The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-24
MIR. CAGES PLEA.

The letter of Secretary Gage TO Pres
ident Gompers Of the Federation OF La
bor. which was printed in The Times of
yesterday. is an interesting contribution
TO the political literature Of the day.
Mr.. Gage makes three points which are
well worth the consideration OF every
fair-minded man. The first is that II the
gold standard IS inimical 10 the interests
Of the labor classes Of the United States
II Is inimical to all classes. In other
words says he. do not believe that the
exploitation OF one class by another
either through false weights, partial
laws. or a bad monetary system can be
made TO work for the permanent benefit
Of the exploiting class itself or for the
general veal. even were II defensble on
the ground OF right or justice which 1t IS
not.
Il has been the contention Of tho free
silver advocates that the gold standard
was for the peculiar beneit of the
wealthy and 10 the great hurt and In
jury of the common people, and we think
that one Of the worst results Of the
free silver agitation is that it has array
ed class against class and has made
serious issue between labor and capital
which 20 utterly unjusthable by the fact
and which has caused capital 20 grow
timid and tho iaboring men 10 suffer in
consequence.
TO our mini nothing is clearer than that
81 t1r... nta
rich man in having a sound currency,
and he is more interested than the rich
man in having such a condition of con-
fdence in business circles as TO induce
the rich man 10 invest his money in en-
terprises that give employment TO labor
and an impetus generally 70 business.
Tho great distress which has come
upon this country is due in the major
part TO This continuous war upon capital
which has driven money out of the chan
nels OF trade into the strong boxes Of
the rich.
We believe that the people are waking
up TO this fact and as an evidence there
Of we pointed yesterday TO the interesting
session OF the Legislature just adjourned.
there was an absence Of the Populistic
spirit and that no disposition On the part
Of the members TO make war on enter
prise was manifested.
In the next place Mr.. Gage says that If
it be granted that the Dermanence Of the
gold standard operates 20 the disadvan-
tages of labor. then the resolutions Of
condemnation passed by the Federation
Of Labor are well founded, and that he
is justly charged either with an ignorance
which constitutes him a foolish adviser.
or with a perversity of motive, which
makes him an evil adviser.
Mr. Gage modestly oonfesscs that he
may be ignorant and therefore foolish
adviser, but claims for himself at least
purity Of motive and honesty Of purpose.
There is something almost pathetic ~
this plea and it has the ring Of sincerity.
No man is all wise, and in questions of
financial policy the most intelligent men
may err. II is a great question and IL
has been a problem in the affairs Of this
government from its very foundation.
Government finance is not an exact
science and the opinions Of the wisest
men in the land are at best but opinions,
except so far as they are fortified by
the test of experience. These tests seem
to men OF Mr. Cages views TO establish
beyond controversy the fact that there
cannot be but one standard of value and
that it ig simply impossible 10 keep in
circulation gold and silver money at a
fixed ratio.
But granted that the advocates Of the
gold standard are wrong. granted that
they are more ignorant than those who
advocate the free coinage of both gold
and silver at the legal ratio of l6 TO l,
the gold standard men may at Least
fairly lay claim TO the fact that they
are honest and sincere in their belief and
that. with the lights before them, they
are acting in the interest Of the common
veal.
1t is not just and right, we think. that
ii should be charged against this large
class or intelligent ana patflotlc cltlIehs
that they are actuated solely by selfish
and sordid motives. while all the patriot
ism and generosity of the American peo-
pie are to be found in the ranks OF those
who advocate the free coinage Of silver.
The Christmas season is upon us, a sea-
son Of peace and good will toward men.
Let US all try at this special season to
cultivate the spirit OF liberality, TO give
and take. TO accord 10 those who honestly
differ with us on questions of this char
acter the same sincerity and honesty of
purpose that we claim for ourselves.
WORD FROM THE PREACHERS.
Some Of the clergyment Of Atlanta have
issued the following appeal: