The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-24
CIevelsnd,s Views on Silver.

Mr.. Cleveland has TO be extremely careful
in talking to the different people who call
I upon him, for the reason that some Of his
visitors get him into trouble by repeating
to the newspapers their versions OF what
he says 70 them on public questions And
it very often happens that those in whom
/ Mr.. Cleveland places the most confidence
and talks TO the most freely are the ones
/ who have the least judgment about repeat
I ing the conversations.
1t is probable that Mr. Cleveland is will
| ing 70 have his views upon any public ques-
/ ton published provided they are not so
stated as to give a wrong impression. He
has never hesitated 70 speak frankly when
his views have been sought. aud even his
| political enemies are willing % admit that
he has never played the part Of dema-
/ gogue or lodged an issue.
In our dispatches the other day it was
stated that State Treasurer Stephens of
Missouri had called upon him with letters
of introduction from the governor and
other prominent men of that state, and,
having had a rather lengthy conversation
with him, went 10 a newspaper and gave
version Of il which indicated that Mr.. Cleve-
lands views on the silver question had
undergone change since he wrote his re-
cent anti~free silver coinage letter to the
Reform club Mr. Cleveland, when asked
by an Associated Press reporter whether or
not Mr.. Stephens had reported him cor
rectly, said that he had not talked to any
one for publication, and that he had not
read the article which contained Mr..
Stephens report. He could not say, there
fore, whether or not the views which Mr.
Stephens had given to the newspapers were
those which he had expressed.
Mr.. Stephens had no intention, of course,
Of misleading the public with respect to Mr..
Cleveland's position on silver, and it is prob
able that he stated pretty nearly what Mr..
Cleveland said, but he had no right TO pub
lish any part Of the conversation without
the latter's permission. 1t is probable that
Mr.. Stephens got what Mr.. Cleveland did
say mixed up with what he wished him to
say, and so made it appear that Mr.. Cleve-
lands views on the silver question were not
those which he held a month or so ago.
Mr.. Stephens says that Mr.. Cleveland de-
clined to say whether, If elected President,
coinage of silver, if one should be sent to
him by congress, but that Mr.: Cleveland ad-
mitted that he was mistaken in believing that
congress made a mistake when 1t authorized
the coinage of 100000 worth of silver a
month, and also when it authorized the
coinage Of a, 500,O 600 month. According
to Mr.. Stephens report Mr.. Cleveland fur
Their said that in the very near future the
country might be able to stand free silver
coinage without driving gold out of circu-
lation.
Admitting that Mr.. Cleveland said all
the thugs found in Mr.. Stephens report he
may have said them in connection with
other things, and in way that would not
have left an opening for the republican
papers to charge that Mr.. Cleveland sis
straddling the silver question" Mr..
Cleveland does not avoid issues. He meets
them squarely, and MIR. Stephens, although
unintentially, has done MIR. Cleveland an
| injury by making it appear that he is try
! ing to hedge on the silver issue.