Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-09

ths; there hx. no reason for lack Of conf
dence in the purpose of power of the goS-
| ernmenf in the peemises-
| The very existence Of this apprehension
I and lack Of confidence. however caused 10
menace which ought not for moment to
| be disresaraed-
| Possibly if the undertaking ve have in hand
we're the maintenance Of = specific know
! quantity Of silver As the parity With gold.
our ability to do % might be estimated AMI
gsnged, and perhaps In view of our IN
| parzilelei growth And re sources. might be
| savcrably passed upon But when our
avowed eDieavor is 70 maintain such party
ia regard 10 an amount Of silver increasing
al the rate of sffy millions Of dollars year
I ly. With no fixed termination to such in
crease, it can hardly be said that problem
is presented whose solution is free from
doubt.
: The people of the United States are en-
. titled 10 8 sound and stable currency. and
TO money recognized - each on every ex-
chang and in every market of the world.
I Their governmen nj has no right TO injure
them by hoaucial experiment opposed 10
the policy and practice of other civilized
states, I.or is it Jusufied in permitting an
/ exaggerated and unreasonable reliance in
our national strength and ability to jeopAr
dize the soundness of the peoples money.
I This matter rises above the plane of party
, politics. Ii vitality concerns every business
and calling and enters every household in
J the land. There is one important aspect of
the subject xhich, especially should never
be overlooked.
At times ike the present, when the evils
of unsoani finance threaten US, the specu-
la,or may anticipate . harvest gathered
from the misfortune of others. the capital
ist. msy protect himself by hoardinsor may
even tnd ", nj in huctustion Of values
but the wage Garner, the first 10 be injured
by deprecated currency and the last 10
r, ceiYe the benefit of its correction, is
prs tically defcnseiess. He relies for work
upon the ventures of confident and content,
ell capital. This falling on him, his condl-
tion is without alleviaton for he can neith,r
prey on the misfortunes of others, nor
hoard his labor.
une of the greatest statesmen our coun-
uy has kno~h, speaking more than 30
years ago when q arrangement of the cur
Fpncy had caused commercial distress, said
sThe very man of all others who has the
ieepes, interest in 4 sound currency and
sho suffer. most by mischie vous legislation
m money matters, is the man who earns his
daily bread by his daily toll"
These words are as pertinent now - on
the day they were uttered and ought TO i'm
pre.slv,ly remind Us tha, fsilure in the
discharge of our duty at this time must es-
pecially iDjure those of our couptrymen
who labor, and who, because of their num-
Der and condition, are entitled 10 the most
~s,chful care of their government. It's
Of the most Importance that such relief as
Congress eau afford in the existing situation
BE- afforded st once. The maxim "He gives
twsce who gives quickly" is directly xpPh-
cable.
1t may true that the embafrassments
from u hich the business of the country Is
suffering arise as much from evils appre
hended rs from those actually existing. We
may hope too. that calm counsels will pre-
vail. and that neither the capitalists nor the
wage earners will give way to unreasoning
panic, and sacrifice their property or their
interest. under the influence of exagger-
rated fears.
Nevertheless, every days delay in re-
moving one of the plain and principal
causes of the present state of things en-
large. the mischief already done and in
creases the responsibility of the government
for its existence. Whatever else the peo-
pie have eight 10 expect from Congress,
they may certainly demand that legislation
| condemned by the ordeal of three years
disastfou. expense shall be removed from
the statute books as soon as their represen-
,atives can leg,timstely deal with it,
1t was my purpose to summon Congress
in special session early in the com
ing Septe mber that we might enter prompt
lly upon the work of tariff reform,
! ~l,icl, the true interests of the country
| clearly demand. which so large majority
OF the people ~ shown by their sufrages
desire anil expect, and to the accomplish
men, of which every effort of the present
| a Imini-,rziien is pledged.
But while tariff reform has lost nothing
| OF 1t. immediate and permanent importance
and must in the near future engage the al
tenuon of Congress, it has seemed to me
| that the financial condition of the country
| should at once and before all other subjects
| be considered by your honorable body.
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 legislative ac-
| tion may put beyond all doub, or mistake
| the intention and ability of the government
| TO fulfill it. pecuniary obligations in money
| universally recognized by all civilized
countries GROVER CLEvELANp.