davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
CLEVELAND'S ANTI-SILVER POLICY.

1t is sometimes instructive as well as
conducive to gratitude to know what
perils have been passed or what dangers
avoided in a journey that is ended.
Looking back over the last administra-
ton. we find abundant cause for graft
tude in the fact that Mr.. Cleveland's
urgent and repeated recommendation
for the repeal of the silver coinage law
were not adopted. If they had been
the country would now be in the midst
of terrible financial panic, caused by a
contraction of the currency.
Until Mr.. Cleveland adopted the free
trade hobby, opposition to silver COIN
age was his special fad. He began to
air his views on this subject before
he became President. In Febru-
auguration, he addressed a letter to
Congressman A. G. Warner and others,
in which he referred to the continued
coinage of silver as a very dangerous
policy and primarily responsible for "the
financial crisis which, under the opera
tion of the act of Congress of Feb. %,
1878, is now close at hand" He saw the
panic in his minds eye. In this letter
he stated that "silver and silver certifi-
Gates have displaced and are now dis
gold in the Treasury available for the
redemption of greenbacks, "if not
already encroached upon, is perilously
near such encroachment." Helaid down
these propositions as "facts which, as
they do not admit of difference of opin-
ion, call for no argument" He there
fore urged the immediate suspension of
the purchase and coinage of silver.
| In the light of subsequent experience
and present facts, these views of Mr..
Cleveland appear utterly ridiculous.
His letter was written in February, 1885.
The coinage of silver dollars has contin-
ued right straight along at the rate of
| $4,000, 900 month. The financial crisis
then "close at hands did not come, and
has not come yet. Gold, instead of be-
ing driven out of the country, or out of
| the Treasury. has continued to increase.
| A table accompanying the last report of
the Secretary of the Treasury-Cleve-
lands own Secretary-shows that in Feb
| ruary, 1885, when the foregoing state
ments were made, the total amount of gold
| in the Treasury was S24O, O,029, ,s43; it has
| continued to increase ever since, and is
now S376,619,715. Of this amount $780,
100000 is held for the redemption OF
| greenbacks and the balance for the re-
demption of gold certificates. This
large and steady increase in the amount
of gold in the Treasury shows how false
a financial prophet Cleveland was. In
stead of parting company" as he said
gold and silver would do, they have been
| going hand in hand and cultivating
closer acquaintance.
Mr.. Cleveland continued to make war
on silver, and to urge upon Congress the
repeal of the silver coinage act. He
aired these views in every one of his an
nual messages. He warned Congress
that "the authority to coin money given
to Congress by the Constitution, if il
permits the purchase by the government
of bullion for coinage in any event, does
not justify such purchase and coinage to
| an extent beyond the amount needed fol
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
THE sTREET.RAILROAD SERVICE.

The revival of the controversy be-
tween the Council and the street-rail-
way company relative to double plat
form cars and conductors seems like a
movement to the rear. The public had
reason to hope that controversy was
settled, and that continuance of the
liberal policy of the present manage
ment would preclude the possibility of
its being reOpened. The company will
make great mistake by permitting it
to be reopened. The day of bob-tail and
conductorless cars in this city has
passed, and cannot be restored. That
ground has been fought over, and the
people do not want any further contro-
versy about it. The company has agreed
to place double platform cars and con-
ductors on certain lines, and it should
do so without grumbling or unnecessary
delay.
The Journal has heard it suggested
that there is some doubt as to the legal
right of the Council to enforce perform
ance of the company's agreement in this
regard. That, if true, should not alter
the case. The company cannot afford
to take advantage of any technicality as
pretext for denying the people their
just rights. If it is not legally bound to
furnish the needed Improvements, that
is strong reason why it should do so
as matter of equity and wise business
policy. A corporation which owes it's
existence to>the people and its support
to public favor cannot afford to culti-
vate other than friendly relations with
the public, and, therefore, in a question
of improved facilities and service it had
better waive legal technicalities in favor
of the people rather than insist upon them
in defense of a narrow or niggardly
policy. The policy of the present COM
pany has, for the most part, been liberal
and progressive. 1t has made great i'm
prOvements in our street-railroad sys-
tenn and given the city much the best
service it has ever had. In many respects
| it has shown a progressive spirit and q
| disposition to promote the public inter-
| ests as well as its own. It would be a
| great mistake for company which has
started out SO well and which has earned
SO large measure of public approval,
to revert to the narrow and niggardly
| policy of the past-the Johnsonian policy
of disregarding orders of Council, f1out-
| ing the people and damning the public.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
UNIQUE MUNICIPAL SITUATION.
BUSINESS of City Government Transacted
i'm Secret tn Escape Creditors.
paul

