The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-14
HENRY GEORGE ON CLEVELAND.

TO the Editor Of the Neee FORK Journal Demo
cratic: In response 70 the question of the
journal l would say that in my view, public
opinion, even if Congressional action lags,
ought 10 put sharp snd decisive stop to any
more such gift enterprises" as the President
Ass already been suffered TO indulge in to tie
great advantage OF Messrs. Stetson, Morgan
snd their allies, and which, from credible re-
port, he is now proposing 10 continue on still
more gigantic scale. What Mr.. Cleveland has
been doing in his previous bond issues. and
what ne Is now believed % be on the verge OF
DONG again, Is an exertioD of personal power
such as no monarch OF Europe unless ii be the
Szsr OF Russia, would dare attempt such vic
aaAoA, Ho- merely OF the principles OF the
American constitution. but OF the fundamental
principles OF constitutional government, a.
but his head.
The incurring Of public debt By the issuance
o. bonds binding on the nation IS no more the
pIeIogsaVe OF tle President OF the United
states than IL Is the prerogatlFe OF the Queen OF
Great Britain. me power OF Issuing bonds,
| IKE the power OF declaring war, and the power
OF imposing taxes. Is not placed by our con-
stltutlon IN the hands OF the President, but in
the hands OF the Congress of the United States,
over the action OF which he has legitimately
put the power OF recommendation and the
renee.
Mr.. Cleveland. elected as Democratic Presi-
oent-end, 10 our shame and ehagrtn, by the
earnest efforts of Democrats like mysel + whose
only motive was the bringing back 10 the Re
pubic OF the principles OF Jederson-has
usurpec this power. He has done this under
pretense OF an obsolete law, not intended for
such purpose, and which under the JeffersoTign
principle would have been deemed null and
void. Yet, under this shallow pretense, Mr..
Cleveland, IS President, and without the sane
ton OF Congress, has already twice increased
the bonded deot OF the Nation by millions OF
doIlsrs- Ana, under this pretense OF law. he has
used the money obtained in way that the law
ne assumed to set under never remotely con-
templated He has used it, not to main
TAN the value of the paper money OF
the United States. but TO maintain the
current expenditures OF the Government in
time OF profound peace, thus avoiding, as
Snarles trled 70 do, the necessity OF recourse
70 the Legislature for authority to tax the
people The principle OF mo taxation without
IepFesenianon, was the principle on which
the American Revolution was fought, and II
was deemed the fundamental principle OF con-
sututlonaI liberty long before the American
Revolution was dreamed OF.
Mr.. Cleveland as President has ignored this
principle OF DeInocrAtic Repu biicanism, and
ne has ignored II in the most offensive and de-
faint OF corruption closer to the doors OF the
hlIe House than u was ever brought before
under any american President Who ever
heard OF Mr.-Frsncis Lynde Stetson either es
publicist or as banker. or in anv other public
way until the last few years2 When Mr.
Cleveland took Office in 1898 Mr.. Stetson was
only known 70 the public, even in New YORK,
as Mr.. CleYeland's partner in his private law
business. Yet, no sooner did his partner, or
ex-psftner, take the Presidential chair than
Nil. Stetson appeared in Washington es the
lobbyist OF the Pacific Railroad ring in
scheme requiring The Presidential sanction, By
Whlen they nope TO make millions ct the eI-
pense OF the people. And he next becomes
known throughout the country and the fuan-
clal world IS the associate and partner Of the
gree test BANKERS in a ''desl" with the Presi-
dent OF the United States out OF which an
other favored syndicate has already made
millions Be Mr.. Stetsonis qualities what they
may, does any one suppose that the Pacific
~ 10 = ~ ~
cost OF his hotel bills or Mr. Morgan have
given him as much of the syndicate's gain OF
millions as would have Dald his car fare but
Tor the fact that he had been Mr.. CievelsRd's
law partner? 1t is the same usurpation OF
power, with the same oGi0us concomitants,
that Mr. Cleveland now proposes, in the opin-
lon OF those best informed. TO repeat again on
larger scale. If the American people viii
quietly sui mit 10 this then, indeed, may We
begin TO speak OF the American Republic not
as q tn ne that is, but as q thing that was.
The constitutional question so strongly i'm
presses me that have not space TO dwell on the
hnanclsl question. But, II brief, II the income
OF the Government is not sufficient, the COM
nonsense alternative IS TO cut down the ex-
penses OF Government 10 meet its revenue. II
more bonds are needed then il is the business
OF Congress 10 authorize their issue. ii these
bonds are TO be sold, then they should be
ohered in open market, and not 10 g syndicate
IN the White House. AS for gold reserve,
tnat Is an extrsFsgant ana useless supersti-
ton. The true plan of dealing with our
finances Is that OF an interchangeable bond
proposed by Tom l.. Johnson OF Ohio, and sup
ported by such sterling Democrats as James G.
Mcguire of CalifoFnis In the last Congress.
That would dispense with ell gold reserve, and
with all Intervention of bankers between the
Government and the people. II would effect
ually take the Government out of the banking
business, and the banks out OF the proper Cow
eminent business OF issuing money. Why
should the Government buy gold with credit
when il can directly use the credit to buy ali
that gold is exchangeabie for, even gold itself?
HENRY GEORGE.