The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-18
sEvlroR WoIoorr sPElKa
Tei,s or the pi.etario Csus.i,s,sn,s visit ts
Europe.


WASHINGTON, Jan. l7.-Rarely in recent
years has q more brilliant audience assembled
in the United States Senate than gathered there
this morning TO listen to tho speech OF Senator
Wolcott of Colorado upon the subject Of the
European mission OF tho Bimetallic Commits.
sion, OF which he was Chairman. Tho audience
was ono calculated to inspire any speaker, and
Mr.. Wolcott was mover moro clear, forceful and
eloquent. He is one Of the few orators In Con-
gross. Ho speaks with few gestures, but with
quick, impulsivo sentences that carry his audi
ence from one branch of tho subject to another
with almost bowildering rapldity. Every Sena-
tor on both sides Of the Chamber was in his seat
and dozens Of members of tho House were
ranged about tho walls in the rear Of the decks.
The public galleries we're crowded, and even
those reserved for the families Of the Senators
and for members Of the Diplomatic Corps were
well filed. Mrs. Wolcott sat in the Diplomatic
gallery, and others Of the Senators wives were
In the exclusively reserved sections. Tho
toilets Of tho ladies were unusually brilliant for
such an occasion and gave q novel touch Of lifo
TO the scene.
At Ave minutes before 1 the Vice-Prtsiient
recognized Mr.. Wolcott, and that Senator
began his speech. He spoke an hour and ten
minutes, giving an unofficial account Of the
result Of his mission abroad and summarizing
the situation as follows:
England finally and explicitly refuses to
open English mints to silver, or to alter her ex-
lsting gold standard. She declines to open India
mints to the coinage of silver, basing her re-
tainty that France and the United States could
together maintain the parity between gold and
81, nro at t the ratio ratio s%ag YHs and w second srs \ upon upon
to make any further proposals which shall take
into consideration these objections, but 1t is
apparent that for the time being It IL useless 70
count on any cooperation from Great Britain
toward, a bimetafiio agreement. France &C;
position as a standard Of value equally with
gold. She insists, however, that the problem is
one which demands international action, and the
cooperation to some ADEQUATE. extent of other
leading commercial nations of the world; CUES
tons Of possible future negotiations between
France, the United States and other countries.
moment held in allegiance. While we hope for
duty to us. She stood shoulder to shoulder
with us In our attempt to secure from England
even the concessions she voluntarily offered q
ut is my sincere conviction that an interna-
tional bimetallic agreement is still, feasible, by
tho terms OF which certain countries will join
us and open their mints to the unlimited coin
age of silver. and others will contribute to the
and I say this tho more freely because I shall
give way upon the, commission to somebody
able to give them his constant time. This re-
suit cannot be brought about without the ex-
penditure Of both time and patience, and the
lions must have back of them the hearty sup
port of the President and Of Congress. 1t
concessions in the ratio, bringing It some
where in the neiRhbornood Of 90 to l, more nearly
approximaling the ratios recognized by Russia,
Austria, and India. There are many coun-
tries unvisited where there is a. strong BIZ
metallic sentiment, and which would undoubt-
edly cooperate in some fair PLAN"
Mr.. Wolcott then paid his respects to the Gage
bill, and there were ripples Of laughter, when he
said thai 1t would reach limbo long before 1t
reached the Senate, and when he said that
the Secretary's entrance into the Cabinet and
into the Republican party was practically con-
temporaneous. He concluded as follows:
International bimetallism is to the gold
monometallist a stumbling block, and to the
silver monometallist foolishness. but 1t is never
theless a splendid possibility. Its accomplish.
Imsnt, would be the greatest blessing that could
we'll afford to sink for the time the hostilities
Of party and the chickering's Of faction"