist as to the
ability Of this country alone to main
tain the parity between silver and gold
there is no question that the concur
renee Of other nations would help the
cause of bimetallism in the United
States. and efforts TO secure ii ought to
receive the support of every citizen
who is opposed to gold recommendation.
Is Not MYTH.
international bimetallism is not a
myth, chmera. The people of Eu-
rope are. even as we are, struggling to
keep their heads above water and seek
ing blindly for that which may make
for them prosperity and progress. Much
of the recent legislation in Europe
looking to the increase of gold holdings
and the depreciation Of silver. finds it's
origin in the exigences of a situation
where readiness for war is the para
mount necessity. There is hardly
statesman in Europe who believes the
last word has yet been said upon the
question of the RECOMMENDATION of sill
Yer, and hardly one who would not
welcome an effort to settle the Question
internationally. Only few days ago.
just before Christmas. in debate in
the French chamber NJ Meline again
declared from the tribune that the
French government was as one with
the United States on the question Of
bimetallsm.
I'm the face of such declaration il
is as cowardly to abandon hone as il
is false To talk about failure. Interna-
iinuai bimRtailis x Ia tb.A pnId ,nnrn-