The Oskaloosa herald., 1893-08-10

a moment to be disregarded. Posi-
bly,, If the undertaking we have in
hand were the maintenance of a
specific known quantity of silver at q
parity with gold, our ability to do so
might be estimated and gauged, and
perhaps, in view of our unparalleled
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 $50, ,00O, 900
yearly, with no fixed termination to
such increase, it can hardly be said that
la problem is presented whose solution
is free from doubt.
| A Sound and Stable Currency.
The people of the United States are
entitled to so und and stable currency
and to money recognized as such on
every exchange and in 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
it justified in permitting an exaggerated
and unreasonable reliance on our ma
tional strength and ability to ieopar-
die the soundness of the peoples
money.
Above Party Politics.
This matter rises above the plane of
party politics. 1t vitality concerns every
business and calling and enters every
household in the land. There is one
Important aspect of the subject which
Especially should never be overlooked.
II ha ha
Ievils of unsound finance threaten us,
the speculator may anticipate harvest
gathered from the misfortune of Others,
the capitalist may protect himself by
boarding or may even find profit
in the fiuctuation of values; but the
wage-earner-thef first to be injured by
a deprecated currency and to receive
the benefit of its corTection-is prae-
tically defenseless. He relies for work
upon the ventures of confident and con-
tented capital. This failing him, his
condition is without alleviation, for he
can neither prey on the misfortunes OF
others, nor hoard his labor.
The Greatest Sufferer.
One of the greatest statesmen our
Icountry has known, speaking more
than fifty years ago when a derange-
ment of the currency had caused COM
mercial distress, said: "The very man
Iof all others who has the deepest in
terest in a sound currency, and who
lsuffers most by mischievous legislation
in money matters, is the man who
learns his daily bread by his
Idaily toll" These words are
ha 10
they were uttered, and ought to i'm
Ipressively remind us that failure in
the discharge of our duty at this time
must especially injure those of our
Icountrymen who labor, and who be-
lcause of their number and condition
are entitled to the most watchful care
of their government.
Importance of immediate Relief.
II is of the utmost Importance that
such relief as congress can afford in the
existing situation be afforded at once.
gives quickly" is directly applicable.
1t may be true that the embarrass-
ments from which the business of the
country is suffering arise as much from
evils apprehended as from those
actual1y existing. We may hope, too,
that calm counsels will prevail and that
neither the capitalists nor the wage
earners will give way to unreasoning
panic and sacrifice their property OF
their interest under the influence of eX,
aggerated fears. Nevertheless, every
days delay in removing one of the
plain and principal causes of the pres
ent state of things enlarges the mis-
Ichief already done and increases the
responsibility of the government for its
Iexistence. Whatever else the people
have a right to expect from congress
Ithey may certainly demand that legis-
jlation condemned by the ordeal of
three years disastrous experience shall
be removed from the statute books as
soon as their representatives can legiti-
Imately deal with it.
Tariff Reform In the Near Future.
Itwas my purpose to summon congress
in special session early in the coming
September that we might enter prompt
lily upon the work of tariff reform,
which the true interests of the country
clearly demand, which SO large ma
iority of the people, as shown by their
suffrages, desire and expect, and to the
accomplishment of which every effort
of the present administration is pledged.
But while tariff reform has lost moth
ing of its immediate and permanent
Importance, and must in the near fu-
ture engage the attention of congress,
it has seemed to me that the financial
condition of the country should at once,
and before all other subjects, be con-
sidered by your honorable body.
Prompt Repeal Recommended.
earnestly recommend the prompt
repeal of the provisions of the act
passed July IA, 1890, authorizing the
purchase of silver bullion, and that
other legislative action may put beyond
all doubt or mistake the intention and
ability of the government to fulfill its
pecuniary obligations in money univer-
sally recognized by all civilized coun-
tries.
| (Signed) GROVER CLEVELAND.