Business of a City Government Transacted
i'm Secret tn Escape Creditors.
st. Paul Pioneer Press.
The city of Watertown, Wis. presents
the unique example of q city without
a city government. Some wears ago.
In tit of thoughtless generosity
the city voted large amount of bonds as n
bonus to an incoming railroad-an amount
so large that it threatened to bankrupt the
municipality if paid. To avoid paving the
obligations the city. officials, excepting
those of minor degree. resigned and left the
corporation in an acephalous condition.
Now the officials are elected annually.
meet In secret, vote the appropriation neces-
sary to keep the municipal machine creased,
transact whatever business is necessary
hand in their designations and once more the
street commissioner or some one of about
the same degree is in charge. The railroad
has tried in vain TO find an officer on whom
TO serve summons. Detectives have been
IN the city hoping to surprise the secret
Council meeting. but the interests of the
people are so united as to prevent sue
cessful coup of that sort. In fact, in
stances have been known when the meet
ing was being held in an upper room of a
business block while the emissaries of tho
railroad, armed with fo midable legal doc
uments, were watchfully patrolling the
sidewalk below. "a public Office is a pub
lie trust" seems to be directly apropos TO
the situation. Here are some railroad
bonds that our English cousins might in
vest in after buying up all the obligations
of the late COnfederacy
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17

a sufficient circulating medium" In his
message in December, 1885, he said: eff
this silver coinage be continued we may
reasonably expect that gold and its
equivalent will abandon the field of cir
culation to silver alone. This, of course,
must produce a severe contraction of
our circulating medium, instead of add
ing TO it." In his next annual message,
December, 1886, he said, 81 have seen no
reason to change the views expressed in
my last annual message on the subject of
compulsory silver coinage, and l again
urge its suspension on the grounds con-
tanned in my former recommendations"
and he added petulantly that 'there
seems but little propriety in building
vaults to store such currency (silver dol
lars), when the only pretense for its
coinage is the necessity for its use by
the people as circulating medium"
In spite of these repeated recommends
tions of Mr.. Cleveland and his predic-
tions of panic, reiterated again in his
message of 1887, the coinage of silver
dollars continued at the rate of about
$4,000, 900 a month. As the coinage ac-
cumulated in the Treasury, certificates
were issued against it, which went into
the hands of the people and helped to
swell the volume of circulation. During
the last three years the amountof national
bank circulation has been largely re-
duced, and silver certificates have taken
it's place. The vacuum caused by the re-
tirement Of national bank notes has
been filed by silver certificates. On
the 1st of October, 1885, the total amount
of silver certificates in circulation was
$10O, 800. The public debt statement,
issued on the 1st inst, shows there are
now in circulation $276,619,715. This in
crease of $176,319,000 in silver certii-
Gates indicates approximately the de-
crease of national bank notes. But for
the issue of silver certificates, our paper
currency would have undergone con-
traction during the last two years of
S176,000,0OO, without any means what
ever Of replacing it. This would have
caused financial crisis and universal
distress. The only thing that averted
such disaster was the re-
fusal of Congress to adopt Mr.
Cleveland's repeated recommendations
for the suspension of silver coinage.
had his recommendation prevailed, the
crisis which, in 1886, he said was "close
at hand" and which in 1887 he said was
liable to be precipitated by some ''un-
foreseen and unexpected occasion"-the
panic which he constantly saw in his
mind as the result of silver coinage,
would now be on us in full force. 1t has
been avoided by the rejection of his ad-
vice
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
COMMENT AND OPINION.

The great defect in the eight-hour labor
scheme is that its advocates insist on ten
hours pay. The world cannot be reformed
on that principle. Philadelphia Inquirer.
THE Sugar Trust is almost two years old.
versary of Its birth. The party which is
the resolute and aggressive foe of COM
bines' and mOnOpolies of all sorts is run
ming this government just nOw.-St. Louis
Globe-DemOcrat.
The Democratic press North should .'go
inside and pull the blinds down." 1t has
South, never did have. never will have. As
we before have remarked, doughfaces are
not born with the attributes of leadership.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
THERE ought to be one evolution right
away in Chicago. REASONABLE utterances
punished surely and severely. The author
tiles in Chicago can make it very unhealthy
for these unwashed. beer-swilling revOlu-
tionists If they will but act firmly and
swiftly.-Pittsburg Dispatch.
WOULD the government of the United
States ever consent to exchange a home
market comprised of sixty-tive million of
people for home market comprised of five
million? Is this fair tradingi 1t is not.
The heads-I-win-tails-y yOu-lose system of
trading will not strike the average Ameri-
can Congressman favorably.-New York
Press.
THE Reform Club of New York free
trade) is spending $4,000 ON documents the
current year. an off year, and it is only one
of the many. Wedoubt if any protectionist
club in the country has half this sum to ex-
cause must know it was never as vigor-
ously attacked as to-day.-Philadelp
Press.
A POLICY of isolation and total indiffer-
ence to the affairs of other nations has
served it's part, if it ever had an honorable
part, in the country's development Now.
at least the interests of the United States
in every material and moral sense are to be
promoted by closer relations of amity and
mutual helpfulness with other nations on
this continent.-New York Tribune.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
INVESTMENT OF ENGLISH CAPITAL.

The Journal does not understand that
the recent deal between certain English
capitalists and the brewers of this city
was purchase and sale, in the sense of
involving transfer of the property to
new ownership and control. 1t would
be better described as a capitalization
of the breweries, their real estate, plant,
business, good will, etc., on an agreed
basis, upon which the English capital
lists take certain interest, less than
controlling, with a guaranty that they
are to receive a fixed per cent. on their
investment, while the original owners
remain in control of the business and
continue to draw dividends ntheir own
interest and salaries for their personal
services.
The deal is like many others recently
consummated in different parts of the
country. They are the outgrOwth of
the superabundance of capital in Eng
land. Capitalists in that country are
glad to invest money safely at 2 or per
cent. Any amount of idle capital is
seeking investment at these rates. It's
owners say to an American manufact-
urer, miller or brewer: eff you can show
us by your books and balance-sheets
that you have been making 12 per
cent. year for the last few
years on an investment of $500,000,
we will give you 100000 for a third
interest in your plant and business,
provided you will guarantee us per
cent. a year on our investment, you to
retain two-thirds interest and two
thirds of the annual profits. In this way
foreign invester gets an interest in an
established business, with guarantee of
or per cent. interest year, without
risk or worry. Probably he takes q
mortgage as security against cOntingen-
cies. The original owner receives for a
part interest in his business enough to
make him wealthy, and holds control
ling interest and the active manage
ment. The Englishman is quite as con-
tent with 3 or 4 per cent. as the
American is with or 8, and it is
good deal on both sides. The plant is
not removed, the management is not
changed, and the business goes on as
before, except that cousin John Bull
receives an annual remittance of his or
per cent. dividend. In general way,
this indicates the nature of the recent
transactions.
The present case has one aspect of
public interest, in that it will result in
bringing at least S2,OOO,0OO of foreign
capital to the city for local Investment
in real estate and active business. The
Journal has no prejudice against foreign
capital.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17

THE quarterly report of the secretary
of the Board of Charities says, among
other things: although / still could
wish we had fewer, and, therefore, larger
jails, yet the small poor asylums which
result from the division [into small coun-
ties]. although not susceptible of the
palatial arrangements of large ones, are
yet, by their more simple and home-like
conditions, able to do better work at less
comparative expense" Does the secre-
tary or the board really believe that
"palatiap arrangements, provided at
public expense for paupers, are desirable
under any circumstances If SO, they
are out of harmony with the prevailing
idea that the best interests, moral as well
as financial, of the community are served
by furnishing the necessities of life to
the INDECENT poor and not luxuries to
encourage indigence.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS.

