Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-12-07
~ been so devotedly cherished as one of the
ra IA pf frna A ,a,.i,.a nj

las been so devotedly cherished as one of the
traits of true Americanism;
"Our country's Indebtedness, whether ow-
ing oy the Governmt mt or existing between
individuals, has been contracted with refer
snce to our present standard. To decree oy
sct OF Congress that these debts shall he pay
he hecontemplation and intention of the parties
when contracted, would operate to transfer, by
Gne hat vf Jaw and without compen .ation, an
and interests almost incalculao!e.
"Those who advocate blind and headlons
plunge to free coinage in the nams of bimet-
all experience, that We could thus establish
',0uble standard and a concurrent circulation
of both metals in our coinage, are certainly
reckoning from a cloudy standpoint. Orr
present standard of value Is the standard of
he civilized world and permits the only hi
,netalism now possible, or at least that Is
within the independent reach OF any single
Nation. however powerful that Nation may
e. While the value of gold as standard Is
'teadied by almost universal com panishment,
wherever this standard Is maintained there
IS at its side in free and unquestioned circula.
ion volume OF silver currency sometimes
,qnling 1t and sometimes even exceeding II IN
,mount, both maintained at n party not with
standing depreciation or lluctuu ion in the
Intrinsic value OF silver
"There Is ayust diff renee between stand.
ird OF value and a currency for monetary
Ise. The standard must necessarily be fixed
and certain. The currency may be in divers
forms AMI of various kinds. No silver stand
ard country has gold currency iu circula ion;
but an enlightened aud wise syst IN OF dnan.e
secures the benefits OI both gold ana silver
as currency and circulating M 4dtum oy Keep.
ing the standaid d stable aud all other currency
at par with it. Suca system aui sucn
standard also give free scope for ae u;e ana
expansion of safe and conservative creGlt. so
indispensable to b. oad and growing 60 nm'r
cial transactions and so well substituted
for the actual use OF money. If liked ani
stable standard Is maintained such as the
magnitude aad safety ot our comnec-
cial transhr. ions an business require. tne
use of money itself is conveniently minimize
EVERY dolIar of fixed ami sra1!e vatut ms
through the agency of confident credit an as
tonishing capacity of multiplying itself IN
financial work, Every unstable and fuctu-
ating dollar fails as oasis Of credit. ana IN It's
use begets gimbiug speculation and under
mines the fOuuda lions Of honest enterprise.
II have venture to express myself ON thls
subject viii h earnestnessand plaineS OF Speech
because cannot rid myself OF the 2 oetet IN. ni.
cUiuaGe of silver. so strongly approved ana So
enthusiastically advocated 10y multituae OF
my countrymen, serious menac: 10 'ut
prosperity and an in nSidiouS TEN ntaii)n ~ oif
people to wander IRON the allegiance they
1--WE to public and private Integrity III - ne
cause do not Gistrust he good faith ana sin
cerity OF those who press TINS scneme that
have imperfectly but with Z z.al submitted my
thoughts upon this plomentous sunJect.
cannot refrain from begging them 70 re-eN.
aulle their views anu Drilels III tuo 'So"o -,
patriotic reason and familiar experience, ahd
To weigh again and again the consequences OF
such legislation rs their efforts have united.
Even the con nuei agitation Of tne suoject
adds greatly 10 the dhcultiss OF dangerous
financial situation already forced upon US.
"ln conclusion l especially entreat the peo'
ple's represen. atives Ill the Congress. VINO
are harged with the responsibility OF lnau'
gurating measures for the safety and pros
Derity OF our common country, TO promptly
and effectively consider the ills of our critic Al
financial plight. have suggesl ed remedy
which my judgment approves. desire, how
eyer, to assure the Congress that am pre-
pared to co operate with them in perfectinq
any other measure promising thorough and
practical relief. and that will gladly labor
ther the interests and guard the welfare OF
our countrymCn whom in our respective
places of duty we have undertaken to serve
"GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 2. 1885"