The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-04-18
OUR CURRENCY.
President Cleveland Writes a Let
 ter on the Money Question.
He Declares That if Wild Experiments Should Sweep Our Currency from Its Safe Support the Working
 man Would Suffer.

CHICAGo, April 15.-The citizens who invited President Cleveland to come here and address a meeting on the monetary question have received the following letter on the subject:
 To Messrs, William T. Baker, George W. Smith, John A. Roche T. w. Harvey, David Kelly and Henry s, Robbins.
 Executive Mansion, Washington April lS.- Gentlemen: I am much gratihed by the ex- Ceedingly kind and complimentary invitation you have rendered me on behalf Of many citi- zens of Chicago to be their guest at gathering in the interest of sound money and wholesome financial doctrine. My attachment to this cause is so great, and know so well the hospitality and kindness of the peope of Chicago that my personal inclination Is strongly in favor of accepting your fattering invitations; but my judgment and estimate of the proprieties of my official place oblige me to forego the enjoyment of participating in the occasion you contemplate. | hope, however, the event will mark the beginning of an earnest and aggres- sve effort to disseminate among the people safe and prudent financial ideas Nothing more important can engage the attention Of patriotic citizens because nothing is so vital Co the welfare of our fellow-countrymen and to the strength, prosperity and honor of our na- tiOn.
 The situation confronting us demands that those who appreciate the importance of this subject and those who ought to be first to see impending danger should no longer remain in different or overconddent. If the sound- money sentiment abroad in the land is to save us from mischief and disaster, 1t must be crys- tallizei and combined and made immediately active. It is dangerous to overlook the fact that a vast number of our people with scant opportunity, thus far, to examine the question in all it's aspects have nevertheless been in- geniously pressed with spacious suggestions which in this time of misfortune and depres- sion find willing listeners prepared to give credence to any scheme which is plausibly presented as a remedy for their unfortunate condition.
 What is now needed more than anything else is plain and simple presentation of the argu- ment in favor Of sound money. In other words it is a time for the American people to reason together as members of great nation which can promise them a continuance of protection and safety only so long as it's solvency is un- suspected, it's honor unSullied and the sound ness of its money unquestioned. These things are i'll exchanged for the Illusions of debased currency and groundleSs hope of advantages to be gained by disregard of our financial credit and commercial standing among the nations of the world.
 If our people were isolated from all others and if the question of our currency could be treated without regard to our relations to other countries, its character would be matter Of comparatively little importance. If the American people were only concerned in the maintenance of their precious life among themselves they might return to the old days of barter, and in this primitive manner acquire from each other the materials to supply the wants of their existence. But fl American civilization were satisfied with this 1t would abiectly fail in it's high and noble mission.
 In these restless days the farmer Is tempted by the assurance that though our currency may be debased, redundant and uncertain, such a situation will improve the price of his ,ipd hfrn hat ha Tnt,S if buy as well as sell; that his dreams of plenty are shaded by the certainty that if the price of the things he has to sell Is nominally enhanced, the cost of the things he must buy will not re- main stationary; that the best prices which cheap money proclaims are unsubstantial and elusive and that even if they were real and palpable, he must necessarily be left far be- hind in the race for their enjoyment.
 It ought not to be difhcult to convince the wage-earuer that if there were benefits arising from degenerated currency they would reach him least of all and last of all In an un- healthy stimulation of prices an increased cost of all needs of his home must belong to his DOT tion, while he is at the same time veXed with vanishing visions of increased wages and an easier lot. The pages Of history and experience are full Of this lesson An insidious attempt is made to create prejudice against the advo- cateS of safe and sound currency by the in- situation, more or less directly made. that they belong to financial and business classes and are therefore not only out of sympathy with the common people of the land, but for selfish and wicked purposes are willing to sacrifice the interests Of those outside their circle.
 believe that capital and wealth, through combination and other means sometimes gain an undue advantage; and 1t must be conceded that the maintenance Of a sound currency may, in sense, be invested with a greater or less importance to individuals according to their condition and circumstances. It is. how ever, only a difference in degree, since it is utterly impossible that anyone in our broad land, rich or poor, whatever may be his occupation, and whether dwelling in a center of finance and commerce in a remote corner of our domain, can be really benefited by financial scheme, not alike beneficial to all our people, or that any one should be excluded from common and universal interest in the safe character and stable value of the currency of the country.
 In our relation to this question we are all in business for we all buy and sell; so we all have to do with financial operations for we all earn money and spend it. We cannot escape our inter-dependence. Merchants and dealers are in every neighborhood, and each has It's shops and manutactories. Wherever the wants of man exist, business and finance in some de- gree are found related In one direction to those whose wants they supply, and in another to the more extensive business and finance to which they are tributary. A fiuctuation In prices at the seaboard is known the same day or hour in the remotest hamlet The dtscredi' or depreciation in financial centers of any form of money in the hands Of the people is q signal Of immediate loss everywhere. If reck- less diScontent and wild experiments should sweep our currency from it's safe support the most defenSeless of all who suffer in the time Of distress and national discredit, would be the poor as they reckon their loss in their scanty support and the laborer and workngman as he sees the money he has received for his toll shrink and shrivel in his hand when he tenders it for the necessaries to supply his humble home.
 Disguise 1t as we may, the line of battle Is drawn between the forces of the safe currency and those of silver monometallism. will not believe that if our people arc afforded an in- telligent opportunity for sober second thought they will sanction schemes that, however cloaked, mean disaster and confusion, nor that they will consent by undermining the founda- tion of a safe currency to endanger the benef- cent character and purposes of their govern ment Yours very truly.
 GROVER CLEVELAND
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