The Portland daily press., 1876-11-01
Evarts Invited to Speak.
Apprehensions of Business NIen.

The following letter has been addressed to
the Hon. William NJ. Evatts by the foremost
business men of New York. 1t is signed by
fifty-four bankers and merchants and over one
hundred leading firms Among these are John
Jacob Astor, William e Dodge, George Bliss,
John Jay, Joseph Seligman, L. p Morton,
Theodore Roosevelt, G. E. Detmod, Leonard
jerome, Jackson S. Shultz, Vermilye & Co.,
Hoyt Brothers, Adolph Sbeftel, James Miller,
j. +. Anderson & Co., A. S. Barnes & Co.,
Harper Brothers, Ivson, Brakeman & Co.,
Dodd & Mead, and the presidents of twenty
national banks acting in their official capacity.
Mr. Evarts has accepted the invitation, and
speaks tonight:
NEW YORK. October, 1876.
To Hon. William N. Eoarts, dc, &C.:
DEAR SIR:-rhe undersigned respectfully
ask the expression OF your views, at public
meeting, at the earliest time that may snit your
convenience upon the bearing of the pending
election on the debt, the credit the national
faith, the reform OF the public service, and the
repose of the country, which we fear are being
gravely endangered. while the people are be-
gu,led into sense Of security by unfounded
representations aud promises.
1t has been said that 'the safety and wisdom
of inve stment in the funded debt of the Gov
eminent does not depend upon Presidential
lists and bankers, any more than the sonndness
OF English consols depends on whether the Min
istry is Tory or Liberal
We do not believe that European capitalists
are as Indifferent to the lessons taught by our
recent history as these words imply; nor that
they ignore the fact that the time has passed
when the great parties of the Republic were
alike devoted to the supremacy of the Consti-
tuition and the perpetuity of the U0ion.
Europe cannot have forgotten that our civil
war arose from antagonistIc views of the char
acter and powers OF the National Government
in its relation to the States.
OF that war the world is reminded to-day by
Southern claims already filed in the House of
Representatives, amounting to hundreds of
millions OF dollars, that threaten seriously to
| increase the national debt, which, despite its
large reduction, weighs heavily on the Industry
| of our land.
These claims are urged partly Oh the ground
which was taken by prominent Democratic
| leaders, North and South, including their 2 res
idental candidate, that the National Govern
| ment had no right to project The integrity OF
| the matte II by the coercion of seeding States
1t is also to be feared that the election of Mr..
| Tilden might be regarded as a reversal of the
| verdict OF the war, under which the Southern
| people would be melted to claim indemnity TOR
| their past losses, and immunity in any further
| acts of secession
| SUcn a radical change in the policy of the
| Government would in our opinion not only i'm
| pair its credit at bone and abroad, and post
pone Indefinitely the resumption OF specie pay
ments. but -ndaDger in the future cur peace
| aud prosperity.
Questions of such moment to the American
| people deserve the greatest consideration on
| national grounds by the light of history aud
| the National Constitution.
The independently of your political position,
your professional and public career, aud your
| wide experience and acquain taUcesh,p both in
Europe and America, Will give high authority
| to your views, and make them OF the .gravesG
| consequence to the country in this hour of
| peril.
| Praying an early and favorable response, we
| have the honor to be, Sir, with the highest re-
gard.
| Your faithful friends and fellow citizens.