Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-04-15
The PRESIDENTS VIEWS
Upon the Question Of a Sound Finan-
cial System,
Presented in Letter to Citizens OF
Chicago, Declining the Honor OF a
Public Reception in That City-A
Forcible Exposition Of His Ideas.

and citizens of Chicago who invited
President Cleveland to visit Chicago,
are TO be disappointed. This evening
Hon. Henry S. Robinson, who was at
The head of the movement, received
the following reply from the President:
Il am much gratified by the exceed
ingly kind and complimentary invita-
ton you have rendered me on behair
of many citizens of Chicago to be their
guest at a gathering in the interest OF
sound money and wholesome financial
doctrine
My attachment to this cause is so
great, and l know so well the hospital
ity and kindness Of the people OF Chi
cago, that my personal inclination is
strongly in favor Of accepting your
nattering invitation; but my judgment
and my estimate of the proprletles OIL
my official place, obliges me to lorego
the enjoyment of participating in the
occasion you contemplate.
4 hope, however, the event VIII
mark the beginning of
AN EARNEST AND AGGRESSIVE
EFFORT.
to disseminate among the people safe
and prudent financial ideas. Nothing
more important can engage the atten-
ton of patriotic citizens, because
nothing is so vital to the welfare OF our
fellow countrymen and to strength,
prosperity and honor of our nation.
The situation confronting us de-
mands that those who appreciate the
Importance Of this subject and those
who ought to be the first to see im-
pending danger should no longer re-
main Indifferent or oyer-contident.
ii the sound money sentiment
abroad in the land is TO save us from
mischief and disaster, it must be crys-
tallized and combined and made i'm
mediately active. 1t is dangerous to
overlook the fact that a vast number Of
our people with scant opportunity,
thus far, to examine the question in all
its aspects, have nevertheless been in
geniously pressed with specious sug7
gestions which, in this time of misfOr-
tune and depression, find willing lis
teners. prepared to give credence 10
any scheme which is plausibIy pre-
sented as a remedy for their unior-
tnuate condition.
What is now needed more than any
thing else, is plain 4 simple pre-
sentatiou 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 a continuance Of pro
lection and safety only so long as its
solvency is unsupported its honor un-
sullied and the soundness Of its money
unquestioned. These things are i'll
exchanged for the illusions of a debased
currency and groundless hope of ad-
vantages to be gained by a disregard
for our financial credit and CONNER
cial standing among the nations OF the
world.
If our people We're isolated from all
others, and if the question Of our cur
rency could be treated without regard
to our relations to other countries, its
character would be a matter of COM
paratiyely little Importance. If the
American people were only concerned
in the maintenance of their physical
life among themselves they might re-
turn to the days Of barter, and in this
primitive manner acquire from each
other the materials to supply the
wants Of their existence. But if Amer
lean civilization were satisfied with
this it would abjectly fail in its
HIGH AND NOBLE MISSION.
ssT.. .,,,., ,.l-.+I~~.- dove +l,o f.,.,,,o- &,
tempted by the assurance that though
our currency may be debased, redund-
ant and uncertain, such a 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 the things he has TO sell is
nominally enhanced, the cost of the
things he must buy will not remain
stationary: that the better prices which
cheap money proclaims are unsN N'stan-
tial and elusive and that even " they
were real and palpable, he must neces-
sarily be left far behind in the race
for their enjoyment.
1T ought not to be difficult to con-
vince the wage-earner that if there
were benefits arising from a degener-
ated 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 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 a prejudice agaiPst the advo-
Gates of a 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 sacri-
flee the interests Of those outside their
circle.
81 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
A SOUND CURRENCY
may. in a sense, be invested with
greater or less Importance to indiytd-
uals according TO their condition and
circumstances. It is, however, only
difference in degree, since it is utterly
impossible that any one in our broad
land. rich or poor, whatever may be
his occupation. and whether dwelling
in q center of finance and commerce, or
in a remote corner Of our domain,
can really be benefited by a financial
scheme. not alike beneficial to all our
people. or that any one should be ex-
cluded from a common and universal