LAWYER GEORGE BLISS, of New York,
said in reference" lately given to a
former coachman: Il have frequently seen
him sober"
ANTON RUBINsIEIN actually completed
his half century of public musical activity
some months ago. but the event will not be
formally celebrated until Nov. 80.
Miss RACHEL SHERMAN, the youngest of
the daughters of General w. T. Sherman. is
booked to sail for Europe on the 30th of
October. She has been invited to spend the
winter with the family of Minister White
law Reid, in Paris.
THE Shah of Persia begot o peculiar pas
sion in England. He became infatuated
with cape-coats, and had o large number
made Of all colors and from various kinds
of materials. He wears these garments
at all times, and seems to feel that q cape
to glorify the king of kings.
W1LFORD WOODRUFF, the president of
the Mormon Church. was born in Connecti-
cut eighty-two years ago He has the COM
pactly built figure of Grant In the square
face the strong nose and the set of the eyes
there are "Reminiscences of the old Com
mander sufficiently strong 10 make strang-
ers comment upon the likeness.
AN architectural curiosity, for which the
world may thank Dean Howson. is to be
found in the corbels of Chester Cathedral,
where Mr.. Gladstone is represented WELD
ing crowbar and trying to demolish the
church. while Lord BeacOnsield as ener-
getically strives to brace up the sacred
edifice. The ikenesses are exceedingly ac-
curate.
BARON HIRscH, who has finally decided to
make his home in England. has rented for
eight weeks the celebrated manor of Mer-
privileges. He pays $4,000 for these eight
weeks, and must bear all the running ex-
penses as we'll Although there is one wood
on this estate where SIX guns some years
ago killed ,572 pheasants in single day,
the price seems rather high.
ELLEN TERRY is said to suffer agonies of
anxiety whenever she undertakes a new
part. and she can scarcely bear any one to
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17

WHEN James Putnam Kimball reluct-
antly departed from subordinate posi-
tion in the Treasury Department, where
President Harrison had kindly permitted
him to remain longer than he should, he
left behind him book of biographies
which he had written and caused to be
printed at the public expense, which
were intended to include the name and
fame of every conspicuous man who had
been an official in the Treasury Depart
ment. In that work, Alexander Hamil-
toms achievements are cut down to two
thirds of a page, and such eminent
financiers as Albert Gallatin and John
Sherman receive less space, but when
the name of James Putnam Kimball
is reached, page and half is devoted
to his record and his ancestry. And so
it may happen if, hundred years hence,
the compiler of school histories shall
take his data from official publications,
in answer to the question, 'Who was
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17

SUPERINTENDENT BELL excuses the nu-
merous changes in the railway mail service
on the ground that he has been removing
''incompetents." in order to make place for
competent men. 1t is a mere accident, of
course, that all the alleged incompetents
happen to be Democrats while the newly
found competent men happen to be Repub-
icans.-St. Louis Republic.
1t may be an accident, but it is the
most natural one in the world. When a
administration is found in the service ii
is pretty safe to say that he is incompe-
tent. More power to Superintendent
Bell. May he continue the good work
until the railway mail service is once
more brought up to its former standard
of efficiency, promptness and accuracy!
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
MIR. Grady Grows Pensiye.
Atlanta Constitution

The season continues, as we may say. to
accumulate. The ripening persimmon gives
evidence that the 'possum is fat enough to
eat. if, perchance he can be caught. though
the old breed of 'possum dogs appears To
have played out entirely. These dogs had
long heads. long ears and keen noses, and if
they spelt at the tree at all it was because
a very small 'p0ssum had "clumb" it. If
the 'pOssum was large one; he was in
small tree, and we trust that the war and
its results have not changed these matters.
But the season is here. and it brings its re-
sponsibilities. whether they come in the
shape of 'possums. persimmons or chest
nufe
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17

the first financier during the past century
of the Republicg" the answer is likely to
be: James Putnam Kimball. And
who is he7 asks the reader. He is the
parsonage whom Mr.. Cleveland called to
the Office of Director of Mints, and who
signed himself President Director of all
the Mints. In other words, he is the
blue-ribbon misft harlequin of the
Cleveland regime, which is saying a
great deal when one recalls the infinite
capacity of Mr.. Cleveland for making
collections of such monstrosities.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17

