Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-05
A PROPHET OF EVIL.
Grover CIeveland Always Croaking-His
Cnboanded Egotism Sees No Virtue In
the Acts of Otherx


the Acts of Others.
Never in the history of the American Re-
public has there been a man in public posi-
ton so persistent in prophcsylng evil as
President Cleveland Each OF his Official
utterances. but one, from the time OF his
election TO the present contains decisra-
ton OF impending disaster and Of ruin TO the
country. He has s;urfily ignored the palpa-
bic evidences of National prosperity which
are all about hum, and has insisted on fore
ing on the country his pessimistic ideas on
every possible occasion
TINS, says the San Francisco Chronicle,
must proceed from enc of two causcs. either
ignorance Of The actual ssatus OF affairs in
the Cniscd States, or . desire 10 breed pop
uiar discomfort for uitefior motives. With
out seeking 10 decide this question. we pre-
sent some extracts from has pablo letters
and messages IN support of cur assertion
that he always prophesies evil, leaving our
readers 10 discover his motives for them
selves.
Mr.. Cleveland'S first public document
after his election was what is known as the
Warner letter. beng q letter dated
February -. 1875. and addressed % y J.
Warner and others. members Of the Forty
eighth Congress- In the letter Mr. Cleye-
land said, speaking of silver coinage:
"Such Is the financial crisis which these
events would eventually precipI,ate. We're
II now TO follow upon SO long period OF
commercial depression. il would involve the
people of every city and every State in the
Union, and prolonged and disastrous
trouble would ensue. The business enter
prises and prosperity so ardently desired
and apparently SO near would be hopelessly
postponed. Gold would be withdrawn TO
the boarding places. and an unprecedented
contraction in tho actual volume of our
currency would speedily take place. Sad
dest OF all, in every work shop. mill, fac
tory, store and on every railroad and the
farm, the wages of labor, already de-
pressed, would suffer still further depres-
sion by the scaling down of the purchasing
power of every so-called dollar paid into the
hands of toll From these impending cal
antilles it Is surely the most patriotic and
grateful duty of the representatives of the
people to deliver them
And all that fuss was about coming
&, 000,0 600 worth Of silver month. II is not
necessary TO say that the dire consequences
which Mr. Cleveland promised have not
come to pass
The inaugural address may be left out Of
consideration, as, in accordance with Gus
tom, it contained nothing but pretty
talk" The next public document was the
message to Congress in December, ISIS,
from which the following extract is taken:
THAT disaster has not already overtakcn
us furnishes no proof that danger does not
silver coinage. We have been saved by the
most careful management and unusual ex-
pedients, by combination Of fortunate
conditions, and by confident expectation
that tho course of the Government in re-
gard to silver coinage would be speedily
BY the action of Congress. Pros
perity hesitates upon our threshold DO
cause Of the dangers and uncertainties sur
this question. Capital timidly
shrinks from trade, and investors are un-
willing TO take the chance of the question
able shape in which their money viii be
to them, while enterprise halts at
a risk against which care and sagaciOus
do not protest. As = neces-
sary consequence, labor lacks employment,
and suffering and distress are visited upon
a portion Of our fcllow-citizens especially
entitled to the careful consideration OF those
charged with the duties Of legislation. No
interest appeals TO us so strongly for a safe
and stable currency as the vast army Of tho
l recommend the suspension
Of the compulsory coinage Of silver dol
.arsn
. Still harping on my daughter" stln
asserting that the poor mans money Will
bring disaster on the poor man and finan-
ctal crisis on the Nation. Did our prophet
learn any thing during the succeeding
year? Let Us see. His next message
was in December, 1885. and he then said:
Il have seen no reason to change the
views expressed in my last annual message
On the subject of the compulsory coinage OF
silver, and again urge its suspension on
the grounds contained in my former rec
re-enferccd by the significant
increase in our god expectations during
Tho Last year, and for tho further reason
hat the more this currency is distributed
among the people the greater becomes cur
iuty 10 protecs 1t from disaster"
But the obstinate people Of the United
States still refused IL believe themselves
-uined- They went right along attending
% their business, prospecting, thriving and
BENG happy and contented, Just as If Cicye-
and had not said . word. They took silver
dollars, as many as they could get, and
passed them from hand 10 hand and actual
y treated them rs 4 they were real money,
without the slightest regard to the Presi-
tents forebodings. This went on for a
ear. the people still persisting in being
prosperous, and Mr., Cleveland found that
ie could not scare tham with his silver bug
LhnO in 1ss- - "a
urplus, and tackled on 20 II the tariff: and
lcSc Is whist be said IN December, 1887:
"The public Treasury, which should only
xist ~ conduit conveying the peoples
Tibute 70 It's legitimate objects Of c1pendit-
ire becomes boarding place for money
eedlessiy withdrawn from trade and the
'eopie's use, thus crieping our Eationa. en-
rgies, usurpsnz our cosntry development,
preventing investments ia productive en-
threa.enin z financial disturbance,
nd inviting schemes Of pubic plumber
he situation still continues With sggravat
d incidents, more than ever pressglnz
nauctai convulsion and widespread dlsas-
or. Our yrcsen. tariff Laws, Tho
aHoas inequi,ab!e and illegal sources OF
TAXATION ought 70 be ~ once
eyised and amended. Thesc laws. a. ia
heir primary and plain effect, raise tho
nee 70 consumers o. all articles I'm portxd
y precisely the sum pad for such duties'
1sat II fhe last s0scizi rt.eraIoe 81 tho
resident. In . shsrt tame We may erp~c.
10 formal sccsrssnee Of Ia sGmiaatson for
second term and then we rnsy look for
soeher ehsptas Of woe and dtsasaer I,
~ u f1e FIRST fhfss extracts eso.ee. !. -
thsi H@ry WsaAseaoo usser~si
IS famous sAA1Asnsssssnst silver Q. Il.
!; Louis convection, a. IL was saiy al st-
rsyiated expression Of Cfeselznd's Ideas
; the subject
There 10 but one reflection which occar,