Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-08-11

government in the premises. The very
existence of this apprehension and lack
of confidence, however caused, Is
menace which ought not for a moment
to be disregarded. Possibly if the I'M
dertaking we have in hand were the
maintenance of specific known guam
tity of silver as a parity with gold, our
ability to do so might be estimated and
gagged. and perhaps III view Of our I'M
paralleled growth and resources, might
be favorably passed upon. But when
our avowed endeavor is to maintain
such parity in regard to an amount OF
silver increasing at the rate of $4,000
900 yearly, with no fixed termination to
such increase, it can hardly be said
that a problem is presented whose solu-
ton is free from doubt.
The people of the United States are
entitled TO a sound and stable currency
and to money recognized as such on
every exchange and i'll every market
of the world. Their government has
no right to injure them by financial eX-
periments opposed to the policy and
practice of other civilized States, nor IS
II justified i'll permitting an exaggerated
and unreasonable reliance on our ma
tional strength and ability to jeopardize
the soundncss of the peoples money.
This matter rises above the plane OF
party politics. 1t vitality concerns every
business and calling and enters every
household III the land. There is one
important aspect of the subject which
especially should never be overlooked.
At times like the present, when the evils
of unsound finance threaten us, the
speculator may anticipate a harvest
gathered from the misfortune OF others,
the capitalist may protect himself by
boarding or may even find profit III the
huctuation of values, but the wage-earn-
cr-the first to be injured by deprccia-
ted currency and the last to- receive the
benefit of its COrrcCGOu-iS practically
defenscless. He relies for work upon
the ventures of confident and Contented
capital. This failing him, his condi-
ton is without alienation, for he can
neither prey Oh the misiortuneS of 9th
crs nor hoard his labor. One of the
greatest statesmen our country has
known, speaking more than fifty years
ago when a arrangement of the Curren-
Cv had caused commercial Distress
said: "The very man Of all others who
has the-acepest interest in a sound cur
renCy, and who suffers most by mis-
chicyous legislation in money matters,
is the man who earns his daily bread
by his daily toll
These words are as pertinent now as
on the day they were uttered, and ought
TO impressivcly remind us that failure
in the discharge Of our duty at this time
must especially injure those Of our Coun-
trvmen who labor, and who because of
their number and condition are entitled
to the most watchful care Of their gov
eminent.
It is of the utmost importance that
such relief as Congress can afford i'll the
existing situation be afforded at once.
The maxim He gives twice who gives
quickly" is directly applicable. 1t may
be true that the cmbarrassmcntS from
which the business of the country IS Sut-
fering arise as much from evils apprc-
hendcd as from those actually existing.
We may hope, too that calm councils
will prevail, and that neither the capt
taliStS nor the wage carriers Will give
way 10 unreasOning panic, and sacrifice
their property or their interests under
the influence Of exaggerated fears.
Nevertheless every days delay il remov-
inc one of the plain and principal
causes Of the present state of things en-
largcs the mischief already done and III
crcascs the responsibility of the govern
ment for its existence. Whatever else
the people have right to expect from
Congress, they may certainly demand
that legislation condemned by the ordeal
Of three years disastrous experience
shall be removed from the statuc-bcOks
as soon as their representatives can leglt-
imatclv deal with il. 1t was my purpose
to summon Congress i'll special session
early i'll the coming September that we
might enter promptly upon the work OF
tariff reform, which the true interests OF
the country clearly demand, that which
so large 4 majority OF the people, as
shown by their suHragcS, desire ond cX-
pect, and to the accomplishment of which
every effort of the present admlnlStra-
ton is pledged. But while tariff reform
has lost nothing Of its Immediate and
permanent Importance, and must i'll the
near future engage the attention ofCon-
gress, it has seemed TO me that the ilnan-
Cial condition of the country should at
once and before all other subjects be
considered by your honorable body.
I earnestly recommend the prompt re
peal Of the provisions Of the act passed
July II, 1890, authorizing the purchase
Of Silver bullion, and that other legisla-
tive action may put beyond all doubt
or mistake the intention and the ability
of the government to fulfil its pecuniary
Obligations in money universally recog-
nizcd by all civilized countries.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, August !, 1893.