Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-25
Mr.. Cleveland and Silver.

| LII. O1Of61duU anu oliver.
The effort of the Cleveland faction
OF the democrats to make it appear
that the Claimant" has always been
in favor of the free coinage of silver is
in keeping with the course of deception
which has ever characterized the acts
of democratic politicians.
1t would not do for Mr.. Cleveland to
personally claim that he was an imbe-
Gle While pretending to act as presi-
dent of the United States. It would
not be wise for him to say of himself
what bis friends say about him. Sem
atOr Vest and democratic newspapers
tell US that Mr.. Cleveland has never
opposed the free coinage of silver:''
that 'Mr. Cleveland did not know
what was contained in the message
which he sent to congress" and which
wss sent broadcast over the coun Try
the next morning after Mr.. Lamont
gave it to the secretaries CT the senate
and house.
or course it is immaterial to che
republicans of this country whethe
Mr.. Clevelan1's friends make him
knave or an idiot. Idiocy has never,
until In Mr.. Cleveland's case, been re-
garded as qualification for a presi-
dent. Mr.. Cleveland either knew what
was in his message, or he didn't know
what was in it. If he submitted a
message to congress without knowing
its contents, no suggestion that could
be made would further illustrate his
unftness for any Office within the gift
of the people.
1t has been some time since Mr..
Cleveland's great anti-silver message
was published and to settle the uues-
ton as to Mr.. Cleveland's views upon
silver We copy the following extract
from his message to congress. 1.-The
proof of the pudding is in the eating"
The message reads:
Since February, 1878, the govern
ment has, under the compulsory pro-
visions OF law, purchased silver bullion
and coined the same at the rate of
more than two millions of dollars
every month. BY this process I'D to
the present date 2l5, 759 ,431 silver dol
lars have been coined.
The authority to ''cOin money" given
to congress by the constitution, if it
permits the purchase by the Govern
ment OF bullion for coinage in any
event, does not justify such purchase
and coinage to an extent beyond the
amount needed for sufficient circulat-
ing medium.
The desire to utilize the silver pro-
duct of the country should not lead to
misuse or the perversiOn of this
power.
The necessity for such an addition to
the silver currency of the nation as ia
compelled by the silver coinage act, is
negatiYed by the fact that up to the
present time only about fifty millions
Of the silver dollars so coined have
actually found their way into circula-
tIUn, leaving more than one hundred
aud sixty-fiVe millions in the possess
SION OF the government, the custody of
which has entailed a considerable ex-
penSe for the construction Of vaults for
Its deposit. Against this latter amCunC
there are outstanding silver certificates
amounting TO about ninety-three mil
lions Of dollars.
Every month two millions of gold in
The public treasury are paid out for
TWO million or more of silver dollars,
TO be added to the idle mass already
accumulated.
Ii continued long enough this opera
zion will result In the substitution of
sijy er for all the gold the government
owns applicable to its general purposes.
1t VIII not do to rely upon the custom
receipts of the government to make
good this drain of gold because the sill
yer thus coined having been made legal
tender for all debts and dues, public
and private, at times during the last
six months IS per cent of the receipts
for duties has been in silver or silver
certificates, while the average within
that period has been 20 per cent. The
proportion of silver and its certificates
received by the government will prob
ably increase as time goes on, for the
reason that the nearer the period ap-
prOaches when it will be obliged to of |
fer silver in payment of its obligations,
the greater inducement there will be |
TO hoard gold against depreciation in |
the value of silver or for the purpose of |
specializing. This boarding of gold |
has already begun.
No American citizens hand has
yet felt the sensation of cheapness,
either in receiving or expanding the
silver act dollars.
And those who live by labor or legiti-
mate trade never will feel that sensa-
ton of cheapness. However plenty
silver dollars may become, they will not
be distributed asgifts among the peo-
pie; and if the laboring man should re-
ceiYe four deprecated dollars where he
now receives two, he will pay in the
deprecated coin more than double the
price he now pays for all the necessa-
res and comforts of life.
Those who do not fear disastrous re-
suits rising from the continued compul-
sorry coinage of silver as now directed by
aw, and who suppose that the addition
70 the currency of the country intended
IS its result, will be public benefit,
Ire reminded that history demonstrates
hat the point is easily reached in the