Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1891-04-30
THE SILVER QUESTION.
Mr.. Cleveland's Latest Expression
Regarding Free Coinage.

New 1Ork, Apr. 2l.-State Treas
urer Lon. V. Stephens, of Missouri,
called on ex-President Grover Cleve-
land today with letters of introduce
ton from Gov: Francis and other
leading Missouri Democrats.
The object Of the visit of Mr.. Ste
phens was to secure from the ex-
President more thorough express
sion of his views tion than the latter
has so far made public. Also for his
reason for having written his silver
letter to the reform club.
The ex- President received Mr..
Stephens very cordially.
The Treasurer explained that the
Missouri Democrats were now oppos-
ed to Mr.. Cleveland's nomination on
account of his silver letter, and ask
ed him why he wrote that letter.
II was well AWARE said the ex-
President that the Republican party
is very DESTROYS of making the silver
question one of the leading issues of
the campaign of 1892, and the ques-
tion should be taken up at once. 1t
should be thoroughly discussed so
that the people can be educated up
TO it. In this way it may be settled
before 1892, and we will not be en-
dangered by a divided party. Be-
sides l was daily in receipt of hun
dreds of letters from Democrats in
all parts of the country asking that l.
give an expression regarding free
coinage. l felt that those friends
were entitled to know how l stood on
the question, and so | took the first
favorable opportunity to give my
views. Since | did so | have roceiv-
ed large mail from all over the
country thanking me for having dole
SO. My correspondents say that the
party had right to know my views,
and that l would not have acted in
good faith if l had kept them sa
cret. If / have caused thorough
discussion of the subject among the
Democrats, they must admit that l
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 Pres
ident in 1892, and Democratic
Congress should pass Free Coin
age bill, would you veto it, no mat
ter if you knew that the great major
ity of your party favored the meas
ure p
''If | should be elected President
in 1892" said the ex-President,
'such bill would not reach me until
1894, as Congress would not meet
until December, 1898, so that is
bridge we had better not attempt to
cross until we come to it. What
would be bad for the country at the
present time might he necessity in
1894, as the volume Of business in-
creases it is necessary to increase the
currency.
The amount of the present per
capita should be increased, but its
changes should be made gradually.
When the law was passed providing
for the coinage of S2,000,000 per
month feared the result, for |
thought it would prove an injury to
the business interests of the country,
for the time at least. However, the
law providing for 1900, 900 per
month was passed. thought the
measure too radical and that it might
have the effect of driving gold out Of
the country, but in this | was mista-
ken, and both those opposed as well
as those in favor of free coinage be-
lieve that the present law is a wise
one in so far that the country has
been benefited by it. With the rap
id strides the country is making, 1t
is almost impossible to say what fl
nancial measure we may be ready
for in 1894.
In forming my views upon the
subject, | did not alone consider the
interests of any one citizen of this
country, | have been unable to see
how free coinage could fail of being
an injury to every citizen, believing
as l do that it would drive gold out
of circulation.
) Mr.. Stephens gave the account OF
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 MIR. Cleveland's Of
/ hce aud tried TO ascertain whether
the interview as given above was ac-
Mr EtaXaIan1 soi1 ba ba al