Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-31
OPENING THE DEBATE.
Secretary Carlisle's Speech to tn
Chicago WOrkingmen.

SECRETARY speech TO the
Chicago WOrkinEmen.
One of the most prominent arguments in
behalf of sound money for the wage Garner
and the one that is being most extensively
circulated IS the address of Secretary Car
Isle of the Treasury Department before the
labor organizations of Chicago April Is
last.
The wage-Earner's Interest in Good
Money.
Whether the general business Of the peo-
pie shall be transacted with good money or
bad money" said Mr.. Carlisle, whether the
wages of labor shall be paid in sound and
stable currency, with full purchasing power
in the markets where they are exchanged
for the necessaries of life or in a de-
preciated and fiuctuating currency, having
no fixed value and therefore bearing no
permanent relation to the current prices of
commodities, are questions which affect the
comfort and happiness of every home and
the peace and prosperity of every com
munity. While all are deeply interested in
the settlement of these questions. it is I'M
fortunately the case that all will not be
equally affected by an erroneous decision
upon them. The wealthy man, the man
who has accumulated property or boarded
money, Is always exempt from many of the
most serious consequences of financial or
industrial disturbance. He has both means
and credit, ana Wnlle ne may De SUBJECTED
to much loss and Inconvenience, neither he
nor his family will be pinched by hunger.
or compelled to go without raiment or shell
ter.
The Poor First Feel Depression.
cit is the poor man and the man Of mod
crate means-the man who has not been
fortunate enough to accumulate property
or money, but who depends upon his wages
or upon the products of his own labor for
the means of supporting himself and his
family-that always feels the first and
most disastrous effects Of a business or
Industrial depression, no matter whether it
results from a deprecated and fluctuating
currency or from other causes. Such a
man has nothing to dispose of but his labor,
and nothing with which to support him
self or his family. but his wages or the pro-
ceeds Of his own labor, and any policy
that even temporarily suspends or OBJ
structs the industrial progress of the coun-
try by diminishing the demand for the pro-
ducts Of labor, or by impairing the capacity
or disposition of capital to employ labor,
must be injurious to his interests and in
flict more or less suffering upon all who are
dependent upon him. Labor cannot be
boarded; the idle day is gone forever; lost
wages are never reimbursed; and, there
fore. steady employment and good pay in
good money are essential to the comfort
and happiness of the American laborer and
his wife and children, and he will be un-
faithful to himself and to them If he does
not insist upon the adoption and mainte-
nance of such a policy as will most certain
ly preserve the value and stability of all
our currency and promote the regular and
profitable conduct of all our Industrial en-
terprises. He cannot prosper when the
country is in distress. when its industries
are Frustrated. its commerce paralyzed, its
credit broken down or its social order dis
turbed; nor can he prosper when the f1uc-
tuations of the currency are such that he
cannot certainly know the value of the dol
lar In which his wages are paid, or estimate
in advance the cost Of the necessaries Of
life.
Prosperity or Failure Involved.
Whether we shall or shall not have a
long period of financial, commercial and
Industrial disturbance in this country. and
whether labor shall be deprived Of perma-.
nent employment or be partially employed