SINCE the possibility became apparent
that Montana might slip from the Dem,
ocratic grasp, the organs of the Democ-
racy have raised a loud and fearful howl
of fraud, and talk glibly about "Quay
methods" whatever they may be. The
organs neglect to call attention to the
fact that rebel brigadiers and other ex-
confederate worthless form large part
of Montana's Democratic population, and
that they have brought alltheir Southern
election tricks with them. If the Re-
publicans succeed in holding their own,
in face of their skilled opponents,
they will show themselves possessed OF
uncommon ability.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17

NEW YORK may be weak in the mat
ter of monuments and worlds fairs, but
it cannot be said that its pockets are
sealed tight against worthy charitable
appeals. Somebody nailed cracker
box ON the telegraph-pole from which
the lineman fell who was killed by elec-
trieity, and by o'clock that afternoon
it contained over $500. 1t was hung up
again, and by evening the days contri-
buttons amounted to S1,527. This sort
of thing has been done repeatedly i'll
New York, which shows that the metro.
politan heart is in good place, if it is
not fixed on n monument.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
member.

THE Farmers Alliance is an organiza-
tion which has but lately obtained a
foothold in Indiana. Its purposes are
not clearly understood by the public,
but there is general hope that it is not
modelled on the Alabama plan, which
seems to be determination on the part
of the farmers to shoot the heads off the
town authorities and business men.
Whatever may be the case in Alabama,
Indiana sheriffs, cOnstables and mer-
chants do not, as a rule, deserve sum-
mary decapitatiOn.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17

The New York Post is respectfully
keeper, tally-sheet forger and ex-con-
vict, is Democratic boss and Council
man; that he was elected and reelected
by Democratic votes, and that Demo
cratic, majority retained him as a MEM
ber of the City Council during his term
in the penitentiary. 1t is gay old
party that the Post belongs to, and Sim
Coy is very far from being its worst
x~or,Ior
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
Falling Into Obscurity.

1t does not seem to be generally known
that John p. st. John stumped the State of
hibitory amendment. which was so tRsas-
trously defeated this week at the polls. He
somehow does not cast so long shadow as
he did few years ago. This fact is not
his fault, for he is as active and ubiquitous
as in the past; but the public has become
more interested in different method of
contending with the liquor traffic than the
one which he advocates. The new attrac-
tion is called high license.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL

Can be found at the following places:
LONDON American Exchange in Europe. 44s
Strand.
PARIs-American Exchange In Paris 35 Boulevard
des Capucines.
NEW YCRK-Gflsey House and Windsor Hotel
PHnADELPHIA-A. p. Kemb!e. 3735 Lancaster
avenue.
CHICAGO-Palmer House.
CINCINNATI. p. Hawiey & Co.. l54 Vine street.
LoUIsvILLE-c. T. Deering. northwest corner
Third and Jefferson streets.
ST. LoUIs-Union News Company. Union Depot
and Southern Hotel
WASHINGTON. d. C.-Riggs House ana Ebbitt
House.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
Not Exactly Jeffersonian.
Boston TranecI

bOSUOn I1dnbCrlpt-
One of the Brazilian delegates says no
king ever travelled in the style in which the
Pan-Americans are making the tour of the
United States. The Repnblic is entertain
ing its guests with the most lavish gener-
Osity. Travelling in cars that are palaces
on wheels, eating the best viands of tho
land, and in prohibition cities like Port
land. Me-, drinking the choicest wines of
France, the delegates are willing to vote
that republican simplicity as exhibited on
this occasion is good enough for them.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17
A Little Previous in Their JOY.

There seems to have been undue haste in
announcing to the world that Montana
was safe in the Democratic column. There
has been readjustment of returns out
there and 1t now appears that the Re-
publicans have a good majority in the
Legislature on joint ballot. One never can
tell how these future States are going to
settle their political affairs till the last say
has been said.
The Indianapolis journal., 1889-10-17

Mr.. CLEVELAND is engaged in the
letter-writing business lately, but as yet
no epistle has appeared expressing his
pleasure at the progress of the David
Bennett Hill boom. At present the
boom is rolling through Georgia at a
rapid rate, and growing like SNOWFALL
in q winters thaw.