Morris tribune., 1895-05-29
THE ONE QUESTION.
Recent Ute FRANCES For and Against
Free Coinage.
cleveland Writes Another Letter-Central
BImetallic League Issues Call for
Convention at Memphis-Black-
burn Answers Carlisle.

and twenty-seven editors and theil
friends were present at the banquet O.
the Democratic Editorial association o.
the state of New York held at Delmon
ico's Friday night. American flags
were draped around the state coat-of
arms behind President Stephen H
Parker. Senator David B. Hill oc
cupied the seat of honor on the
right of the president. The din
ner began at $3.50 p. M, and il
was 10 o'clock before the speaking
commenced. Previous to the speaking
letters expressing regret at not being
able to be present from President
Cleveland, Postmaster General Wilson
Secretary of War Lamont and many
others were read.
President Cleveland in his letter said
"Our party is so much party of power, AND
its proper action and usefulness are so de-
pendent upon a constant adherence to its doc
trines and traditions that no tendency in our
ranks to follow the misleading light of tenn
porary popular misrepresentation should &c
unchallenged Our victories have all been
won when we have closely followed the banner
OF democratic principles. We have always
been punished by defeat when, losing sight OF
our banner, we have yielded to the blandish-
ments OF undemocratic expediency.
There is a temptation now vexing the peo-
pie in different sections of the country which
assumes the disguise of democratic party
| principle, inasmuch as it presents scheme
which is claimed to be remedy for agricul-
tural depression and such other hardships as
af1ict fellow citizens. Thus, because we
are the friends of the people and profess devo-
| ton to their interests, the help Of the mem
bers Of our party is invoked in support of
plan to revolutionize the monetary condi-
| ton Of the country, and embark upon an
experiment which is discredited by all reason
| and experience, which invites trouble and dis
| aster in every avenue of labor and enterprise,
and which must prove destructive to our ma
| tional prestige and character
when campaign is actively on foot to
| force the free, unlimited and independent
coinage of silver by the government at a ratio
which will add to our circulation unrestrained
millions of called dollars, intrlnsically worth
but half the amount they purport to represent,
with no provision or resource to make good
| this deficiency in value, and when it is claimed
| that such proposition has any relation to
the principles OF democracy, it is time for all
who may in the least degree influence demo-
cratic thought. to realize their responsibility.
Democratic care and conservatism dictate
that if there exists inconvenience and hard
ships resulting from the congestion or imper-
feet distribution of our circulating medium
remedy should be applied which will avoid the
disaster that must follow in the train of silver
monometallism.
"Our party IS the party Of the people, not
because it is waited hither and thither by
every sudden wave of popular excitement and
misconception, but because while it tests every
proposition by the doctrines which underlie
its organization, it insists that all inter
ests should be defended in the administration
of the government without especial favor or
riT1ina O1r &c hn orfy of no
people because in its care of the welfare of all
our countrymen, it resistS dangerous
schemes born of discomfort advocated by
appeals to sectional or class predjudices, and
reinforced by the insidious aid of private self
fshess and cupidfty. Above all, our party is
the party of the people when it recognizes the
fact that sound and absolutely safe
money is the life blood of our country's
strength and prosperity, and when it teaches
that none of our fellow-citizens, rich or poor,
great or humble, can escape the consequences
of degeneration of our currency
What I have written has not been prompt
ed by any fear that the democracy of the state
of New York will ever be an accompllce in
such an injury to their country as would be en-
tailed by the free, unlimited and independent
coinage of silver; nor do 1 believe they
will be SO needless of party interests as to
support such a movement. have referred to
this subject in the belief that nothing more
American people or the national democracy,
and in the conviction that the voice of the
democrats Of New York, through it's press,
should constantly be heard in every state.
Yours very truly,
"GRovER CLEVELAND"
MEMPHIS, Tenn, May 2s.-The fol-
lowing address to the public, issued by
the Central Bimetallic league of Mem |
phis, explains itself:
ITO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:
The arch enemies of the agricultural and pro-
ducing classes of our country. moved by greed |
and encouraged by avarice, have conspired to |
transfer the essentially governmental func- |
ton of issuing and controlling the mon
ey volume of the nation to a system |
of banking corporations full OF the vice |
Of class legislation and void Of any virtue |
which commends it to the consideration of a |
patriotic citizen. Undaunted by the fail
ure to secure the sanction of the American |
congress the promoters of this nefarious
scheme have boldly taken the initiatory |
step to attain the object of the con-
spiracy Backed by the great power of ex-
wealth and the influence of high Of
fetal position, they have publicly convened
in this city of Memphis and openly declared
their purpose. They demand that the con-
stitutional and inherently sovereign right
to issue money be delivered into their
scruple at no fraud Knowing the innate
Of our people they prate of hon
est money Approaching our aversion to pa
they say the government must go
out of the banking business
They hope and believe that we will not stop
to consider that to exact dollar which, by |
vicious legislation, they have made to cost the
debtor twice as much labor and double
the amount of produce as the one prom
lsed, is not honest They expect
the American people to accept as
true the statement that money of the constitu-
ton, established by the fathers, is dishonest
for no other reason save the dicta of their IL
Iustrious accomplices and tools. They hope
that the people will ignorantly confound the
sovereign prerogative and the duty of the gov
ernment to coin money and establish a system
Of uniform weights and measures, with the bus
ness of loans and discounts inherently appro-
pirate to the occupation of the private citizen.
They think thattwe will forget that the true
question is not whether the government shall
90 out OF the banking business, but whether
he banks shall go out of the governing BUSH
ness. Thus they design by the aid of public
apathy to rivet the chains which will make
rec men slaves.
ITO the end that their hopes may meet with
and their conspiracy with fail
lre that the toiling masses of our people may
be saved from an industrial serfdom more
,ruel and degrading than chattel slavery,