Crawford avalanche., 1895-04-25
GROVER ON FINANCE.
TEXT OF HIS LETTER TO THE
CHICAGO COMMITTEE.
The President Very Plainly Defines
His Position ON the Silver Question
-Is Unquestionably in Favor of
"Sound Money"


Cleveland's reply to the invitation of Chi
to be held there ratifying the Presidents o
attitude on the money question::
| Executive Mansion. Washington. d; C.
John A. Roche. T. w. Harvey, David Kelly.
and Henry s. Robbins: Gentlemen am
much grsted by the exceedingly kind tsDdsrnd and
me on behalf Of many citizens OF Chicago TO
| be their guest at a gathering In the interest
Of sound money and wholesome nnanciai
Ny attachment to this cause Is SO great
| and know so well the hospitality and Kind
sonal inclination is strongly In favor Of ac-
| cepting your fatterlng invitation, but my
Judgment and my estimate OF the properties
| Of my Official place oblige me to forego the
enjoyment OF participating In the occasion
| you contemplate.
hope. however. the event will mark the
| beginning of an earnest and aggressive ef-
| fort to disseminate among the people safe
and prudent financial ideas. Nothing more
triotic citizens, because nothing is so vital
| to the welfare Of our fellow couptrymen and
to the strength, prosperity and honor OF our
nation.
Tho situation confronting us demands that
subject, and those who ought to be the first
remain indinerent or oyercopident.
Sound Money Sentiment.
! II the sound money sentiment abroad In
| the land is to save us from mischief and dis.
| aster II must be crystallized and combined
GUS to overlook the fact that large num-
| ber Of our people, with scant opportunity,
thus far. to examine the question In all It's
aspects. have nevertheless been ingenlonsly
| pressed with specious suggestions, which In
| time of misfortune and depression find will
weR IS paS Se
| remedy for their unfortunate condition.
What Is now needed more than anything else
| Is n plain and simple presentation or the
argument In favor OF sound money. In other
words, 1t Is a time for the American people
| to reason together as members OF great ma
| tion. which can promise them continuance
Of protection and safety only so long as its
solyency Is unsuspected and honor unsullied
and the soundness OF Its money unques-
toned. These things are Unchanged for the
| illusions OF a debased currency and ground
less hope of advantages to be gained by a
disregard OF our financial credit and COM
| mercial standing among the nations OF the
| world.
| IL our people were isolated from all others,
and II the question OF - our m currency couiG
other countries. Its character would be a mat:
ter Of comparatively little Importance. II
the maintenance OF their precious life among
themselves they might return to the old
days of barter, and In this primitive manner
supply the wants of their existence. But II
| American civilization Is satisfied with this
It would abjectly fail in its high and noble
/ mission.
| Temptation of the Farmer.
, In these restless days the farmer is tempt
| ed by the assurance that though our cur
rency may be debased. redundant and un-
certain, such situation will improve the
OF his SH LET us that
HnS tainty that % the price rice Of the things he has
| to sell Is nomnally enhanced the cost OF the
|
tionary; that the best prices which cheap
money proclaims are unsubstantiai and elus-
palpabie, he must necessarily be left far be-
| hind In the race for their enjoyment. IL
ought not to be difficult to convince the wage
| Garner that II there were benefits arising
from degenerated currency, they would
reach him least of all and last of all. In an
% az he nea OF of s
long his portion. while he Is at the same time
yexed with vanishing visions of Increased
tory and experience are full of this lesson.
| An insidious attempt is made to create a
prejudice against the advocates OF safe
and sound currency by the insinuation, more
| Or less directly made, that they belong to
| financial and business classes and are there
fore not only out Of sympathy with the com:
wicked purposes are willing to sacrifice the
interests Of those outside their circle,
/ believe that capital and wealth through
combinations and other means, sometimes
gain an undue advantages; and IL must be
conceded that the maintenance OF n sound
currency may, In sense, be invested with
greater or less Importance to individuals ac-
cording to their condition and circumstances.
1t Is. however. only difference In degree,
since II Is utterly Impossible that any one
In our broad land. rich or poor. whatever
may be his occupation. whether dwelling In
a center OF finance and commerce or In
remote corner OF our domain, can be really
benefited by n financial scheme, not alike
beneficial to all our people. or that any one
should be excluded from common and uni
versal interest In the safe character and
value of the currency of the country.
All i'm Business.
In our relation to this question. we are all
In business, for we all buy and sell; so we
all have to do with financial operations, for
we all earn money and spend IL. We can
not escape our interdependence. Merchants
and dealers are In every nelghborhood. and
each has Its shops and manufactures.
Wherever the wants of man exist. business
and finance, In some degree. are found. re-
lated In one direction to those whose wants
they supply and In another to the more ex-
!ensve business and finance to which they
are. tributary. fluctuation In prices at the
se Is the ns day T hour in
probation In financial centers Of any form
Of money In the hands Of the people is a
signal Of Immediate loss everywhere.
III reckless discomfort and wild experiment
should sweep our currency from it's safe sup
port. the most defenseless of all who suffer
In that time Of distress and national dis
credit will be the poor. as they reckon their
and workingman as he sees the money he has
received for his toll shrink and shriyeI In
his hand when he tenders II for the neces-
saries to supply his humble home
Disguise IL as we may, the line of battle
Is drawn between the forces Of safe currency
and those Of silver monometallism. I win
not believe that III our people are afforded an
Intelligent opportunity for sober second
thouOhf fhav will ,on.tion .cho,... .L..