Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-28
WHERE THE PRESIDENT STANDS.
His Views ON the Currency Stated to
Governor Northern.

His Views ON the Currency Stated to
Governor Northern.
Gov. Northen of Georgia has received a
letter from Mr.. Cleveland In which the Pres
fdent states his position on the financial
question at some length.
The letter is in reply to one written by
Gov. Northen on the 18th instant. The gov
ernor refuses to give his letter out for pub
LEGATION, but it is known that it presented
q graphic condition of the political situation
in Georgia and the south, and urged upon
the President the expediency of a public
utterance from him more comprehensive
| than his recent message as to the proper
policy to be pursued by Congress upon ques-
| tons affecting the stringency Of the times
and the needs of the people. He dwelt es-
pecially upon the financial condition and
political unrest of the farmers of the south.
who constitute SO great a proportion of the
democracy.
The Presidenrs Reply.
The Presidents reply is dated September
rs and is as follows:
1 hardly know how to reply to your letter
Of the 18th instant. 1t seems to me that I
am quite plainly 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 extraordinary session,
appears to me to be very explicit. l want
currency that Is stable and safe in the hands
OF our people l will not knowingly be i'm
plicated in a condition that will justly make
me IN the least degree answerable to any
laborer or farmer in the United States for
q shrinkage in the purchasing power Of the
dollar he has received for a full dollar
worth Of work, or for a good dollars worth
OF the product of his toll
L not only want our currency to be of
such character that all kinds of dollars
uyf hn No
but 1 want 1t to be of such a 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.
l want our financial conditions and the
laws relating to our currency SO safe and
reassuring that those who have money will
spend and invest 1t in business and new
enterprises. instead of boarding it.
You cannot cure fright by calling it fool
ISM and unreasonable. and you cannot pre-
vent the frightened man from boarding his
money.
condition Of confidence that will keep it
in use.
Within the limits of what have written
l am friend of silver. but 1 believe its
proper place in our currency can only be
liked by readjustment of our currency leg
lsiation and the Inauguration of consistent
and comprehensive financial scheme. 1
think such thing can only be entered upon
pion'dpiy anu HopeIuiiy aIter the repeal or
the law which Is charged with all our finan-
cial woes. In the present state of the public
mind, this law cannot be built upon nor
patched In such a way as to relieve the sit
uation.
1 am therefore opposed to the free and
unlimited coinage of silver by this country
alone and Independently: and am in favor
or the immediate and unconditional repeal
OF the purchasing clause of the so-calred
Sherman law.
1 confess l am astonished by the opposi-
ton IN the Senate to such prompt action
as would relieve the present unfortunate
situation.
My daily prayer is that the delay oc-
casioned by such opposition may not be the
cause OF plunging the country into deeper
depression than 1t has yet known. and that
the democratic party may not be Justly held
responsible for such a catastrophe Yours
very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND