The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-10-05
Cleveland on Silver.
HE GIVES HISVIEWSONTHE
FINANCIAL QUESTION.
The President Writes a Letter
In Reply to One From Gov.
Northen, OF ofGeorgia---He Wants
Stable and Safe Currency

ATLANTA, Ga. Sept. 27.-President
Cleveland, in letter to Governor
Northern, states his position on the
financial question at some length. The
letter is in reply to one written by
Governor Northen on the 18th inst.
The Governor refuses to give his letter
tor publication, but it is known that it
presented graphic condition of the
political situation in Georgia and the
South, and urged upon the President
the expediency Of public utterance
from him more comprehensive than his
recent message as to the proper policy
to be pursued by Congress upon
questions affecting the stringency of
the times and the needs of the people.
1t is understood that in his letter
Governor Northen pointed out inroads
being made in the Democratic ranks
by the Populists by reason of the neg
lect or delay on the part of the Demo
cratic majority in Congress to meet
legislation on the line of the party
platform and pledges. He dwelt
specially upon the financial condition
and political unrest of the farmers OF
the South, who constitute so great a
portion of the Democracy.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
The Presidents reply to that letter
was received this evening, and is as
follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, }
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. IS.
Hon. w. ]. NORTHEN,
MY Dear Sir Il hardly know how
to reply to your letter of the 18th in
slant. 1t seems to me that | am
quite plainly on record concerning the
financial question. My letter accept
ing the nomination to the presidency,
when read in connection with the mes
sage lately sent to the Congress in ex-
traordinary session, appears to me to
be very explicit.
| want currency that is stable and
safe in the hands of our people. l will
not knowingly be implicated in con-
dltlon that will make me in the least
degree answerable to any laborer or
farmer in the United States for any
shrinkage in the purchasing power OF
a dollar he has received for the full
dollars worth of work, or for a good
dollars worth of the product of his
toll. | not only want our currency to
be Of such character that all kinds
of dollars will be of equal purchasing
power at home, but l want it to be OF
such character as will demonstrate
abroad our wisdom and good faith,
thus placing us upon a firm foundation
and credit among the nations of the
earth.
| want our financial conditions and
the laws relating to our currency SO
safe and reassuring that those who
have money will spend and invest it
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 condition of confidence
that will keep it in use.
Within the limits of what l have
written, am friend of silver, but l
believe its proper place in our currency
can only be fixed by readjustment oI
our currency legislation, and the
Inauguration of a consistent and com
prehensive financial scheme. l think
such 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 situa.
! ton.
am therefore opposed to the free
and unlimited coinage of silver by this
country alone and independently, and
am in favor Of the immediate and
unconditional repeal of the purchasing
clause of the so-called Sherman law.
confess l am astonished by the
opposition in the Senate to such prompt
action as would relieve the present
unfortunate situation. My daily prayer
is that the delay occasioned by such
opposition may not be the cause O
plunging the country into deeper
depression than it has yet known, and
that the Democratic party nay not bs
justly held responsible for such {
catastrophe.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
! L. l. IL