The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-19
COURAGE OF HIS CONVICTIONS.
Grover Cleveland Comes Out Squarely
Against the Free Silver Coinage Bill
Now Before Congress.


Against the Free Silver Coinage Bill
Now Before Congress.
NEW YORK, February u.-Between
600 and 700 people attended 4 mass
meeting at the Cooper Union tonight
to oppose the silver bill, in response to
the call of the Reform Club. Charles ).
Fairchild, Ex-Secretary of the Treasury,
nominated f. Ellery Anderson, presi-
dent of the Reform Club, for chairman
of the meeting, and he was elected by
acclamation.
Mention of Grover CIeveland's name
was the signal for prolonged burst of
applause, and when the secretary had
finished reading his letter the applause
was deafening. The EX-President wrote
as follows:
SIS MADISON AVENUE, Feo. 10, 1891.
e. Ellery Anderson--My Dear Sir: |
have this afternoon received your note
inviting me to attend to-morro" even
ing meeting called for the purpose of
voicing the opposition Of the business
men of our city to the free coinage OF
silver in the United States. l shall not
be able to attend and address the meet
ing as you request, but ain glad that
the business interests of New York are
at last to be heard on the subject.
1t surely cannot be necessary for me
to make formal expression OF my agree
ment with those who believe that the
greatest perils would be initiated by the
adoption of the scheme embraced in
the measure now pending in Congress
for an unlimited coinage OF silver at
our mints. If we have developed an
une~pected capacity for TIE asslmlia-
tio.I ii a largely increased volume OF
currency, and even if we have demon
strated the usefulness Of such an IN
crease, these conditions fall far short OF
insuring US against disaster if IN the
present situation we enter upon the
DANGEROUS and reckless experiment OF
free, unlimited and independent silver
coinage. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
WILL HE BE HURT By HAVING THE
COURAGE OF HIS CONVICTIONS:
SPECIAL to the News and Courier.
WASHINGTON, February l2.-The
letter of ex-President Cleveland, ccm-
mitting himself against the free coin
age of Silver policy, was the absorbing
topic of discussion at the Capltoi to-
day. 1t was lively day, too, for the
representatives Of the press, and the
opinions of the leading men from all
sections of the country were sollclted,
the intention being to telegraph these
expressions to all news centres III the
United States.
A variety of opinions were Obtained,
for while many Of the leading Senators
and Representatives would not talk,
the average Democrat expressed de-
cided willingness to be interviewed on
80 important subject. AS a rule the
Democrats from the Eastern and Mid
die States agreed with Mr.. Cleveland
in his opposition to the free and un-
limited coinage of silver. Senator Will
son, of Maryland, one Of the few Dem
ocrats who recently voted against the
free coinage bill, expressed himself
cautiously and conservatively. He said
that Mr.. Cleveland had 4 right 10 his
views on the question, and called atten-
ton to the fact that the Democratic
party had never yet in a national con-
vention declared for free coinage.
Senators German, Vest and many
others, who were prominent in putting
through the bill that recently passed
the Senate, preferred not to be quoted.
Other Southern Senators were, how
ever, not so cautious, and they freely
expressed their opinions.
Senators Pugh, Reagan, Coke, Bar
bour. Vance and others declared enl-
phatically that Cleveland by his course
had not only alienated many OF his
hitherto staurchest supporters, but his
views on this great question disposed OF
his chances for the Presidential noml-
nation in 1892.
Quite a number, while not agreeing
with AR. Cleveland, conld pot holo ad- :
miring his boIdness in coming out
squarely against a policy that IS SO
generally popular in the West and
South.
Among the members Of the House
there was Likewise q wide difference Of
opinion. The New York members
commended the eX-President for his
course, and so did Mr.. Wilson, of West
Virginia, Mr.. Dargan, of South Caro-
lima, and q few more from the South,
but the great body of Democratic MEM
bers from the South and West eX-
pressed the opinion that Mr.. Cleveland
had practically lost the nomination IN
in 1892 by writing such 4 letter.
Others took more modified view
and seemed to regret that the ex-Presl-
dent should have adopted this course
when the overwhelming sentiment OF
the party is for free coinage.
Among the prominent Democrats OF
the House who do not agree with Mr..
Cleveland may be mentioned: Messrs:
Bland, Hatch, DocNery, Heard and
Tarsney, of Missouri; Crisp, Blount and
Turner, of Georgia; Wheeler and Oates,
of Alabama, Bynum and others.
GOVERNOR T1ILMAN on FREE SILVER.
Especial to News and Courier
COLUMBIA, Feb. Ex-Governor ILL
man received a telegram tonight from
the Cincinnati Enquirer asking him
for his views on President Cleveland's
letter on the free coinage OF silver,
addressed to the Reform Club, OF New
York. He was also asked for an inter
view on the subject tor tne y eWs ana
Courier. Referring 10 the inquiry OF the
Cincinnati paper, Governor ililman
said:
II presume the Enquirer desires to
know what I have to say on this pass
age in Mr.. Cleveland's letter to the
Club.
1T surely cannot be necessary for me
to make a formal expression OF my
agreement with those who believe that
the greatest perils would be initiated by
the adoption of the scheme embraced
in the measure pending in Congress for
an IL nlmited coinage of silver at the
1nints. five have developed unexpected
capacity for the assimilation Of largely
increased voIur1es of currency, and even
if we have demont-atedthe usefulness
of such an increase, tfrcse conditions
fall far short of ensuring 6r.aagainst
disaster if in the present situation wea
enter on the dangerous and reckless
experiment of free, unlimited and inde-
i