Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-04-30
SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON.
TUESDAY MORNING. APRIL 80. 1885.
CIevIand's Reply
To the Invitation of the Chicago
Business Men.


CHICAGO, April 14.-Following is
the text of President Cleveland's
reply to the invitation of Chicago
business men to address a meeting
here. as previously announced:
Executive Mansion, Washington,
D. C., April 13.-To Mcssrs. VIM.
L. Baker, George w. Smith, John A.
Roche. T. w. Harvey, David Kelley
and Henry C. Robbins. Gentlemen:
1 am much gratified by the exceed
ingly kind and complimentary invi-
tation you have rendered me on be-
half of many citizens of Chicago to
be their guest at gathering in the
interest of sound money and whole
some financial doctrine.
stMy attachment to this cause is so
great and / know so well the hospi-
tality and kindness of the people of
Chicago that my personal inclination
is strongly in favor of accepting
your fattering invitation, but my
judgment and my estimate of the
proprieties of my official place oblige
me to forego the enjoyment of par
ticipating in the occasion contem-
plate.
81 hope, however, the event will
mark the beginning of an earnest and
aggressive effort to disseminate
among the people safe aud prudent
financial ideas. Nothing more i'm
portant can engage the attention of
patriotic citizens, because nothing is
so vital to the welfare of our fellow
countrymcn and to the strength,
pros perity and honor of our nation.
s'The situation confronting MS de-
mands that those who appreciate the
Importance of this subject, and those
who ought TO be the irst to see i'm
pending danger, should no longer
remain Indifferent or over confident.
eff the sound-money sentiment
abroad in tie land is to save us from
mischief and disaster it must be
crystaIized and combined and made
Immediately active. It's dangerous
to overlook the fact that vast num-
ber of our people, with scant oppor-
tunity thus far to exam inc the ques-
tion in all its aspects, h ave neverthe
less been ingeniously pressed with
specious suggestions which in this
time of misfortune and depression
find willing listeners prepared to-
give credence to any scheme which
is plausibly presented as a remedy
for their unfortunate condition.
ssWhat is now needed more than
anything else is a plain and simple
presentation of the argument in favor
of sound money. In other words.
it is time for the American people to
reason together as members of a.
great nation which can promise them
continuance of protection and
safety only so long as its solvencc is
unsuspected, its honor unsullied and
the soundness of its money unques-
toned. These things are i'll ex-
changed for the illusions of debased
currency aud groundless hope of
advantages to be gained by disre-
gard of our financial credit and COM
mercial standing among the nations
of the world.
eff our people were isolated from
all others and if the question of our
] currency could be treated without
regard to our relations to other coun-
tries, it's character would be matter
of comparatively little Importance.
If the American 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 primitive manner
acquire from each other the materials
to supply the wants of their exis-
tence. But if American civilization
/ 4 IL \.
jectly 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
redundant and uncertain, such sit
uation will improve the price of his
products. Let us remind him that
he must buy as well as sell; that his
dreams of plenty are shaded by the
certainty that if the price of the
things he has to sell are nominally
must buy will not remain stationary;
that the better prices which cheap
money proclaims are unsubstantial
! and elusive, and that even if they
were real and paIpable, he must nec
essarily be left far behind in the race
for their enjoyment.
sit ought not to be difficult to con-
vince the wage-earner that if there
were benefits arising from degen-
Grated currency 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 xexed with
vanishing visions of increased wages
and easier lot. The pages of history
and experience are full of this lesson.
IAN insidious attempt is made TO
create prejudice against the advo-
Gates of safe and sound currency
by the insinuation, more or less
directly.made, that they belong to-
financial and business 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 circle
'sI believe that capital and wealth,
through combination and other means
sometimes gain an undue advan-
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