The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-04-18
CLEVELAND'S REPLY.
Propriety Forbids His Accepting
the Chicago Invitation.
HE FAvORs THE PROPOSED PLAN.
The Sound Money Sentiment Of the Country
Should BE Crystalized Into Strong
Movement He Makes an Argument
Against Silver Monometalism.

previously announced. 81 am much
gratifled by the exceedingly kind and
complimentary invitation you have ten.
dered me on behalf of many citizens of
Chicago to be their guest at gather
ing in the interest of sound money and
wholesome financial doctrine. My at
tachment to this cause is so great and
know so well the hospitality and kind
ness of the people of Chicago that my
personal incli ination is strongly in favor
of accepting your flattering invitation
but my Judgment and my estimate of
the proprierties Of my official place
obliges me to forego the enjoyment of
participating in the occasion you con
template.
II hope. however, the event will
mark the beginning of an earnest and
aggressive effort to disseminate amonr
the people sale 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 ellow.countrymen and
to the strength, prosperity and honor of
our nation. The situation confronting
us demands that those who appreciate e
the Importance of this subject and those
who ought to be the first to see impend.
ing danger should no longer remain III
different or over-confident. If the
sound money sentiment abroad in the
Ian d is to save us from mischief and dis.
aster it must be crystalized and com.
bined and made Immediately active. II
is dangerous to overlook the fact that q
vast number of our people with scant
opportunity, thus far, to examine the
question in all its aspects, have never
theless been ingeniously pressed with
specious suggestions which in this time
of misfortune and depression find will.
ing listeners, prepared to give credence
to any scheme which is plausibly pre-
sented as a remedy for their unfortunate
condition.
"What is now needed more than any.
thing else is plain and simple present
alton of the argument in favor of sound
money. In other words it is time for
the American people to reason together
as members of great nation, which
can promise them continuance of pro.
lection and safety only SO long as its
solvency is unsuspected, its honor un
sullied and the soundness of its money
unquestioned. These things are i'll ex
changed for the illusions of debased
currency and gronndless hope of advant
ages to be gained by disregard of oul
financial credit and commercial stand
ing among the nations of the world,
''If our people were isolated from all
others and if the question of our cur
reucy could be treated without regard
to our relations to other countries, its
character would be a matter of compar.
atively little importance. II the Amer.
lean people were only concerned in the
maintenance of their physical life
among themselves, they might return
to the old days of barter, and in this
primative manner acquire from each
other the materials to supply the wants
of their existence. But if American
civilization were satisfied with this, 1t
would adjectly fail in its high and noble
mission.
"In these restless days the farmer is
| tempted by the assurance that though
our currency may be debased, redund
ant and uncertain, such situation will
improve the price Of his products. Let
us remind him that he must buy as
we'll as sell; that his dreams Of plenty
are shaded by the certainty that if the
price of things he has to sell is nomi-
|
he must buy will not remain station.
ary; that the better prices which cheap
money proclaims are unsubstantial and
elusive and that even if they were real
and palatable he must necessarily be
left far behind in the race.for their en-.
joyment,
1T ought not to be difficult to con
vince the wageearner that If there We're
benefits arising from a .degenerated cur.
rency, they would reach him least of
all and last of all. In an unhealthy
stimulation of prices an increased cost
of all the needs of his home must long
be his portion 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.
IAN insidious attempt is made to
create a prejudice against the advocates
of safe and sound currency by the in.
sinuation, more or less directly made,
that they belong to financial and bust
ness classes and are therefore not only
out of sympathy with the common
people of the land, but for selfish and
wicked purposes are willing to sacrifice
the interests Of those outside their Cir
, Gle.
II believe that capital and wealth
through combination and other means
sometimes gain an undue advantage
and it must be conceded that the main
tenance of O sound currency may. in {
sense, be invested with greater of es
Importance to individuals according Il
their condition and circumstances i
Is, however, only difference in degree
since it is utterly impossible that AM
, one in our broad land, rich or poor
whatever may be his occupation an
whether dwelling in a center of financ,
t and commerce, or in remote corner o
our domain, can be really benefited b.
financial scheme not alike beneficia
to all people, or that any one should b'
e excluded from common and universe
} interest in the safe character and stable
value of the currency of the country.
"In our relation to this question W
are all in business, for we all buy an,
sell; so we all have to DO with fnancia
4 operations, for we all earn money AM
!. spend it. We cannot escape out inter
:, dependence. Merchants and dealers ar
!, in every neighborhUod, and each has II
shops and manufactures. Whereve
q the wants of man exist, business an
: finance is some. degree are found, rt
lated In one direction to those who's
wants they supply and in another
the more extensive business and financ
i to which they are tributary. fiuctui
} ton in prices at the seaboard is know
, the same day or hour in the remotei
/ hamlet. The discredit or depreciatio
3 in the financial centers of any form {
}. money in the hands OF the people Is