Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-22
GROVER TELLS WHY
lie Wrote His Now Famous Letter
Against Free Silver Coinage.
TIE QUESTION NEEDED SETTLING.
Before 1t Should Be Made Leading Issue
of the Campaign Of 1892.
he QUESTION NEEDED SETTLING.
CONDITIONS MAY CHANGEBYTHAT TIME

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM Io THE DrsPArcHi
NEW YORK, April N.-State Treasurer
Lon V. Stephens, of Missouri, called on ex-
President Grover Cleveland to-day with
letters of introduction from Governor
Francis and other leading Missouri Demo
crats. The object of the visit of Mr..
Stephens was to secure from the ex-Presl-
dent a more Thorough expression of his
views on the silver question than the latter
has so far made public. Also Tor his reason
for having written his silver letter to the
Reform Club. The ex-President received
Mr.. Stephens very cordially. The Treas
urer explained that the Missouri Democrats
were now opposed to Mr.. Cleyeland's nomi-
nation on account of his silver letter.
"Beiore you wrote that letter." began Mr..
Stephens, ''the Democrats in every town
ship in the State were your enthusiastic
supporters Now the Farmers Alliance,
and a majority of the Democrats of the
State, are opposed to you. Previous to the
publication of your letter they knew the
views you had entertained regarding silver,
and they had no reason for supposing that
you had changed your position so as to
favor free coinage. They were willing to
pass that over and demand your renomina-
ton on account of your record on other
matters. Now your friends want you to
place them in q position to explain why you
wrote the letter to the Reform Club.
The Sooner Settled the Better.
81 was we'll aware" said theex-President
that the Republican party is very desirous
of making the silver question one of the
leading issues of the campaign of 1892, and
the question should be taken up at once. 1t
should be thoroughly discussed so that the
people can be educated up to il. In this way 1t,
may be settled before 1892, and We will not be
endangered by divided party. Besides, was
daily in receipt of hundreds of letters from
Democrats in all parts of the country asking
that give an expression regarding Tree coin
age.
how l stood on the question, and so l took the
hrst favorable opportunity to give my views
Since did so have received large mail fIom
all over the country thanking me for having
done so. Ny correspondents say that the party
had right to know my views, and that would
not have acted in good faith if had kept them
q secret If have caused thorough dis
Cussion of the subject among Democrats they
must admit that 1 acted wisely"
Mr. Stephens finally got Mr. Cleveland back
again to the silver question by saying:
Possibly you may consider me impertinent
in what / am about to say but say IL beca use
] am Cleveland Democrat. Some of the
Democrats in my State say that you wrote your
silver letter because your backbone was as
thick as the center pole of circus, and felt
independent of the Western and Southern
Democrats. while others say 1t is because you
are controlled by Wall street.
The Bridge Not Ready to Be Crossed.
But now that the letter has been written,
the Missouri Democrats" said Mr.. Stephens,
would like TO know if in case you're elected
President in 92 and a Democratic Congress
should pass free coinage bill would you veto |
1ority of your party favored the measure"
III l should be elected President in 1892" |
answered the eXPresident, such bill would |
not reach me until 1884. as Congress would not |
meet until December 1898 So that is a bridge !
we had better not attempt to cross until we |
country at the present time might be a ne |
ceSsIty in lS9J. As the volume of business in |
creases il is necessary to increase the currency.
The amount of the present per capita should be |
increased. but changes should be made gradu- |
ally. When The law was passed providing for |
the result for l thought 1t would prove in |
jury to the business interests of the country, |
then at least
However, the law proved benefit, for, con-
trary to my opinion, the country was ready for |
the change. When the present law providing
Tor s., ,50JOO0 per month was passed, 1 thought |
the measure too radical and that it might have
the effect OF driving gold out of the country
but in this was mistaken, and both those op-
posed as well as those in favor of free coinage !
believe that the present law is wise in SO far
that the country has benefited by it. With the |
yapId strides the country is making it is impos-
sible to say what financial measure we may be
ready for in ga