The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-15
Line OF BATTLE.
Between Safe Currency and
Mono Metallic Forces.
President Cleveland States His Atti-
tude on an Important Subject.

CHICAGO April l6-Foliowing Is the
text OF President Cleveiand's reply to the
invitation Of the Chicago business men to
address meeting here as previously an
nounced;
EXECUTIVE MANsIoS,
WAsHINGTog, April ID
To Messrs. william It. Baker, George w,
Smith, John A. Roache. T. w. Harvey DaViu
Kelly, Henry q. Robbins;
GESTI.EMES-I am much gratided by the ex'
ceedingly kind and complimentary invtaiioh
you have rendered me, on behalf or many
citizens OF Chicago, to be- their guest at the
gathering in the interest Of sound money anu
wholesome financial doctrine.
My attachment TO this cause In 50 great, and
know so well the hospitality and kindness Oh
the people Of Chicago, that my personal incins
ton is strongly in favor of accepting your
hattering invitation; but my judgment ano
my estimation of the proprieties OF my ofnciai
place obliges me to forego the enjoyment Oh
participating in the occasion You contemplate
hope, however, the event will mark the Dc
ginning of an earnest and aggressive effort 10
disseminate among the people safe ana pru
dent financial ideas. Nothing more Important
can engage tho attention of patriotic citizens,
because nothing is so vital TO the welfare OF
our country, and 10 the strength, prosperity
md honor OF our nation.
The situation confronting ps demands that
shose who appreciate the importance OF thls
subject and those who ought be the first to
zee impending danger should no longer re-
main Indifferent or over-conhdent.
II the sound money sentiment abroad In the
hand is TO save us from mischief and disaster,
it must be crystallzed and combined and made
Immediately active. IL Is dangerous TO over
look the fact that n vast number OF our peopAe
with scant opportunities thus far to examine
the question in all Its aspects have 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 plaus-
IDLY presented as q remedy for their unfortu-
nate condition.
What IL Most Needed.
What Is now needed more than anything
else is plain and simple presentation OF the
argument in favor Of sound money. In other
words, il Is time for the American people 10
reason together as members OF great nation'
which can promise them continuapce OF pro
lection and safety only 50 long as its solvency
Is unsuspected, it's honor unsullied and the
soundness of its money unquestioned. These
things are il-exchanged for the illusions OF
debased currency and groundless hope OF al
vantages TO be gained by disregard or our
financial credit and commercial standing
among the nations Of the world.
II our people were isolated from all others,
and If the question of our currency could be
treated without regard to our relations to
other countries, its character would be mat
ter Of comparatively little importance. III 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 ac-
Quire from each other the materials TO supply
the wants Of their existence But If American
civilization was satisfied with this 1t would
abiectly fail in it's high and noble mission.
In these restless days the farmer is tempted
by the assurance that II our currency may be
debased redundant and uncertain, such a situa-
tion will improve the price of his products.
Let US remind him that he must buy 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 enhanced, the cost OF
things he must buy will not remain station
airy; that the better prices which cheap money
proclaims are unsubstantial and elusive, and
that even II they were real and palpable he
must necessarily be left far behind in the race
for their enjoyment
A Word to Wage Farmers.
II ought not be difficult TO convince tho wage
Garner that IL there were benefits arising from
"a degenerated currency, they would reach
him least of all and last of all. In an un-
healthy 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 vcxed
with vanishing visions OF increased wages and
an easier lot. The pages of history and ex-
periences are fun of this lesson.
An insdious attempt IL made to create
prejudice against the advocates of n safe and
sound currency by the insinuation, more OF
less directly made, that they belong 60 finan-
cial 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 10 sacrifice the interests
OF those outside their circle.
believe that capital and wealth, through
combination ami other means, sometimes gain
an undue advantage, and IL must be conceded
that the maintenance of q sound currency
may. in a sense. be invested with greater or
less importance TO Individuals according TO
their condition and circumstances. IL is, how
ever, only difference In degree, since II is
utterly impossible that any one in our broad
land, rich or poor whatever may be hts occu.
patton, and whether dwelling in u center Of
finance aud commerce, or In a remote corner
OF our domain, can be really benefited by
finance scheme not alike beneficial 30 all our
people, or that anyone should be excluded
from a common and commercial interest in the
character and stable value OF the currency Of
the country.
OF Interest to ALL
In our relation to this question, we are all In
business, for we all buy and sell - we all
have 10 do with financial operations, for we
all earn money aud spend &C. We cannot es-
cape our interdepcndence. Merchants and
dealers are I'm every neighborhood and each
has Its shops and manufactures. Wherever
the wants Of man exist. business and finance
In some degree are found. related An ono di-
rection 70 those whose wants they supply and
IN another % the more extonsivo business and
finance 10 which they are tributary.
huctuation In prices at the seaboard N
known the aamn as in the renofaaf haInlef