The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-04-18
SOUND MONEY.
Cleveiand's Letter Declining An Invi.
tation to Public Reception.

tation to Public Reception.
What Is Needed Now Is Plain and Simple
Presentation Of the Argument in Favor
Of Sound Money-He Wants Mo-
nometallism Put Down.
CHICAGO, April 15.-Mr. Henry Rob.
bins received from President Cleve.
land Sunday evening letter declining
the invitation of the number of busi-
ness men of Chicago to attend public
reception here to himself and Mrs.
Cleveland.
EXECUTIVE MAss1oN, :. !
WASHINGTON, April 13 4
To dessrs. William 7. Baker: George W:
Smith, John A. Roche, T. w. Harvey, David
Kelly and Henry s. Robbins:
Gentlemen am much gratffed by the ex-
ceedingly kind and complimentary invitation
you have rendered me on behalf Of many citi-
zens Of Chicago to be their guest at q gather
ing In the interest Of sound money and whole-
some financial doctrine
Ny attachment to this cause is DO great, and
know 30 well the hospitality and kindness Of
the people OF Chicago, that my personal inch-
nation Is strongly in favor OF accepting your
fattering invitation: but my Judgment and my
estimate Of the proprieties Of my official place
pating In the occasion you contemplate.
hope, however, the event will mark the be-
ginning OF an earnest and aggressive effort to
disseminate among the people safe and pru-
dent financial ideas.
Nothing more important can engage the at
tention Of patriotic citizens, because nothing
Is SO vital to the welfare Of our fellow country
men and to the strength, prosperity and honor
of our nation.
The situation we are confronting demands
that those who appreciate the Importance of
this subject and those who ought to be the fi-st
to see impending danger should no longer re-
main Indifferent or overconfdent. II the sound
money sentiment abroad in the land is to save
us from mischief and disaster 1t must be crys-
talized and combined and made Immediately
active.
1t is dangerous to overlook the fact that
vast number of our people, with scant oppor-
tunity thus far to examine the question in all
its aspects, have nevertheless been Ingenious
ly pressed with special suggestions, which,
in this time Of misfortune and depression,
find willing listeners prepared to give cre-
dence to any scheme which is plausibly pre-
sented as q remedy for their unfortunate con-
dition.
What is now needed more than anything
else is plain and simple presentation Of the
argument in favor OF sound money. In other
words, 1t is time for the American people to
reason together as members Of great nation
lection and safety only so long as it's solvency
is unsuspected, its honor unsullied and the
soundness of its money unquestioned
These things are ill-exchanged for the IL
lusions of a debased currency and groundess
hope OF advantages to be gained by disre-
gard Of our financial credit and commercial
standing among the nations OF the world
If our people were isolated from all others
and II the question of our currency could
be treated without regard to our relations
to other countries. its character would be
q matter of comparatively 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 barter, and in this primitive man
ner acquire from each other the materials to
supply the wants Of their existence.
In these restless days the farmer is tempted
by the assurance that, though eur currency
may be debased, redundant and uncertain.
such O situation would 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 II the price Of
the things he has to sell is nominally enhanced
main stationary; that cheap money proclaims
are unsubstantial and elusive, and even If they
were real and palpable he must necessarily be
left far behind In the race.
1t ought not to be difficult to convince the
wage Garner that II there were benefits aris-
ing from degenerated 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 belong
to 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. An insidious attempt is made
TO create 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
mon people of the land, but for selfish and
wicked purposes are willing to sacrifice the in
terests Of those outside their circle.
l believe that capital and wealth, through
combination and other means, sometimes gain
an undue advantage, and it must be conceded
that the maintenance Of a sound currency may
in o sense be invested with greater or lesser
importance to individuals, according to their
condition and circumstances.
1t is, however, only q difference in degree.
since it is impossible for any one in our broad
land, rich or poor, whatever may be his occu-
patton and whether dwelling in center of
finance and commerce or in q remote corner OF
our domain, to be really benefited by q finan-
cial scheme not alike beneficial to all our peo-
pie, or that anyone should be excluded from a
universal interest in the safe character and
stable value of the currency Of the country.
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 it We can not escape
our lnterdependence. Merchants and dealers
are in every neighborhood, and each has its
shops and manufactures.
Wherever the wants of man exists, business
and finances in some degree are found, related
in one direction to those whose wants they
supply and in another to the more extensive
business and financial to which they are trib-
utary. A fluctuation in price at the seaboard
is known the same day or hour in the remot-
est hamlet. The discredit or depreciation in
financial centers Of any form Of money in the
hands Of the people is signal Of immediate
loss everywhere.
If reckless discomfort and wild experiments
sweep our currency from it's own support, the
most defenseless of all who suffer in that time
of distress and national discredit will be the
poor, as they reckon the loss in their scanty
support and the laborer and workingman, as
he sees the money he has received for his tot