Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-12-05
HAYES MESSAGE.

Among tle StYDJects Oh inc greatest
and most general Importance to the
people of this country | cannot be mis-
taken, think, in regarding as pre-emi-
nent the policy and measures which are
designed to secure
THE RESTORATION OF THE CURRENCY
to that normal and healthful condition
in which, by the resumption of specie
payments, our internal trade and foreign
commerce may be brought into har-
mony with the system of exchanges
which is based upon the precious metals
as the intrinsic money of the world.
In the public Judgment that this end
should be sought and comprised as
speedily and securely as the resources
Of the people and the wisdom of their
government can accomplish, there is a
much greater degree Of unanimity than
is found to concur in
THE SPECIFIC MEASURES
which will bring the country to the de-
sired end, or the rapidity of the steps
by which it can be safely reached Up
on a most anxious and deliberate ex-
animation which l have felt it my duty
to give the subject, am but the more
confirmed III the opinion which | eX-
pressed i'll accepting the nomination for
the presidency, and again upon my in
auguration, that
THE POLICY OF RESUMPTION
should be pursued by every suitable
means, and that no legislation would he
wise that should disparage the import
ance or ~etard the attainment of that
result. ! have no disposition and GER
tainly no right to question the sincerity
or intelligence of opposing opinion, and
would neither conceal nor undervalue
the considerable difficulties and even
occasional distress which may attend
the progress Of the nation toward this
primary condition to its general and
PERMANENT PROSPERITY.
| must, however, adhere to my most
earnest conviction that any Wavering
in purpose or unsteadiness in methods,
50 far from avoiding or reducing the in
convenience inseparable from the trans
ition from an irredcemable to re-
deemable paper currency, would only
tend to increased and prolonged dis
turbancc in values, and unless retrieved
must end in serious
DISORDER, DIsHoNoR, AND DISASTER
in the financial affairs of the govern
ment and of the people. The mischiefs
which | apprehended and urgently dep
recated are confined to no class of the
people indeed, but seem to me most
certainly to threaten the industrious
masses, whether their occupations arc
of
SKILLED OR COMMON LABOR.
70 them it seems to me 1t is of prime
importance that their labor should be
compensated in money which is itself
fixed in exchangcable value by being
irrevocablv measured by the labor neces-
sary To It's production.
THE SILVER QUESTION.
In speaking of the silver question the
dispatch says the message will contain
the following language: Holding The
opinion, as do, that neither the inter
est Of the government nor of the peo-
pie of the United States would be pro
noted by
DIspARAGING SILVER
as one of the two precious metals which
furnish the intrinsic money of the
world, and that legislation which shall
look to maintaining the volume of that
intrinsic money to as full measure of
both metals as their relative CONNER
cial values will permit wonld be neither
unjust nor inexpedient | must ask
your indulgence to Il brief and definite
statement Of
CERTAIN ESSENTIAL FEATURES
in any such legislative measures which
| feel it my duty to recommend. ! do
not propose to enter the debate repre-
Sented on both sides by such disputants
in congress, and before the people, and
in the press, as to the extent to which
the legislation Of any one nation can
control this question, even within Its
own borders, against the
uNWRIrrFN LAWS OF TRADE,
or the positive laws of other govern,
ments. The wisdom Of congress in shap-
ING any particular law that may he pre-
sented for my approval, may wholly
supcrsede the necessity Of my entering
INTO these considerations, and / willingly
avoid either vague or intricate inquiries
1t is only certain plain and practicable
traits OF such legislation that desire to
recommend to your attention. In any
legislation providing for
4 SILVER COINAGE,
regulating It's value and imparting to 1t
the quality of legal tender, it seems to