Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-20

But the legal tender notes will re- main to complicate the currency system until congress agrees to their retirement and substitution of others in their places This legislation is imperatively demand ed, as 1t concerns the welfare of all the people,"
 The secretary further said: Neither the cotton of the south nor the wheat of the west would be worth very much if there were no roads to carry 1t and no merchants or bankers to supply the means for it's transfer from one to ;sn- other. The merchant and banker cannot prosper when the farmer and mechanics are idle or only partially employed, nor can the farmer or mechanic prosper when the operations of the merchant and bank CT are prohibited or improperly obstruct- ed.. No nation can reasonably hope to control the trade of any considerable part of the world or even to realize the full benefits of it's own trade, until its exchanges are based upon standard Of value recognized as sound and perma- nent in all the centers of commerce.
 ''The pound sterling has made London not only the principal market, but the clearing house of the whole world. No matter what character of currency other nations smay use, at no matter what standard of value they may adopt, all their international balances are subject ed at last to the test of the pound sterl- ing.
 With an inferior currency we could never successfully contest her suprem- acy, and the belief that we can punish her, or enrich ourselves by destroying the value of our own money is one Of the most remarkable delusions of the age. We are great enough and strong enough to maintain our commercial and financial independence in opposition to any coun- try Of the world. but in order to do so we must be allowed to use as effective in- strumentalities as are employed by our rivals"
 The speaker closed with a hope that the political platforms of both the great parties would henceforth be clear and unequivocal
 ''If majority of the people of the United States are in favor of the main- tenance of the present standard of value and opposed to the free and unlimited coinage of legal tender silver they ought to have an opportunity to say so in form which will preclude all controversy ias to whether they have said so or not. On the other hand, if majority of the people are in favor of abandoning the present standard of value and establish ing silver monometallsm by the free and unlimited coinage of that metal into full legal tender money they should have an opportunity to say that. When this is di- rectly presented we need not fear the result"
 The other toasts responded to were Our Domestic Commerce." by Hon. Ju- liuS Ss. 1ouTFOWS, l)eNRlOpHeHC and Opportunity" by Hon. Charles Elm ory Smith "The City of New York" by Mayor Strong. and Ethics in Politics." by Rev. Dr. M w. Stryker.
 Among the letters of regret read was tine following:
 Executive Mansion,
 Washington, D. C., Nov 19.
 My Dear Mr. Orr: I am sorry that feel obliged to write 1t; but you must let me off from the chamber of commerce dinner this year. There never was a time when my admiration for this inn portant business organization was so great, and I am sure that the recent eff forts of it's members to save the country from the havoc of financial madness ought to be appreciated by every patri- otic citizen.
 would enjoy exceedingly a renewal of my association with my friends Ael the chamber at their banquet board; but the trouble s cannot attend this year and do the things required of me here in the way of official duty. Very truly yours. GROVER CLEVELAND.
 A letter of regret was also read from Gov Levi P. Morton, who stated that of fcial engagements prevented him from being present.