The Indiana State sentinel., 1891-04-22


cessful termination of the pending negotiations,
because | cannot but assume that when the alb
solutely satisfactory character Of the sanitary
Inspections now provided by our law Is made
known 10 these foreign states they will
promptly relax their discriminating regula-
Iions. No effort and none of the powers vested
In the executive will be left unused TO secure
an end which is so desirable.
Your deliberations will probably also en-
brace the consideration OF the question Of the
volume and character of our currency. 1t will
not be possible, and would not be appropriate,
for me in this letter to enter upon any elaborate
discussion OF these questions. One or two
things will say, and first l believe that every
person who thoughttully considers the ques-
ton will agree with me upon proposition
which Is at the base of all my consideration Of
the currency question: Namely, that any
dollar, paper or coin, that is issued by the
United States must be made and kept in Its
commercial uses as good as any other dollar.
SO long as any paper money issued or author
lied by the u. :. government Is accepted in
commercial use as the equivalent of the best
coined dollar that we issue, and go olongas every
coined dollar, whether OF silver or gold, is
assured of an equivalent value in mercial
use, there need be no fear as to an excess OF
money. The more such money the better.
But on the other hand when any issue of paper
or coined dollars is in buying aud selling rated
at less value than other paper or coined dol
lars we have passed the limit of safe expert
ment in finance If we have dollars of differ
ing values only the poorest will circulate. The
farmer and the labOrer. who are not in hourly
touch with the ticker or the telegraph, will re-
quire, above all other classes of our commun-
ity, q dollar full OF value. Fluctuations and
depreciations are always at the first cost OF
these classes OF our community. The banker
and the speculatOr anticipate discount and
often profit by such fluctuations IL Is very
easy under the impulse of excitement or the
stress OF money stringency TO fall into the
slough OF a deprecated or irredeemable
currency. 1t is painful and slow busi-
ness to get out when once in. l have
always believed and do now moro than
ever believe in bimetallism and favor
the fullest use of silver in connection with our
currency that is compatible with the mainten-
ance OF the parity Of the gold and silver dollars
in their commercial uses. Nothing IN my
judgment would so much retard the restoration
of the free use of silver by the commercial
nations OF the world as legislation adopted by
us that would result in placing this country
upon basis of silver monometallism. The
legislation adopted by the first session of the
Fifty-first Congress, was assured by leading
advocates of free coinage, representatives of
the silver states, would promptly and per-
manenty bring silver to l29 per ounce and
keep il there. That anticipation has not been
realized. Our larger use of silver has appar-
emily and for reasons not yet agreed upon,
diminished the demand for silver in China and
India.
In view of the fact that it is impossible in
this letter to elaborate, aud that propositions
only can be stated, l am aware that what l
have said may be assailed in points where it is
easily defensible, but where | have not at
tempted to present the argument.
i have not before, except in an official way,
expressed myself on these subjects; but feel
ing the interest, dignity and importance of the
assemblage in whose behalf you speak, / have
Ventured, without bigotry of opinion. without
any assumption of infalliblity, but as an
American citizen. having most earnest desire
that every individual and every public aot of
my life shall conduce to the glory OF our coun-
try and the prosperity OF all our people, to
submit these views for your consideration.
Very respectfully,
(Signedl BENJAMIN HARRISON.
A letter was also received from the Hon.
J. NJ. Rusk, secretary of agriculture.
The Hon. NJ. Fl. De Young, Of San Fran
cisco, in transmitting his regrets, sent
paper on irrigation.
Senator Peffer of Kansas wrote that the
objects of the congress met his hearty ap-
proval and expressed the hope that it
would result in bringing the people of the
West and of the South into closer social
and commercial relations.
'We have been kept apart so long" his
letter continued, that it seemed almost
hopeless 70 expect a union. Now / under
stand that this commercial congress to be
held in Kansas City proposes to assist in
the Inauguration of a scheme which will
unity the commercial interests of the
South and West. That being your object,
l pray you godspeed."
Charles Francis Adams OF Boston wrote
that it would not be improbable for him to
prepare an address, such as he had been
invited to present to the congress. His
views, he said, were so radical as well as
positive, that they would not prove accept
oh 10 60 oh hr.fN h,
posed would necessarily be. While he
recognized the hardships of the
present situation in the West,
he did not believe that any
action except individual action was neces-
sary for a remedy. Continuing, Mr..
Adams letter stated: "The very general
popular idea which now exists that the
government is the grand paternal do-all to
protect every one and everything and to
provide remedies for every i'll that the
body polite is subject to, | do not sympa-
thlze in. On the contrary, / am so out of
date and antiQuated in my opinions as to
think that the world is governed alto
gether too much, and that it has rarely
been governed so much or so badly as it
has been in this country within the last
twenty-five years. What our country
needs most of all, in my judgment, is in
lldlltl5 W Dt stNtItll ItJ
alone, and that the industrious
and thrifty people thereof be permitted to
work out their and its salvation in their
own way. If so left they will work out
that salvation great deal quicker and a
great deal more satisfactorily than they
will ever succeed in doing while the gov
ernment necessarily incumbers them with
its well-meant but most ill-advised as
sistance in so doing"
The convention then proceeded to eff
feet permanent organization. Governor
Francis of Missouri was chosen president
and Temporary Secretary Springer was re-
tanned as permanent secretary. Twenty
four vice-presidents. one from each state
represented, were appointed. The usual
committees were then selected and the
congress adjourned until tomorrow morn
ing at l0:30 o'clock.
KANSAS CITY. Mo-, April I5.-The
full representation to the Western states
commercial congress was present this
morning when President Francis called
the second days session to order. The
subject under discussion was General
Business and Agricultural Depression,
Cause and Remedy"
In the subsidiary topic of general busi-
ness Mr.. +. ]. V. Skiff of Denver read
paper on Population and Raw Material
Guests OF the congress were then invited