The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-04-24
Cleveland and Silver.


NEW York, April, 21.-Tbe Tele-
gram prints the following.
state Treasurer Lon V. Stephens,
of Missouri, called on ex-Presldent
Grover Cleveland to-day with letters
of Introduction from Gov. Francis
and other leading Missouri Demo
Gratis. The object OF the visit OF MI
Stephens was to secure from the eA-
President II more thorough express
ion of his views on the silver question
than the latter has so far MADE pup
lie Also his reason for having writ
ten his silver letter to the Reform
Club.
The ex-Plesident received Mr..
Stephens very cordially. The Treas
urer explained that the Missouri
Democrats were now opposed to MI.
CleveIaud's nomination on account
of his silver letter, and asked him
why he wrote that letter.
II was well aware" said the ex-
| President, "that the Republican party
| ia very DESTROYS of making the silver
question one of the leading issues Of
the campaign of 1892, and the ques-
ton should be taken up at once; 1t
should be thoroughly discussed so
| that the people can be educated up to
| it. In this way il may be settled be-
! fore 1892 and we will not be endan-
| gered by q divided party. Besides, L
| vas in daily receipt OF hundreds OF
| letters from DemOcI ats in all parts OF
| the country asking that give an eX-
preston regarding free coinage: l
| felt that those friends We're entitled to
know how l stood on the question,
and SO took the first favorable OPP
purtunity TO give my views. Since |
| lid so have received q large mail
from all over the country thanking
me for having done SO. My cores
pondeuts say that the party, had a
right to know my Views ana tnaV
would not have acted in good faith if
[ had kept them secret. II have
caused thorough discussion OF the
subject among Democrats they must
admit that acted wisely"
"But now that the letter has been
written, the Missouri Democrats, "
said Mr.. Stephens, "would like to
know if, in case you are elected
President in 1892 aud a Democratic
congress should pass free coinage
bill, would you veto it, no matter II
you knew that the great majority Of
YOUR party favored the measure? p
t'If should be elected President In
1922 answered the eX President
tsuch bill would not reach me until
1894, as Congress would not meet UNI
til December, 1898. So that is bridge
we had better not attempt to cross
until we come to it. What would be
Dad for the country at the present
time might be a necessity in 1894
AS the volume of business increases
it is necessary to increase the curfen
ey. The amount of the present pei
:apita should be increased, but the
changes should be made gradually
When the law was passed providing
for the coinage of$2, 1000, 900 per month
feared the result, for / thought il
would prove an injury to the bust
ness interests of the country for th'
time at least. However, the law pro
viding for 81, 500, 900 per month was
passed. l thought the measure too
radical and that it might have the
effect of driving gold out of the
country, but in this [ was mistak en-
and both those opposed to as well a
tho Se in favor of free coinage belieV'
that the present law is a wise one, IL
so TAR that the country has been b. N =
. fit ID by it. With the rapid strides
, the country is making it is impOssi
bic to say what financial measure WI
may be ready for in 1894.
"In forming my views upon TIN
subject, did not alone consider tin
interests OF any one citizen OF ;hi
country. | have been unable to SCI
how free coinage could fail of being
an injury TO every section OF thi
= country, believing, as | do, that i
would drive gold out of circulation
> AS we are in Il great measure depend
ent upon European markets for thu
sale of our products, we are obliged t.
take them into consideration.
HWhen [ suggested a mOnetar!
/ conference of the representatives o
other governments with our own
which would agree upon anew stand
ard of value, my suggestions Wer'
lcOffed at by Europeans. L am de
lighted that the people are now en-
gagged in such a thoughtful consider
. alton of such questions and that b.
1892 they will have decided whether
or not we are ready to handle all thu
silver of the world"
: Mr.. Stephens gave an account o
, his visit TO the eX-President shortly
after leaving Mr.. Cleveland. He
took no notes, but he thinks he thor
oughly memorized what Mr.. Cleve
land said.
A representative of the Associated
Press called at Mr.. Cieveland's Office
this afternOOI to ascertain whether
the interview as given above was ac
curate. Mr.. Cleveland said he haC
not talked with any one on the silver
question for publication. He had no
read the TeLegrGTa's article, anC
could not, therefore, say whether the
statement credited him was an ac
;urate expression of his views or not