The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-09-28
PRESIDENTS LETTER
8ExyAMIN HARRISON ON THK IssUEz
OF THE DAY.
Advantages Of Reciprocity and Pro
toctton shown - FOrcibis Discus-
sion of the Tari6-A Firm
Stand Against Free
Coinage.


Committce, Etc.-GENTLEMEN: 1 now
avail myself of the first period of re;ici
from public duties 10 respond To the n0titi
cation which you brought to me on June 70
on tho nomination of President OF the
United States by the Republican National
convention held at Minneapolis. 1 accep,
the nomination and am grateful for the
approval expressed by the convention OF
the acts of the administration. 1 have en-
deayored without wavering, SO far as TIC
direction of public affairs was committed
10 me, 10 carry out the pledges made to the
people in 1883. If the policies Of the adj
ministration have not been distinctivciy
and progressively American and Republi-
can policies, the fault has not been In the
purpose but in the execution. 1 shall
speak frankly Of the legislation Of congress
and the work of the executive depart
mcnts, for the credit of any successes that
nave been attained is in such measure due
TO others, senators and representatives and
TO the efficient heads Of the several execu-
tive departments, that may do SO without
improperly. A vote of want of conf
dence is asked by our adversarics, and this
challenge 10 a review of what has been
done we promptly and gladly accept.
The great work of the Fifty-iirst con
gress has been subjected to the revision OF
4 Democratic house of representatives and
the acts of the executive department to its
scrutiny and investigation. A Democratic
national administration was succeeded by
n Republican administration and the fresh
ness of the events gives unusual facilities
for fair comparison and judgment There
has seldom been a time, think, when a
change from the declared policies of the
Republican to the declared policies of the
Democratic party involved such serious re-
suits to the business interests of the coun-
Try. A bret review of what has been
done and of what the Democratic party
proposes to undo will Justify this opinion.
NATIONAL CURRENCY.
The Republican party, during the civil
war, devised a national currency consist
ing of United States notes, issued and re-
deemablc by the government, and of
national bank notes based upon the Sc
curity of United States bonds. A tax was
levied upon the issues Of state banks and
the intended result that all such issues
should be Withdrawn was realized. There
are men among us now who never saw a
state bank note. The notes furnished dr.
rectly or indirectly by the United States
have been the only and the safe and accepta-
bic paper currency of the people. Bank
failures have brought no fright, delay or
loss to the billholGers. The note of an in
solvent bank sls good ard as current as
4 treasury note, for the credit of the
United States is behind it. Our money is
all national money, might almost say in
ternational, for these bills are not only
equally and inGiScriminately accepted at
par In all states but in some foreign coun-
tries.
The Democratic party, if entrusted with
the control of the government, Is now
pledged to repeal the tax on state bank is
sues, with view 10 putting into circula-
ti0n again, under such legislation as the
state may adopt, a flood of local bank is
sues. Only those who in the years before
the war experienced the inconvenience
and losses attendant upon the use of such
mouey can appreciate what a return to
that system involves. The denomination
OF bill was then often no indication of it's
value. The Bank DctectUr OF Yesterday
was not safe guide day as to credit or
values. Merchants deposited several times
during the day-lcst the hour OF bank
closing should show depreciation OF the
money taken in the morning. rhe trav-
eier could not use in journey to the East
the issues OF the most solvent banks Of the
net. md IN, n -..I,n
er's Office was the familiar nelghhor of the
ticket Office and the lunch counter. The
farmer ana the lab0rer found the money
received for the products of their labor de-
preciated when they came TO make their
purchases, and the whole business OF the
country WAS Elndered and burdened.
Changes may become necessary, but y u
tiOnai system of currency-Safe and ac-
eeptable throughout the whole country Is
the good fruit of bitter experiences, and |
am sure our people will not consent to the
reactionary proposal made by the Demo
cratic party.
OCEAN COMMERCE.
Few subjects have elected more discus
sion or eNcited more general interest than
that OF u recovery by the United States of
its appropriate share of the ocean carry
ing trade. This Subject touches not Only
our pockets but our national pride. Prac-
tically all charges for transporting to
Europe the enormous annual supplies of
provisions furnished by tins country and
Tor the large return of manufactured pro-
ducts have for many years been paid to
foreign shipOwners. Thousands of inn
migrants annually, seeking homes under
our flag. have been denied the sight of II
until they entered Sandy Hook, while i'll
creasing thousand of American citizens
bent upon European travel, have each year
stepped into a foreign jurisdiction at the
New YORK docks. The merchandise bal
ance of trade which the treasury books
show, is largely reduced by the annual
tribute when we pay for freight and pas
sage moneys. The great ships the fast
est upon the sea-whlch are now IN peace
prOiiting by our trade are in secondary
seuse war ships Of their respective govern.
ments and In time OF war would, under OK.
istIng contracts with those governments
speedily take on the guns for which thciI
decks are already prepared and enJer will
terrible efficiency upon the work of ne
strOying our commerce. The undlsputcO
tact Is that the great steamship lines OF
Europe were built up and are now IN par
sustained by direct or indirect government
aid, the latter taking the form OF liberal
pay for carrying the mails or of an annua
bonus given IN consideration OF agreements
To construct ships SO as to adapt them fol