Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-04-18
CURRENCY QUESTION.
President Cleveland's Letter to the
Chicago Committee.
HE Says the Line of Battle Is Drawn Be-
tween the Forces of Safe Currency
and That of silver Mono
metallism.

CHICAGO, April IO.-1n ne c1ClZenS 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 49,
Gentlemen: I much gratided by the ex-
~ceedingly kind and supplementary invitation
you have rendered on behalf OF m any citi-
=zens OF Chicago to be their guest at a gathering
in the interest of sound money and wholesome
financial doctrine My attachment to this cause
Is great. and know SO well the hospitality
and kindness of the peeps OF Chicago that
my personal inclination is strongly in favor
-of accepting your fattering invitation; but
my judgment and estimate OF the proprieties
of my official place oblige to forego the
enjoyment of participating in the occasion you
contemplate. hope, however. the event will
mark the beginning of an earnest and agrees
=sive effort to disseminate among the people
safe and prudent financial IDEAS Nothing
more important engage the attention OF
patriotic citizens, because nothing is so vital
the welfare of our fellow-countrymen and to
7Ehe strength, prosperity and honor of our ma
Ttion.
The situation confronting US demands that
zthoSe who appreciate the Importance Of this
subject and those who ought to be first to
impending danger should no longer remain in
different overconfident. II the sound
3money sentiment abroad in the land is to save
from mischief and disaster, 1t must be cryS-
-stallized and combined and made Immediately
active. 1t is dangerous to overlook the fact
that vast number OF our people with scant
opportunity, thus 1ar, TO examine the queSt1on
in all its aspects, have nevertheless been in
zgeniously pressed with specious suggestions
which in this time of misfortune and depres-
asion find willing listeners prepared to give
-.credence to any scheme which is plausibly
presented remedy for their unfortunate
condition.
What is now needed more than anything else
lnfy 1.ff
zment in favor of sound money. In other words
1t is a time for the American people to reason
together members of great nation which
@can promise them a continuance OF protection
-=and safety only long its Solvency is I'M
suspected, its honor unsullied and the sound
mess of its money unquestioned These things
ARE i'll exchanged for the illusions of debased
currency and groundleSS nope or advantages TO
sbe 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
.sof barter, and in this primitive manner acquire
from each other the materials to supply the
wants of their existence. But if American
scivilization were satisfied with this it would
sabjectly fail in its high and noble mission.
In these restless days the farmer Is tempted
Wy the assurance that though currency
may be debaSed, redundant and uncertain,
<such situation will improve the price OF his
products. Let remind him that he must
lbuy as we'll 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,
-vthe cost of the things he must buy will not re-
main stationary; that the best prices which
scheap money proclaims are unSubstantial and
elusive and that even If they were real and
jpalpable. he must necessarily be left far be-
hind in the race fo- their enjoyment
It ought not to be difficult to convince the
wage-earner that If there were benefits arising
-sfrom degenerated currency they would reach
him least of all and last OF all In I'M
healthy stimulation of prices an increased cost
sof all needs of his home must belong to his por-
st1on, 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
lis made to create prejudice against the advO-
Gates of a safe and sound currency by the in
=Sinuation, more or less directly made, that
they belong to financial and business classes
land are therefore not only out of sympathy
with the common people OF the land, but for
=Selfsh and wicked purposes are willing to
sacrifice the interests OF those outside their
<circle.
I believe that capital and wealth, through
combination and other means, sometimes gain
=an undue advantage: and it must be conceded
shat the maintenance OF O sound currency may,
in a sense, be invested with greater or less
importance to individuals according to their
condition and circumstances. It is. how
lever, only a difference in degree, since
lit is utterly impossible that ANYONE
in broad land rich poor
whatever may be his occupation and whether
dwelling in a center of finance and commerce
-or in a remote corner of our domain, can be
really benefited by financial scheme, not
alike beneficial to all our people. or that any
lone 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 all In
business for we all buy and SELL SO we all
Zhave to do with financial operations for we all
4earn money and spend it We cannot escape
~our neutrality-suspicious.. Merchants and dealers
zare in every neighborhood and each has its
shops and manufactures Wherever the wants
~of man exist, business and finance in some de-
zgree are found related in one direction to those
whose wants they supply, and in another to the
more extensive business and finance to which
sthey tributary. huctuation In prices
=at the Seaboard is known the same day OF
hour in the remoteSt hamlet. The diScredit
-or depreciation in financial centers Of any
form of money in the hands OF the people is q
signal of Immediate loss everywhere. II reck-
less 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 discredtt, would be the
support and the laborer and workingman as he
secs the money he has received for his toll
shrink and shrivel In his hand when he tenders
1t for The necessaries to supply his humble
horae.
Disguise it we may, the line OF battle Is
drawn between the forces of the safe currency
and those of silver monometallisEn viii moi