Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-04-19
A "GOLDEN GIANT"
CLEVELAND WRITES ALETTER TO
CHICAGO COMMITTEE.
He Leaves no Doubt OF His Position
ON the Relative VaIuc Of Gold
and silver. hut Gives no Logical
Reason for IL.

me in behalf of many citizens of Chi
cago to be their guest at gathering
in the interest of sound money and
wholesome financial doctrine.
My attachment to this cause is Sc
great and l know so we'll the hospital.
ity and kindness of the people of Chi.
cago that my personal inclination is
strongly in favor of accepting your
iiattering invitation; but my judg-
ment and my estimate of the propri-
eties OF my official place obliges me to
forego the enjoyment of participating
in the occasion you contemplate.
/ hope, however, that event will
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 attention of patriotic citi-
zens, because nothing is so vital to the
welfare OF our fellow coun!rymen and
to the strength, prosperity and honor
Of our nation.
The situation confronting us de-
mands that those who appreciate tho
Importance of this subject and those
who ought to be the first to see inn
pending danger should no longer re-
main Indifferent or overconfident.
If the sound money sentiment
abroad in the land is to save us from
mischief and disaster, it must be crys.
talized and combined and made i'm.
mediately active. 1t is dangerous to
overlook the fact that vast number
of our people with scant opportunity,
thus far, to examine the question in
all its aspects, have nevertheless been
ingeniously pressed with suggestions
which in this time of misfortune and
depression find willing listeners pre-
pared to give credence to any scheme
which is plausib!y presented as a rem
edy for their unfortunate condition.
What is now needed more than any,
thing else is plain and simple pre-
sentation OF the argument in favor of
sound money. In other words it is a
time for the American people to reason
together as members of a great nation
which Can promise them a continu-
ance of protection and safety only so
long as its solvency is unsupported, it's
honor unsullied and the soundness OF
its money unquestioned. These
things are i'll exchanged for the illu-
sions of a debased currency and
groundless hope of advantages to be
gained by disregard of our financial
credit and commercial 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 with other countries,
its character would be a matter Of
comparatively little importance. If
the American people were only con-
cerned in the maintenance of their
precious life among themselves, they
might return to the old days OF barter
and in this primitive manner acquire
from each other the materials to sup
ply the wants of their existence. But
if American civilization were satisfied
with this it would undoubtedly 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, 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 a. sell; that his dreams Of
plenty are shared by the certainty that
if the price of things he has to sell are
nominally enhanced, the cost of things
he must buy will not remain station
ary; that the best prices which cheap
money proclaim are unsubstantial
and elusive, and then even if 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-
vincd the wage Garner that it 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 ol
this lesson. An insidious attempt i:
made to create prejudice against the
advocates OF safe and sound currency
by the insinustion, more or less di
rectly made, that they belong to finan
cial and business classes and are there
fore not only out of sympathy will
the common people OF the land, bu
for selfish and wicked purposes arr
willing to sacrifice the interests o
those outside their circle.
l believe that capital and wealth
through combination and other means
sometimes gain an undue advantage
and it must lie conceded that tn
maintenance OF sound currenc
may, in sense, be invested with
greater or less importance to individr
ais, according to their condition an