The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-22

l44C -NCWS llOlIl lHuldQdDOlS saws.
Governor Matthews today gave out
the following expression on the silver
question:
I have been so occupied with my Of
fetal duties the past few months that
have had but little time TO devote to
thought of other matters. Of course
read the letter of the president to
chicago business men. and / believe it
has been generally read by the people
OF the state. 1t has not been up TO the
expectation created by the notices in
advance of its coming, and the we'll
known clearness with which the presi-
dent usually expresses himself No
one can doubt the honesty or the
strength of Mr.. Cieveland's convic-
tons. but in this letter he does not
satisfy. in that he neglects to point
out the way to relieve the situation or
to secure the soundness of our nation
al currency. He generaliZeS; the peo-
pie wanted and expected him to par
tlcularize- 1t is easy to speak in gen.
eral terms of sound money but it
would have been better to have
sound definition of this term. Is
1t to be gold or silver monometallism,
or both upon an equal footing and
representing a true and honest
double standard of value? Mr. Cleve-
land may not intend it, but the gem
eral construction placed upon his rev
cent letter, reinforced by past lutte 8
anceS and his public policy, will by
that he is strongly inclined to the
single gold standard. The people are
beginning TO look with no little doubt
and some alarm upon the continued
use of the terms sound money"
silver mine owners" and 'interna-
tional monetary conferences" in dis
missing the treatment of the financial
problem. The belief is growing that
the gold monometallist is as uncom-
promising and as selfish as
the so-called silver mon
ometallist could be. That If the
free coinage of silver by this country
is to the advantage of the owners Of
silver mines, that it is equally 10 the
benefit of the citizen who holds and
clips gold Understanding coupons TO
have a single gold standard adopted.
The belief is also gaining ground that
there is too much insincerity in the
talk about international conferences
when no earnest, decided steps are
taken to bring this conference about
and is only used to kill time-a mere
makeshift.
ut cannot be denied that the con-
ference would be a great thing for the
commercial relations of the world and
our own country, too. could some plan
be agreed upon. l further believe that
an honest and determined effort should
be made to hold this conference; that
the United States should take the in
itiative in this matter demand and in
sist that this conference should be held
and not ask it as concession. To say
that we, a great nation, with as great
If not greater interests at stake than
any other, should hold back, waiting
for an invitation from others to join,
is preposterous and indicative of in
sincerity on our part if the conference
will provide the solution of our trOub-
les and restore prosperity.
cat this conference the United States
should go as the friend of silver. and
make a positive demand for its restOr-
alton. No happier or more patriotic
step could be taken toward the set
ting of this question than a strol
positive and emphatic announcements
by our government. through the pow
ers that be, that it would never be a
party to nor give its consent to have
silver stricken from the money OF the
world, destroying one of its products
and a great source of wealth. II Eng
land blocks the way, leave her out, and
enter into an agreement with the other
governments. II ell fail, then let the
United States adopt that policy which
viii be just to all her people. To the
banking interests there is but little
doubt that the sound money phrase
m cans the gold standard alone, but this
interest comprises but small part OF
our citizens. We are a nation of farm
ers. woriingmen. manufacturers and
business men. We are a debtor
nation, and by far the lar
ger part Of our citizens belong
TO the debtor class 1t is the high privii-
to sacredly guard and protect the inter-
ests of the creditor and debtor classes
OF its. citizens alike, neither one more
than the other. Ours is a great country
Of great and diversified interests and no
one interest. and this confined to one
small section of the country, can safely
Of all. We have a great big country, too,
lying west of the Atlantic seaboard and
nlled with an active, industrious. INTEL
igent people, capable of judging of their
needs and entitled 10 consideration.
"Al sections and all interests are
equally interested in the prosperity of
in the shaping of national policies. 1t
has been demonstrated beyond doubt that
tie business of the country cannot be
conducted upon the single standard be
that either gold or silver. To do this
would be unjust, perilous and destruc-
tive. We need the double standard OF
gold and silver of equal and interchange
3 BILE value. To talk bimetallism and
all the time adopting a policy that
further puts the equal value in the dim
faith. To say that we must have parity
between gold and silver and by our acts,
our policy towards ourselves as a people.
and in a faint-hearted dealing with other
nations, constantly treating a greater dis
parity, is neither just. sincere nor honest
am sorry that Mr.. Cleveland, who is SO
capable of doing it, did not more fully de-
fine his views on the financial question
and announce a method that would have
given no cause for doubt or nisconstruc-
ton.
Not In an unfriendly spirit toward
Mr.. Cleveland have I thus expressed my
self concerning his letter; nor as radi-
cal and uncompromising silver man.
which I am not; nor even as q bimetal-
list, which 1 am. in the true and honest
definition of that term, but as citizen
feeling that we now have TO consider q
question that seriously affects the pros
perity of the country, and like Banduo's
ghost, will not down. 1t Is a living is
sue, and unless conditions radically and
nagically change, viii be the dominant
ssue in 1S96-possibly the struggle be-
tween gold recommendation and a tru BIZ
netallism.''
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.