St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-22
CLEVELAND'S IDEAS.
Those on the Silver Question
Are Expressed in an In
terVieW
With State Treasurer Ste
phens, Of Missouri, Who
Questioned Him.
The Ex-President Thinks the
People Ought to Be Thor
oughly Educated
On the Question of Free Coin
age Before the Next Pres
identiaI Election.

NEW ORK, April 2l.-State treasurer
Stephens. of Missouri. called on px-
President Grover Cleveland to-day with
letters of Introduction from Gov. Fran
els and other leading Missouri Demo-
Gratis. The object of the visit of Mr..
Stephens was to secure from ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland a more thorough ex-
preston of his views on the silver ques-
ton 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 opposed to Mr.. Cleveland's
nomination on account of his silver letter
and asked him why he wrote that letter.
Il was we'll aware" SAID the ex-presi-
dent. that the Republican party is
very deslrOuS of making the silver queS-
ton 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 it. In
this way it may be settled before 1892.
and we will not be endangered by a
divided party. Besides. | was daily in
receipt of hundreds of letters from
Democrats from all parts of the
country asking that [ give an
expression regarding free coinage.
felt these friends were en-
titled to know how stood on the ques-
ton. and so [ took the first favorable
opportunity TO give my views. Since [
did so l have received a large mail from
all over the country thanking me for
having done so. My correspondents
arrr irri,t +r
my views, and that l would not have
acted in good faith if l had kept them a
secret. 1t l have caused a thorough
discussion OF the subject among Demo
Gratis. 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. in
case you are elected in 1892. and a
Democratic congress should pass a free
coinage DILL, would you veto it. no mat
Ter if you knew that the great majority
of your party favored the measured
If l should be elected president in
1892" answered the ex-president, such
bill would not reach me until 1894 as
congress would not meet until Decem-
Der. 1898, SO that this is a bridge which
1 better not attempt to cross until we
come to it. What would be bad for
tie country at the present time
might be benefit then. The
amount of the present per CAPITA
should be increased, bnt changes should
be made gradually. When the law was
passed providing for the coinage for
$4,000, GOO per month, | feared the re-
suit for | thought it would prove all in
jury 10 the business interests of the
country for the time at least. However.
the law proved a benefit, for, contrary to
my opinion, the country was ready for
the change. When the present law
providing for S4.500,000 per month was
passed l thought the measure too radi-
cal, and it might have the effect of driy-
ing gold out OF the country, but in this
[ was mistaken. and both those op-
posed as well as those III favor of free
coinage believe that the present is a
wise law In so far as the country has
benefited DY it. With the rapid strides
the country IS making it is inn
possible to say what financial meas
ure we may be ready for in 1894.
In forming my views upon the sub
Ject l did not alone consider the inter-
ests OF any one section of this country.
l have been unable to see how free
coinage could fail to be an injury to
every section of this country, believing
that 1t would drive gold out of circula-
pendent upon European markets for
our products. we are Obliged to take
them into consideration. When | have
suggested monetary conference of the
representatives of other governments
with our own. which could agree upon
a new standard of value. my suggestions
have been scOffed at by Europeans. am
delighted that the people are now en-
gagged in such thoughtful considera-
tiOn OF this question. and that by 1892
they will have decided whether or not
we are ready TO handle all the silver OF |
the world. -
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 thoroughly
memOriZed what Mr.. Cleveland said. A
representative of the Associated Press
called at Mr.. CleVeland'S Office this aft
ernoOn to ascertain whether the inter-
view as given above was accurate. Mr.
Cleveland said he had not talked with
any one on the silver question for pub |
fication. He had not read the Tele- |
gram'S article, and could not, therefore,
say whether the statements credited to
him were an accurate expression of his
views or not.