Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1895-04-18
Official Paper CT the City of Aberdeen.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND ON THE
SILVER QUESTION.

Whatever sins of omission or COM
mission can be laid up against President
Cleveland, none have yet charged him
with cowardicc. A mere politician,
striving for reelection, would have either
lodged the currency question or so
clothed his utterances as to deceive many
on both sides of The subject. Mr.. Glove
land, however, adopts no eXpedicnt, but
in plain language, in his letter to the
Chicago committee, states his honest be-
lief upon the subject Various members
of the Cabinet will make speeches dur
ing the summer in an endeavor to COM
nit the Democratic party to sound cur
rency principles, and to prevent the
attempt now being made to commit it to
silver mono-metalism. The president in
his letter ably stated the situation. He
said:
"If the sound money sentiment abroad
in the land is to save us from mischief
and disaster, it must be crystaized 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 aspects, have nevertheless
been ingenious,y pressed with suggestions
which in this time of misfortune and de-
preston find willing listeners, prepared
to give credence to any scheme which is
plausiby presented as Il remedy for their
unfortunate condition. What is now
needed more than anything else is q
plain and simple presentation of the a:gu-
ment in favor OF sound money. In other
words, it is time for the American peo-
pie to reason together as members of
great nation which can promise them q
continuance of protection and safety only
SO long rs its solvency is unsuspectcd, its
honor unsullied and the soundness of its
money unquestioned. These things are
i'll exchanged for the illusions of a de-
based currency and a groundless hope of
advantages to be gained by a disregard OF
our financial credit and commercial
standing among the nations Of the world.
If our people were isolated from all others,
and il the question OF our currency could
be treated without regard to our relations
to other countries, its character would be
matter OF comparatively little import
ance. Ii the American people were only
concerned in the maintenance of their
precious lie 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 if
American civilization were satisfied with
this it would undoubtedly fail in its high
and noble mission. =; If reckless
discomfort and wild experiments should
sweep our currency from its 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 nottingham, as he sees the
money he has received for his toll shrink
and shrivel in bis hands when he tenders
it for the necessaries to supply his humble
home. Disguise it as We may the line OF
battle is drawn between the forces of safe
currency and those OF silver mono-metal-
ism. will not believe that if our people
are afforded an intelligent opportunity for
sober second thought they will sanction
schemes that, however cloaked, mean
disaster and confusion, nor that they will
consent, by undermining the foundation
OF safe currency, to endanger the bene-
ficent character and purpose of their gov
eminent"
The Democratic party is pledged to BIZ
metalism. from which it does not pro-
pose to be swerved That bi-metalism
can be maintained with a double stand
ard is an open question: 1t never has
Either gold or silver has disappeared
from circulation as one or the other be-
came the more valuable in the markets
OF the world 1t certainly cannot without
the cooperation OF the other principal
nations of the world.