Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-04-16

turing trades TO q competition in which
foreign producers paying lower scale Of wages
would have the advantage. A policy that would
reduce the number Of our people engaged
in mechanical pursuits or diminish their
ability 10 purchase food products by re-
dueing wages cannot be helpful 10 those
now engaged in agriculture. The farmers
insist that the prices of farm products have
been too low, below the point Of fair living and
fair profits. l think so too but / venture TO
remind them that the plea they make in-
wolves the concession that things may be
too cheap. A coat may be too cheap
as well as corn. The farmer who claims
a good living and profits for his work
should coHcede the same TO every other man
and woman who tolls ! look with great conf
dence 10 the completion Of further reciprocal
trade arrangements. especially With the Cen
;~a' n3 South American states as furnishing
new and lrge markets Tor meats, breadstuns
and an important line Of manufactured prod
ucts.
Persistent and earnest efforts are also being
made and a considerable measure OF sue
cess has already been attained to secure
the removal OF restrictions which we
have regarded as unjust upon the adj
mission and use OF our meats and live cattle
IL some Of the European countries. l look
with confidence TO a successful termination
OF the pending negotiations, because ! cannot
but assume that when the absolutely satisfac-
tory character Of the sanitary inspections now
provided by our law is made known to these
foreign states they will promptly relax 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
desirable.
''Your deliberations will probably also en-
brace the consideration Of the question OF the
violin md oh
would not be possible and would not be
appropriate for me in this letter TO enter
upon any elaborate discussion OF these
questions. One or Two things ! will say, and
first. believe that every person who thought
fully considers the question will agree with me
upon proposition which is at the base OF all
my consideration OF the currency question,
namely that any dollar paper or
coin, that is issued by the United States
must be made and kept in its commercial
uses as good as any other dollar. So long as
any paper money issued or authorized by
the United States government is accepted in
commercial use'as the equivalent Of the best
coined dollar, whether OF silver or gold, is as
sured of an equal value in commercial use,
there need be no fear as to an excess OF money.
The more such money the better
But on the other hand when any issue OF
paper or coin dollars is in buying and selling
rated at less value than other paper or
coined dollars, we have passed the limit
OF safe experiment in finance. II we
have dollars OF different value, only the
poorest will circulate. The farmer and
the laborer, who are not in hourly touch with
the ticker or the telegraph, will require above
all other classes of our community, a dollar
of full value. Fluctuations ana depreeia-
tions are always at the first cost OF
these classes of our community The banker
and Spectator anticipate discount and
always profit by such fluctuations. 1t is very
easy under the impulse OF excitement or the
stress of money stringency TO fall into the
slough Of deprecated o. irredeemable carren-
cy. 1t is very painful and slow business to get
out when once in.
~ have always believed and do now more
than ever believe in bimetallsm and favor
the fullest use o: silver in connection
with our currency that is compatible with
the maintenance OF the parity OF the gold
and silver dollar in their commercial
uses Nothing in my judgment. would
so retard the restoration OF the free
use of silver by the commercial nations Iof the
world as legislation adopted by us that would
result in placing this country upon a
basis of silver monometalism. The legis.
lation adopted by uthe first session of
the Fifty-first congress, ! was assured
by leading advocates OF free coinage
and representatives OF the silver states, would
promptly and permanently bring silver to 81 30
per ounce and keep it there That anticipa-
tion has not been realized. Our larger use
Of silver has apparently and for reasons not
yet agreed upon diminished the demand for
silver in China and India. In view Of
the fact that it is impossible in this letter to
elaborate, and that the propositions only can
be stated, l am aware that what l have said
may be assaile2 in points where it is easily
defensiDle but whore l have not attempted to
present the argument
II have not before excepting in an official way
expressed myself On these subjects: but feeling
the interest, dignity and importance OF the
assemblage in whose behalf you speak, / have
veutured without bigotry OF opinion, with
out any assumption of infallimiity
but as an American citizen having a
most arrest desire that every Individual and
every public act Of my life shall conduce to the
glory Of our cstntry aud the prosperity Of an
our people to submit these views for your con
sideration. Very respectfully,