The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-17
STEWART To CLEVELAND.


the Presidents Views.
Washington City. April lS-Ssnator
Stewart has addressed the following let
ter 20 President Cleveland. commenting
on the latter's lester 20 the Chicago COM
mitfee.
MIR. President; Your letter OF the 18th
inst. addressed - Messrs w 4. Baker.
George II. Snith and others of the Chi
csgo committee, is timely. The country
looks 70 yoa as the great champion Of ghe
present financial condition Of the caun-
try. The policy Ter which you have la
bored 50 long and so persistently has
been established. and the money of the
United States is reduced 20 the shrink
ing value OF gold. You say: What is
now more needed than anything else is
plain and simple presentation Of the ar
gument in favor OF sound money The
policy which you have adopted and forced
upon the country in all your public at
terances for the last ten years is the
necessity for sound money. You have
excited The curiosity OF the people by
Your frequent use OF such phrases as
sound money and safe currency hut
YOU have never condescended 20 satisfy
that curiosity by stating what those
terms meant or what is sound money
or safe currency, The people would
like defnste answer. and they do not
understand what you mean. Your recent
sale of s63.0a.00 OF bonds 10 the Ro;hs-
ehtids syndicate for &osa,ooo less than
their market value 10 obtain gold to
maintain gold mono -metalltsm Is some
evidence of your familiarity with the
forces OF safe currency.
Your assertion that the opposing forces
are those Of silver mono-metalllSn shows
that you do not understand the position
OF the bi-metaliists, or that you KNOW
ingIy misrepresent that position rs
suming as | must. that IL Is want OF ia-
fxa- ian an mar
desire TO deceive the people. You VIII
pardon me for informing You what the
advocates OF unrestricted coinage OF both
gold and silver contend. Why do YOU ar
que that return 10 the coinage of hoih
metals upon terms Of exact equality. as
established by jefferson and Hamilton anu
maintained by all patriotic statesmen
Of either party previous to the clandestine
demonstration Of silver In 1873. woutd
debase the currency and destroy the cred
II of the government Have YOU ever
compared the prosperity of the country
under your illustrious predecessors VINO
maintained unrestricted coinage OF hoth
metals with the misfortune apa depreS-
sion which affiict the country under your
administrations Did it ever occur 10 you
that jefferson and Jackson might ne
right. and that YOU might he wrong
Did YOU ever consider the ultimate pos
sibility of the radical change mat sen
atOr sherman anu Soht aSSHN'hNN9
operating with what you term the forces
OF safe currency have madeY
sYou have disregarfied not only the
teachings of the fathers of the republic,
but reversed the usages and customs or
the civilized world which have existed
for thousands of years previous 10 iAtS-
You have destroyed one-haif the worlds
metallic money and enhanced the value
OF the other half fully 100 per cent. You
have compelled the debtor to surrender
more than double the amount or prop
erty to iiauidate his debts that the money
he borrowed would have purchased AT
the time he incurred the obligation. You
have increased the value OF gold by re-
fusing the use of both metals as money,
and created constant decline OF prices
until YOU have ruined enterprise, de-
prived labor of employment, and pro-
duced universal distress You now cali
upon the Democrats of Illinois 10 put
plain and simple argument which will
satisfy the people that the financial po.-
icy which makes them miserable is
sound money and safe currency III
YOU know any argument that will con-
vince the people that II Ia right for them
TO suffer depression and hard times while
all the wealth they produce Is In money.
II is your duty to put that argument
without delay. Such an argument would
be a new discovery and one never before
used by an advocate Of your sound
money forces. II you can show that the
contraction OF the volume OF money or
ultimate payment of gold alone has made
this country prosperous. nobody else can.
1t all depends upon your superior wis
dom.
.'The country is looking TO you. and you
alone. TO explain why times are hard
under sound currency policy. You have
DELAYED the explanation too long. The
country is getting impatient. II Is en-
eouraging that you appreciate the neces-
sity for prompt action"
In closing his epstie TO the president
the Nevada silverite adds: Whatever
may happen. you are entitled TO the
gratitude Of the American people for your
bold and open advocacy OF the combina-
Zion of gold mono m metailists and the re-
fusa1 of your secretary of the treasury
to put the coinage of both gold asd sill
YER upon terms OF exact and equality.
You are doing what no other president
has had the courage TO do since the
crime Of 1873. Your confidence IN your
wisdom and ability IS sublime. when
under present conditions you are willing
10 challenge comparisons between your
policy and that OF the managers Of the
Democratic party. which placed you i'm
power If YOU could point 20 any benefit
you have been 10 the country. your task
would he much easier. but.sin view OF the
universal distress, your courage far ex-
ceeds your discretion. unless you present
your reasons for gold mono metailism
without delay. Are you aware that every
professor and student of political econ
orny, except those in the employ Of the
gold monopoly I'm Europe and America, Is
in favor OF the coinage OF both gold and
silver upon terms OF exact equality. that
advocates OF the gold monopoly have
nothing to print in favor OF their cause
except such vague generalities as you
yourself employ and that 81 you have no
reason for maintaining a gold standard
which will heneft your cause, then ro-
body else has?''