The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-04-19
DISLIKES SILVER.
The Pre- sident Urges Agitation Of
the Money Question.
In Letter tn n Chicago Committee He
Firmly Opposes the White Metal
Urges the Need Of Thorough
Knowledge of Finances.

WASHINGTON, April Is. - President
Cleveland has declined the invitation
of Chicago business men to visit that
city and To speak in the interests of
sound money. In his letter of declina-
ton he says:
Il hope the event will mark the beginning Of
| On earnest and aggressive effort To dissent
nate among the people safe and prudent finan-
cial ideas. Nothing more important can en-
gage the attention OF patriotic citizens be-
cause nothing is vital TO the welfare OF our
fellow -countrymen and TO the strength pros
perity and honor of our nation.
The situation we confronting demands
that those who appreciate the importance OF
this subject and those who ought to be the
first to see impending danger should no longer
remain Indifferent or overcontdent
Calls for Immediate Action.
If the sound money sentiment abroad in the
land is TO save US from mise hief and disaster IL
must be cryStallized and combined and made
Immediately active. 1t is dangerous to overlook
| the fact that vast number of our people. with
scant opportunity thus far To examine the
! question in all its aspects have nevertheless
been ingeniously pressed with specious sug-
| gestions which in this time OF misfortune and
! depression find willing listeners, prepared to
| give credence TO any scheme which is plausiby
presented n remedy for their unfortunate
! condition
! what is now needed more imam anything
else is plain and simple presentation of the
argument in favor of sound money. In other
words IL is time for the American people To
reason together members Of great
nation which can promise them con-
tinuance of protection and safety only so
long as its insolvency is unsus pected. its honor
unsullied and the soundness of its money un-
questioned. These things are i'll exchanged
for the illusions of debased currency and
groundless hope 81 advantages to be gained by
disregard OF our financial credit and com
mercial 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 comp Iratlvely little importance.
II the American people were only
concerned in the maintenance OF their
life among themselves they might return
to the old days OF barter and in this primitive
manner acquire from each other the ma
terlals to supply the wants OF their existence.
But IL American civilization were satisfied
with this it would abjectly fail in its high and
noble nissioL.
Cheap Money Cuts Both Ways.
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 products.
Let us remind him that he must buy we'll as
sell; that his dreams of plenty are shaded by
the uncertainty that If the price OF the things
he has to sell is nominally enhanced. the cost
of the things he must buy will not remain
stationary; that the best prices, which cheap
money proclaims, are unSubstantial and
elusive, and that even If they were right and
palpable he must necessarily be left far be-
hind in the race for their en- Joyment.
lit ought not TO be difficult to convince the
wage-earner that IL 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 the needs OF his home must long be his
portion. while he is at the same time vexed
with vanishing visions of increased wages and
an easier lot The pages of history and ex
perience are full OF this lesson
Not IA Matter OF Class Interests
An inSidiouS attempt is made 20 create IA
prejudice against the advocates of SAFE and
sound currency by the insinuation, more OF
less directly made, that they belong TO hnan-
cial and business classes, and therefore
not only out of sympathy with the common
people of the land, but Tor selfish and wicked
purposes willing to sacriLce the interests
OF those outside their circle
Il believe that capital and wealth, through
combination and other means sometimes gain
an undue advantage; and IL must be conceded
that the maintenance OF IA sound currency may,
in "A sense. be invested in greater or less i'm
portance to individuals according to their con-
diton and circumstances 1t Is however, only
a difference in degree since 1t is utterly i'm
possible that any one III our broad land, rich
or poor, whatever may be mis- occupation and
whether dwelling in center OF finance and
commerce or In a remote corner OF our domain,
can be really benefited by financial scheme
not alike beneficial to ali our people, that
any one should be excluded from Il common
and universal interest in the safe character
and stable value OF the currency of the country.
All Are business Men.
I'm our relation to this question we are all in
/ IA
to do with financial operations. for we all
earn money ana spend it We cannot escape
our interdependence Merchants and deal
ers are in every neighborhood, and eich has
It's shops and manufactures Wherever the
wants of man exist business and finance In
some degree are found related In one direc-
ton TO those whose wants tney supply and
in another To the more extensive bust
ness and finance To which they are tributary.
A fluctuation in prices at the seaboard is
known the same day hour in the remotest
hamlet. The discredit or depreciation in imam
cial centers OF any form of money in the hands
of the people is signal OF immediate loss
everywhere
IF reckless discomfort and wild experiment
! should sweep our currency from its safe sup
port the most defenSeless of all who suffer in
that time OF distress and national discredit
will be the poor they reckon the loss in
their scanty support. and the laborer and
| worklngman as he sees the money he has re-
! celVeu TOT MS Toll SHRINK anu shriNei III MS
! hand when he tenders 1t for the necessaries to
! supply his humble home Disguise it
as we nay, the line OF battle il drawn
| between the forces of safe currency and those
OF silver recommendation. l will not believe
that if our people are Afforded intelli-
gent 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 safe currency. to endanger the benefit
cent character and purposes of their govern
/ ment Yours very truly.
! "GRovER CLEVELAND"
|