The sun., 1893-08-17

SuEu W the IuLuTe OI OuE hhNhSCS 10
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 confidence, however caused,
Is Menace.
which ought not for a moment to be dis
regarded. Possibly IL the undertaking
we have in hand We're the maintainance
of O specific, known quantity of silver
at q parity with gold, our ability to do SO
might be estimated and gauged, and, per-
haps, in view of our unparalleled growth
and resources, might be faYorably passed
upon. But when our ayowed endeayor
is to maintain such parity IN regard to
an amount of silver increasing at the rate
of $5O,O00,000 yearly, with no fixed ter
mination to such increase, 1t can hardly
be said that problem is presented whose
solution is free from doubt.
The people of the United tates are en-
titled to
Sound and stable Currency
and to money recognized as such on eve
cry exchange and in every market IN the
world. Their government has no right
to injure them by financial experiments
opposed to the policy and practice OF
other civilized states, nor is 1t Justlhed
ia permitting an exaggerated ana un-
Reasonable reliance on our natlonal
strength and ability to jeopaFdlze the
soundness of the peoples money. Ihis
matter rises above the plane OF party
politics. 1t yitally concerns every busi-
ness and calling and enters every house
hold in the land. There is one important
aspect of the subject which especially
should never be overlooked.
LabOring Man the Sufferer.
At times like the present, when the
evils of unsound finance threaten us, the
speculator may anticipate harvest
lon others.
the capitalist may protect himself by
boarding or may even find profit in the
fuctuationof values: but the wage
Garner, the first to be injured by uepfe-
ciated currency and the last to receive
the benefits of its correction, rs pracu-
cally defenseless. He relies for work up
on the ventures of confident and content
ed capital This failing him his condl-
ton is without alleviatiOn, for he can
neither prey on the misfortunes of others
nor hoard his labor. One OF the greatest
statesmen our country has known, speak
ing more than fifty years ago when
arrangement of the currency had caused
commercial distress, SAID:
'"The very man of all others VINO mas
the deepest interest in sound currency
and who suffers by mischieyous leglsia-
tiOn in monetary matters, Is the man
who earns his daily bread by his daily
toll.
These words are as pertinent now as
on the day they We're uttered ana ought
to impressiyely remind us that a 1allufe
in the discharge of our duty at this time
must especially iniure those of our coun-
trymen who labor, and who, because or
their number and condition, are ehutled
TO the most watchf1l care OF their gov
ernment. Itais of the utmost importance
that such relief as congress can afford IN
the existing situation be afforded at once.
CrIH fWlHQ
quickly" is directly applicable. 1t may oe
frue that the embarrassment from which
the country is suffering arises as much
from evils apprehended as from those
actually existing. We may hope, TOO, that
calm counsels will prevail, ana that mel
ther the capitalist nor the wage Garner
will give way to unreasoning panic ana
sacrifice their property or their interests
under the influence of exaggerated fears.
Nevertheless, every days delay in remoY-
ing one of the present state of things en-
larges the mischief already done and in
creases the responsibility OF the govern
ment for its existence. Whatever the peo-
pie have right to expect from congress-
they NAV certainly demand thatleglsl4-
ton. condemned by the ordeal of three
wears disastrous experience, shall be re-
mOysa from the statute books as soon as
their representatives can legitimately
deal with it. 1t was my purpose to sun-c
mon c0ngl eSS In Spec1a1 session carry Ill
the coming September that we might en-
ter promptly upon the work of tariff re-
form which the true interests of the
counry clearly demand, which so large a
majority of the people as shown by their
suffrages desire and expect, and to the ac-
complishment of which every effort of
the present administration is pledged.
But while tariff reform has lost nothing
of it's immediate and permanent import
| ance; and must in the near future en-
gage the attention of congress. it has
seemed to me that the financial condi-
| tion of the country should at once and
| before all other subjects, be considered
| by your honorable body.
I earnestly recommend the prompt re-
| peal of the provisions of the act passed
July Ia, 1890, authorizing the purchase
| of silver bullion and that other legisla-
tive action may be put beyond all doubt
or mistake the intention and the. ability
| of the government to fulfill it's pecuniary
| obligations in money universally recog.
nized by all civilized countries.
GROVER CLEVELAND
| Executive Mansion, Aug. z, 1893.