The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-10-03
CLEVELAND ON SILVER.

II
tant was charged against him than had
been charged up to this time.
| ----sz-~>-az-
CLEVELAND ON SILVER.
The President Defines His Position
He is a Friend OF Silver, but Op.
posed to the Free and Unlimited
Coinage of Silver by this Country
| Alone.
The Atlanta Constitution prints a
letter from President Cleveland in an
swer to recent Inquiries by Governor
Northen, in which the President states
his position on the financial question
at some length. Governor Northen
wrote his letter on the 18th ult., but he
declines to furnish copy for publica-
tion. The Constitution reproduces
this letter in substance, however, as
obtained from u gentleman who had
read 1t, and who says it was exactly to
the point. The Governor, it Is under
stood, gave the President graphic
picture of the financial and political
situation in Georgia and the South.
He began by saying that he believed
1t to be his duty to the Democratic
party to give a frank and true state
ment OF the condition of affairs, and it
is understood that in doing so he re-
cited tho facts concerning the recent
elections held in different parts of the
State, which made q showing not alto
gether hattering to Democracy. He
went on to say that under q profound
impression of the financial and politi-
cal conditions in the State arising
from the long continued delay in help
full legislation by Congress-, he respect
fully but earnestly urged upon the
President the. expedieneysof some pub
lie utterance from him MORE compre-
hensive than his recent message as to
the proper policy to be pursued by Con-
gress upon questions affecting the
stringency of the times and the needs
of the people.
AS to the condition of the Georgia
farmer the Governors letter went
the picture of cotton ready for market,
not sufficient money to move the crop,
the farmer compelled to sell, aud the
price, therefore, necessarily reduced.
Speculation that would enrich the
spectators at the expense of the farm
ers would be the natural result. He
believed that this could be obviated
and the condition for the farmer i'm
proved by some statement from the
President setting at rest the uncer-
tainty concerning the attitude of the
administration on the financial situa-
tion, or rather on financial legislation.
The Presidents reply to this letter
Of Governor Northen is as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 25, 1893.
Hon. w. j. Northen.
"MY DEAR SIR: I hardly know how
to reply to your letter of the 18th inst.
1t seems to me that I am quite plainly
on record concerning the financial
question. My letter accepting the
nomination to the presidency, when
lately sent to Congress in extraordin-
ary session, appears to me to be very
explicit. a
"I want currency that is stable
and safe in the hands of our people. l
will not knowingly be implicated in
condition that will justly make me in
the least degree answerable to any
laborer or farmer in the United States
for a shrinkge in the purchasing power
of the dollar he has received for full
dollars worth of work or for a good
dollars worth OF the product of his
toll. 1 not only want our currency to be
of such character that all kinds of
dollars will be Of equal purchasing
power at home, but want it to be OF
such q character as will demonstrate q
broader wisdom and good faith, thus
placing upon a firm foundation our
credit among the nations of the earth.
II want our financial conditions and
the laws relating to our currency 80
safe and reassuring that those who
have money will spend and invest 1t In
business and new enterprises instead
of boarding it. You cannot cure fright
by calling it foolish and unreasonable
and you cannot prevent the frightened
man from boarding his money.
want good, sound and stable
money. and a condition of confidence
that will keep it in use. Within the
limits OF what have written, am
friend of silver, but 1 believe its
proper place in oue currency can only
be fixed by q readjustment of our cur
rency legislation and the inauguration
of consistent and comprehensive
financial scheme. think such q thing
can only be entered upon proftably
and hopefully after the repeal of the
law, which is charged with all our
financial woes: In the present state OF
the public mind, this law cannot be
built upon, nor patched in such way
as to relieve the situation.
~ am, therefore, opposed to. the
free and unlimited coinage of silver
by this country alone Independently,
and am in favor of the Immediate
and unconditional repeal of the pur-
chasing claut8of the so-called Sherman
law.
81 confess am astonished by the
opposition in the Senate to such prompt
action as would relieve the present un-
fortunate situation.
"My daily prayer is that the delay
occasioned by such opposition may not
be the cause OF plunging the country
into deeper depression than 1t has yet
known, and that the Democratic party
may not be justly held responsible for
such catastrophe.
Yours, very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND"
----saH-. tBs-s----
Electricity and steam had their
first tug of war at Chicago last week.
NJ ri oil Nd stxNn