The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-04-23
Commercial Congress From
President Harrison

! ,velty -it,t.t Stat Southern, Western
:;nd territories. Gov. Francis, of Mis-
souri,, was permanent chairman, and tall-
ing his seat made u r;tnting free trade
speech. The contrast between his utter
ances and the American sentiment and
policy communicated in the presidents
letter was striking. It WAS as follows;
Erccutice Mansion Washington, c. G., april r
iS91
TO Hon. H. b. Kelly, Chairman, Kansas City,
Mo.-pear Sir; have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of March "a inviting me
to attend the meeting of the commercial Con
gress of the Western Agricultural and Mining
States, to assemble in Kansas City, April II to 49,
for the purpose of considering measures affect
ing the general agricultural and business pros
perity of the Mississippi Valley States. l regret
that it will not be possible for me to accept this
invitation. II fam not detained here by public
business shall probably start about that time
for the Pacific coast by the Southern route, and
if that purpose should be thwarted it viii be by
considerations that Will also prevent the ac-
ceptanco of your invitation
public discussion of the conditions affecting
agricultural and business prosperity cannot but
be helpful if it Is conducted on broad lines and
|
traordinary development of production of assri
culture which has taken place in recent periods
in this country by reason of the rapid enlarge
meHt of the area OF tlage under the fayOring
land laws of the United States very naturally has
called attention to the value and, indeed, the
necessity of larger markets. am onQ of those
who believe that home market is necessarily
the best market for the pradncer, az it meastr-
able on.ancipatea him in proportion to its near
ness from tho eXactions OF the transportation
companies If the farmer could deliver his sur
plus to the consumer out of his farm wagon, his
Independence ana his profits would be larger
and surer. 1t seems to me quite possible to at
tain largely increased market for our staple
| farm products without impairing the home
market by opening the manufacturing trades to
a competition in which foreign producers, pay
ing LOVER scale ST Magea, would have the ad-
vantage 4 policy that would reduce the num-
Der OF our people engaged in mechanical pur-
suits or diminish their ability to purchase food
products b.: reducing wages cannot be helpful
to those engaged in agriculture. The farm
ers insist that the prices of farm products have
been too Iow-helow the point of fair living and
fair prof1ts | think Sd too, but venture TO 20
mind them that the plea they make involves the
| concession that Things may be too cheap
| coat may be too cheap as well as corn. The
his work should concede the same to every ether
man and woman who tolls. I look with great
confidence to the completion of further recilro-
cal trade arrangements, especially with the Cen
trail and South American States, as furnishing
new and large markets for meats, breaaatgts
and an Important line Ct manufactured pro
! Quota.
Persistent ana earnest efforts are also being
| made and a considerable mea sure of success
has already been attained, to secure the removal
of restrictions which we have regarded as un-
| Just upon the admission and use of cur meats
| and live cattle i'll some Of the European coun-
| tries. look with confidence to successful ter
minaton OF the pending negotiations because
| cannot but assume that when the absolutely
Satisfactory character of the sanitary ispec-
! tions now provided by our law is made known
70 these foreign States they VIII promptly Felax
| their discriminating regulations No effort and
none Of the powers vested in the Executive Will
be left unused to secure an end which is so de-
/ sirsble.
Your deliberatIlans viii pr9bahly sso embrace
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 discus
! sion OF those questions. One or two things |
will say, and first, believe that every person
1 agree with me upon Il proposition which is at
| the base Of all my consideration Of the currency
question, namely, that any dollar, paper or coin,
/ that is issued rs the United Statcg must ne
made and Kept in its commercial uaes as good as
| any atheF dollar. So long lis any paper money
| issued or authorized by the United States gov
| ernment is accepted in COME erea use as the
| equivalent OF the best coined dollar that VIC is
sue, and so long as every coined dollar, whether
of silver or gold, is assured of an equal value in
commercial use, there need be no fear as to an
excess Of money. The more such money the bet
ter. But on the other hand, when any issue OF
| paper coined dollars is in buying ana spilinss
rated at q lesa value than otiep paper or coined
dollars, we have passed the limit of safe expert
meHt in finance. If we have dollars OF different
| values only the poorest will circulate. The
farmer and the laborer, who are not in hourly
touch with the ticker or tue telegraph, win re-
! quire above all oyher classes of our community
a dollar full Of value. Fluctuations and depre-
Citations are always at the first cost of these
! classes of our community. The banker and the
speculator anticipate discount ana often profit
by such fluctuations. 1t is very easy under the
| impulse of excitement OF the stress of moncy
stringency to fan into the slough of depreciat-
| cd or irredeemable currency. Ii Is q very pain
ful and Slow business to get cut when once in
ever believe in bimetallisln, and favor tile full
| est use of silver in connection with our currency
that is compatible with the maintenance of tho
parity OF the gold and silver dollar in their com
| meEclal uses. Nothing IN my Judgment .Wond
| so much fetard the restoration of the free OF
silver by the commercial nations of the world as
| legislation adopted by us tlat would result in
placing this country upon q basis of silver mon
nmetalism. The legislation adopted by the first
session of the Fifty first Congress, was assured
| by leading advocates OF free coinage represent
atives of the silver States. would promptly and
| permanently bring silver to la9 per ounce and
keep it there. That anticipation has not been
realiSed. Cur larger nse Of silver has api aren't
" and for reasons not Yet agreed upon dinln-
isiled the demand for silver in China and India.
In view of the fact that il is impossible in this
letter to elaborate, and that propositions only
can be stated, am aware that What have said
may be assailed in points where it is easily de-
fenslble, but wiele have not attempted TO pre-
sent the argument. have not before except
ing in an official way, expressed myself OH these
| SUBJECTS but feeling the interest, dignity and
Importance OF the assembiaSe i'll whose behalf
you speak. have ventured without bigntry If
Opt ZION, without any assumption OF nfallibiity,
but as an American citizen, hay ing Il most earn
est desire that every individual ana every pub
lie act of my life shall coniuee the glory of
our country, and the prosperity Of all our pee
pie, to submit these views for your considera
ton. Very respectfully,
BANJAMIN HARRISON.
H&HEknH " rapidly and honor"iy by those Of