Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-10-03
a Ietter from the PresIdent.

ATLANTA, GA, Sept. 27.-The Con-
stitutfon tomorrow will print letter
from President Cleveland to Governor
Northen, in which the President
states his position on the financial
question Mt some length. The letter
is in reply TO one written by Gov
ernor Northen on the 18th inst. The
Governor refuses to give his letter
ont for publication, but it is known
that it presented n graphic picture of
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 strin-
gency 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 dem
ocratic ranks by thespopulists by rea-
sen of the neglect or delay on the
part of the democratic majority in
Congress to meet legislation on the
line of the party platform and pledges
He dwelt especially upon the finan-
cial condition and political unrest of
the farmers of the South. who con-
stitute so great a proportion of the
democracy.
The Presidents reply 70 that letter
was received this evening, and is as
follows:
Executive Mansion, Washington,
Sept. 25.-Hon. w. j. Northen.-My
Dear Sir: hardly know how TO re-
ply to your letter of the 18th inst.
1t seems to me that l am quite plain
ly on record concerning the financial
question. My letter accepting the
nomination TO the presidency, when
read in connection with the message
lately sent TO the Congress in extra
ordinary session, appears TO me to
be very explicit. 1 want a currency
that is stable and safe in the hands of
our people. 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 n shrinkage
in the purchasing power of the dol
lar lie has received for full dollar s
worth of work or for good doIlar's
worth of the product of his toll: 1
not only want our currency 10 be of
such q character that all kinds of
dollars will be of equal purchasing
power at home, but l want it to be
of such n character as will demon
strate abroad our wisdom and good
faith, thus placing upon n firm foun-
dation our credit among the nations
of the earth, / want our financial
conditions and the laws relating to
our currency safe and reassuring,
that those who have money will spend
and invest it in business and new en-
terprises instead of hoarding it. You
cannot cure fright by calling it fool
ish and unreasonable, and you eau
not prevent the frightened man from
boarding his money. 1 want good,
sound and stable money and con-
dition of confidence that will keep it
in use.
within the limits of what 1 have
written am a friend of silver, but
l believe its proper place in our cur
rency can only be fixed by read
justment of our currency Legislation
and the Inauguration of consistent
and comprehensive financial scheme.
l think such thing can only be en-
tered upon prolitably 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 re-
lieve the situation.
Il am therefore opposed to the free
and unlimited coinage of silver by
this country alone and independently,
and 1 am in favor OF the immediate
and unconditional repeal of the pur-
clause of the so-callcd Sher-
man law.
81 confess I am astonished by the
opposition in the Senate to such
prompt action as wonId relieve the
present unfortunate situation.
my daily prayer is that the delay
occasioned by such opposition may
not be the cause of pIunging the
country into deeper depression than
t has yet known, and that the dem
1cratic party may not be justly held |
responsible for such catastrophe.
"HourY, very truly,
HGROyER CIEVETANn -