The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-08-16

n .nertcan securities, but make haste 10 sacrl-
acc those which they already have
It does not meet the situation TO say that ap
prehension in regard to the iuture OF our
finances Is groundless and that there Is no reason
for lack OF confidence In the PURPOSES or power
OF the government in the premises The very
existence OF this apprehension and lack OF con-
fidence, however caused is menace which
ought not for q moment TO be disregarded
Possibly II the undertaking we have in hand
were the maintenance OF u specific known GUAM
tty OF silver at parity with gold, our ability 10
do so might be estimated and gauged, ana per
haps. in view OF our unparalleled growth ana
resources, might be favorably passed upon
But when our avowed endeavor Is to maintain
such parity In regard TO on amount OF silver
increasing at the rate OF fifty millions OF dollars
yearly, with no fixed termination TO such In
crease, II can hardly be said thata problem 10
presented whose solution Is free from doubt.
The people OF the United States are entitled
to sound and stable currency and TO money
recognized as such on every exchange ana IN
every market Of the world Their government
has no right TO injure them by financial expert
ments opposed to the policy and practice oil
other civilized states nor is II justified In per
hitting IN exaggerated and unreasonable reli-
ance In our national strength and ability 70
jeopardize the soundness Of the peoples money.
. This matter rises above the plane OF party
politics. 1t vitality concerns every business ana
calling and enters every household In the land
There Is one important aspect OF the sub)oci
which especially should never be overlooked
At times like the present when the OWLS OF un'
sound finance threaten US, the specuator may
anticipate harvest gathered from the misfor'
tune OF others, the capitalist may protect him
self by boarding, or may even ind proht In the
fuotuaton Of values; but the wage earner-the
first TO be injured by deprecated currency
and the last to receive the benefit OF its correc'
tion-is politically defenseless. He relies
for work upon the ventures OF confident ana
contented capital This failing him. his condt
tion is without alleviation, for he can neither
prey on the misfortune Of others, nor hoard his
labor. One OF the greatest statesmen our coun
try has known, speaking more than hftJ
years ago when arrangement OF the currency
nd caused commercial distress said: "The
very man OF all others who has the deepest In
terest in sound currency and who suffers most
by mischievous legislation In money matters, Is
tho man who earns his daily bread by his daily
toll"
These words are pertinent now as on the day
they were uttered and ought TO impressively
remind US that failure In the discharge OF our
duty at this time must especially injurc those
OF our oountrymen who labor, and who because oi
their number and condition ore entitled to the
most wstohful care OF their government
II is OF the utmost Importance that such
relief as congress can afford in the existing
situat ton be afforded at once The maxim "He
gives twice who gives quickly" is directly ap
plicaba II may be true that the embarrass
monts from which tho business OF the country
is suffering arise as much from evils appre
hended as from those actually existing. We
may hope, too, that calm counsols will prevail
and that neither the capitalists nor the wage
earners will give way to unrcasonin; panic and
sacrifice their property or their intere { under
'ho influence OF exaggerated fears Ncyerthe-
less, every days delay In removing one OF the
plain and principal causes Of the present state
Of things enlarges the mischief already done
and Increases the responsibility OF the govern.
mant for its existence. Whatever else the peo-
pie have a right TO oKpec. from cong ress, they
may certainly demand that legislation con-
demned By the ordeal Of three years disastrous
experiences shall be removed from the statute
books Ss soon as their representatives can legit
imately deal with IT,
II was my purpose to summon congress IN
special session early In the coming September
that we might enter promptly upo the work oi
tariff reform, which the true interests OF the
country clearly demand. which SO large q
majority OF the people, as shown by
their sufirages, desire and expect, and
to the accomplishment OF which every effort OF
the present administration is pledged. But
while tarin reform has lost nothing Of It's i'm.
mediate and permanent Importance, and must
in the near future engage tho attention Of con-
gress, 1t has seemed to me that the financial
condition OF the country should at onoe and be-
fore all other subjects, be considered BY your
honorable body.
earnestly recommend the prompt repeal OF
the provisions OF the act passed July II, 1890,
authorizing the purchase Of silver bullion, and
that other legislative action may put beyond all
doubt or mistake the intention and the ability
OF the government TO nll Its pecuniary obliga.
tions in money universally recognized by all
civilized countries
(Signed) GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion Aug T. 1893