Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-23
THURSDAY APRIL %. 1891.
Nlr. Cloveland and sllver.

Mr.. STEPHENS, State Treasurer OF Mis-
pouri. recently without informing the ex-
President that be was doing So interviewed
Mr.. CLEVELAND on the silver question. he
did not take notes. Nevertheless he wrote
out the interview from memory. and pub
lished II in tho New York EoentHJ
Tel1oram, Mr.. CLEVELAND denies the accu-
raoy of the interview as il was thus pub
ished. However. Mr.. STEPHENS is man
of such high character that we cannot be-
deye he has wilfully misrepresented MIR.
CLEyyLAsp's position on the silver question.
He carried 10 New York letters OF intro
duction from Governor Francis and others.
And as his report of Mr. CLEyELASD's opin-
IONS contains nothing which might not
naturally be supposed 10 be the ex-Presi-
dents views. we give short extract from
he same:
.Wheu asked whether, n elected President In
ysg2, he would veto a free coinage bill, Mr..
Cleveland IL reported 70 Lave said: such
hin would not reach me until 1894, as Congress
would not meet until December, 1893. SO that
A bridge we mad, better not attempt TO cross
Until we come 70 &C. What would be bad for the
country at the present time might DO a necessity
IN 1894 As the volume OF business increases II
Is necessary 70 increase the currency. The
mount OF the present per capita should be In"
creased, bat changes should DO made gradu-
ally. When the law was passed providing
Tor the coinage Of 100000 per month
3 feared the result, for j thought u
would prove an injury TO the business interests
of the country, for the time at least. However,
the law proved beneft, for, contrary TO my
So To- for
When the present law providing for S4,b00,0OO
per month was passed thought the measure too
radical, and that Il might have the effect OF
driving gold out Of the country, but in this was
snistaken, and both those opposed as well as
chose in favor Of free coinage believe that the
nresent law is wise one in so far that the coun-
sry has benefited by It. With the rapid strides
che country O. making II Is impossible 10 say
what financial measure we may be ready for In
1894.
"In forming my views upon the subject did
mot alone consider tho interests OF any one sec
tion Of this country. Ny only desire is TO sec
financial legislation enacted that viii benefit the
people In the West es well as In the East, and
those in the North al wen as those in the South
vhis great country Of ours, with its divershedin-
terests, should not DO viewed from the stand
point OF any section. ! have been unable TO see
how free coinage could fail Of being an injury to
every section Of this country, believing as DO
that Il would drive gold out Of circulation"
Yesterday Mr.. CLEVELAND authorized the
statement to be published that his CONVEX
sation with Mr.. STEPHENS had been gen.
orally embellishcd, and expressions" mt
into his mouth that he never used, but
which were uttered by another gentleman
who was present. and no added;
"while some Of tho opinions may be regarded
as partly my views upon the subject Of silver
coinage, yet there are 80 many other expressions
credited TO me that IL would require considerable
wedding out before the supposed conversation
could be strictly termed an accurate report
Mr.. CLEVELAND further said that Mr.,
STEPHENS bad scarcely treated him fairly
in givi=e kh supposed utterances to the
press, but We did not undertake TO point
out the errors of which he complained.
So the interview will stand as only
partly his views on silver coinage"