The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-04-20
President Cleveland Declares for
Gold Monometallism.
IN A LETTER TO CHICAGO
Wen.known views and Arguments
Aimed 10 Convert the Farmer
and WOrkingman.


lowing is the text of the letter of Pres
ident cleveland to the Chicago commit
tee:
Executive Mansion, Washington, d.
c., April IS, 1S95.-Gentlemen. 1 am
much gratifed by the exceedingly kind |
and complimentary invitation you have |
rendered me on behalf Of many citizens
of Chicago to be their guest at gath |
ering in the interest of sound money !
and wholesome financial doctrine. My |
attachment to this cause is so great, |
and / know so well the hospitality and |
kindness of the people of Chicago, that |
my personal inclination is strongly in
favor of accepting your fattering inVi-
tation; but my Judgment and my esti-
mate of the proprieties of my official
place oblige me to fOregO the enjoyment
of participation in the occasion you
contemplate
1 hope, however, that the event win
mark the beginning of an earnest and
aggressive effort to disseminate among
the people safe and prudent financial
ideas Nothing more important can
engage the attention Of patriotic citi-
zens, because nothing Is SO vital to the
welfare of our fellow countrymen and
to the strength prosperity and honor Of
our nation.
The situation confronting us demands
that those who appreciate the import
ance of this subject and those who ought
to be the first to see the impending dan
ger should not remain Indifferent or
overcOnhdent. If the sOund-money
sentiment abroad i'm the land is to save
us from mischief and disaster, it must
be crystallized and combined and made
k,Irr 2 4 To
overlook the fact that a vast number of
our people, with scant opportunity thus
far to examine the question in all its
aspects, have nevertheless been ingen-
iOusly piled with suggestions which. in
this time of misfortune and depression.
find willing listeners, prepared to give
audience to any scheme which is plau-
sibly presented as a remedy for their
unfortunate condition. What is now
needed more than anything else is a
plain and simple presentation of he
argument in favor of sound money In
other words, it is a time for the Ameri-
can people to reason together as mem
bers of a great nation, which can prom
Use them a continuance OF protection
and safety only so long as its sOlvency
is unsupported, its honor unsullied and
the soundness Of its money Unques-
liOuEQ liNSc bl-AAA-o al 4 Alls t-NNiAetiAt,NNs
for the illusions of a debased currency
and groundess hope of advantages
to be gained by q disregard Of our
financial credit and commercial stand
ing among the nations Of the world
SHOP-WORN ARGUMENT.
IF our people were isolated from all
Others and if the question of our cur
rency could be treated without regard &c
our relations to other countries, its char
bo a Of n 70 Two IN
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 of bar
ter, and in this primitive manner acquire
from each other the materials to supply
the wants of their existence. But if Ameri
can civilization were satisfied with this 4
would abjectly fail in its high and noble
mission. In these restless days the far
mer is tempted by the assurance tina
though our currency may be debased re
dundant and uncertain, such a situation
will improve the price of his products
Let us remind him that he must buy a.
well as SELL that his dreams of plenty ar
shaded by the certainty that If the pric
of things he has to sell Is nominally en-
HANGED the cost of the things he mus
buy will not remain stationary; that tn
best prices which cheap money proclaim
are unsubstantial and elusive; that eve
If they were real and palpable, he mus
necessarily be left far behind in the rae
for their enjoyment.
cit ought not to be difficult to convinc
the wage Garner that 1t would reach hiI
least of all and last of all. In an un
healthy stimulation of prices, an increase
count of all the needs Of his home mus
belong to his portion, while he is at tn
same time veXed with vanishing vision
of increased wages and an easier lot. TIL
pages of history and experience are fu
of this lesson.
DEFENSE OF CAPITAL.
IAN insidious attempt IS made to CT,
ate q prejudice against the advocates
a safe and sound currency by the insinui
ton, more or less directly made, ths
they belong to financial and busine:
classes, and are therefore not only OIL
of sympathy with the common people
the land, but for selfish and wicked pu
poses are willing to sacrifice the nteres
Of those outside their circle. / belieN
that capital and wealth, through combin
ton and other means, sometimes gain q
undue advantage, and it must be col
ceded that the maintenance Of n sour
currency may, in a sense, be invested vii
a greater or less Importance to individ
ais, according TO their condition and ci
cuunstances. 1t is, however, only a dill
erence in degree, since it 1t utterly impo
sible that any one in our broad land, rio
or poor, whatever be his occupatio
whether dwelling in a center of CONNER
and finance or in a remote corner of Il
domain, can be really benefited by
nancial scheme not alike beneficial to
our people, or that any one should be c
cluded from a common and universal
terest in the safe character and stall
value of the currency of the country.
In our relation to this question we a
all in business, for we all buy and Sc
so we all have to do with financial oper
oil nd