The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-18

LOUISVILLE, KY, May 1.-THE Cour-
ier-Journal this morning prints letter
from Secretary of the Treasury Carlisle to
Hon. John H. Johns OF Prestonburg, KY.
1t is in part as follows:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 12)
Hon. John H. Johns, Prestonburg, Ky.-MY
DEAR SIR: Your favor of April %, in which
you state that in the discussion of the cur
rency question with your free-silver friends
you find that their strongest arguments seem
to be that had made a speech in favor of the
free coinage of silver on one occasion, was duly
received, but my official duties and other i'm
portant matters have so ,occu pied my time that
no opportunity could be found to answer you
until now.
The report that Imade speech In favor of
free coinage of silver was circulated for the
first time about three years ago and has been
kept constantly in circulation by the advocates
OF free coinage ever since, Notwithstanding the
well-known TACT that the only speech 1 ever
made upon the subject and which is printed
in the official records of the proceedings of the
House ofRepresentatives shows clearly that !
was opposed to that policy.
Perhaps it will not be improper, in answer,
ing your letters, to state briefly what my posi-
ton upon the question of free coinage then
was, as shown by the speech of February 81.
1878, which is the one from which garbled ex-
tracts are being made by the advocates of that
policy; and in doing this distinctly disclaim
any purpose to vindicate myself against the
charge OF inconsistency, because in my opinion
such charge, whether true or false, Is of no
consequence whatever in the discussion Of this
or any other question.
The fact that a man is wrong at one time in
lie constitutes no reason why he should be
wrong always, and even II 1t were true that
mad advocated the free coinage Of silver eight
cen years ago l would have been a political
coward If had refused on that account to fol-
low my honest convictions and oppose such
pohcy when satisfied that 1t would be injurious
to the country. am more anxious to be right
than TO be consistent, and If the gentlemen
who quote garbled extracts from an old speech,
made when the conditions were entirely diff
ferent from what they are now, can convince
me oy lair argument that any OF my present
opinions upon that or any other subject are
erroneous will not hesitate to abandon them.
The speech made in the House OF Representa-
tives on February 21. 1878, is the only one to
which the advocates of free coinage ever re.
fer' ana that was made in opposition to free
coinage and In favor of striking out a free
coinage provision from q bill and inserting in
place OF 1t section requiring the Secretary OF
100000 worth nor more than "a 900 900
worth OF silver bullion each month and coin it
into standard silver dollars on account Of the
United States Governments and giving the Gov
eminent the benefit of the gain or seigniorage
ms stead OF giving 1t to the owners OF the bull
lion, as would be the case under system Of
free coinage. At that time the silver dollar
had dropped entirely from the coinage by the
act OF February IL. 1873, and such as had been
coined previous to that date were legal tender
only to the extent of SIS.
BY the act of 1874 the difference between the
value OF silver dollar and the value of gold
dollar, at the ratio Of Is to /, was only about
or 8 cents, and /, together with many other
gentlemen who were opposed to free coinage.
then believed that the small difference be.
tween the value of the two dollars would be
removed II the United States should resume
the coinage and use of silver az full legal
tender.
On the 9th day OF November. 1877, motion