The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-23
GAGE TO The FEDERATION.
The Secretary is Ready 10 Be COnVinoed
II He is In Error.
THEIR DENUNCIATORY RESOLUTIONS
Are Kosented-He Reads Lecture on fg-
noranoe 60 the President Of the Organ
iration and Expresses " iliingness
be Taught in Iinante IL Wrong.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2e-socre,ary
Gage has written the following letter T.
President Gompers. OF the Federation OF
Labor.
i have read with care the resolutions
adopted the -1h instant st Nashville by
the convention OF the Federation o, L.
Dor, which reci,e as follows:
Resolved, That We declare ourselves
most positively opposed 70 the Gage
financial bin recently introduced In Con-
gress by the Secretary Of the Treasury.
u ls a measure that II adopted as a law
VIII only the more firmly rivet the gold
standard on the people OF the country and
perpetuate IFS disastrous effects in every
form.
Resolved. That We pronounce the Gage
bll an undlsguised effort 20 retire ou,
sreenback currency and an government
paper money, with a view 10 the substitu-
ton ot national bank notes in their stead
and thus fasten the national bank sys-
tenn Tor years upon the American people"
As TO IGNORANCE.
Now II 10 bc true that the sold stand
ard-by which things have been measured
as 70 price FOR the last sixty years IN this
country-is inimicM . the interest OF
mink Il lnimcal 20 al classes. In other
words I do not believe that the explolta-
ton Of one class by another. either
through false weights. partial laws. or a
bad monetary system, can be made %
work Tor The permanent heneit Of the ex.
plotting class Itself or for the general
veal even were 10 dcfensibie on any
ground of right or justice. which Il is not
Granted. therefore that the permanenct
OF the gold standard Gor which l arguel
works in This evil direction then YOU
resolutions OF condemnation ere vel
founded and 7 am Justly charged. either
with an Ignorance which constitutes mo
foolish adviser. or with a perversity o
motive which makes me an evil adviser.
Il have "A right 10 disavow the charge ol
pervorsty or cvil intent since there Is no.
thing in my whole lie as relating 30 my
fellow men either in word or deed from
which the possession hy me Of such char
acterists can he inferred. much less de-
monstrated. But Ignorance often uncon-
sciousiy works as deep injury as evil in
tent might DO and this kind Of Ignorance
Of it Doe possible ! must confess 20 b.
possible victim. This confession. how
ever. ought not 20 classify me as sope-
rate from nay fellow men generally
whether they Doe considered as individuals
units. or as conrrcgated IN groups. Igno.
rance IS "a relative. NOT an ahsout term
since few are totally ignorant ana nons
is absolutely wise. nor does the number
constituting the group change this fact.
since the wisdom ~ group. however
large. cannot be greater than that OF the
wisest man In g.
READY To LEARN
This remains true whether the subject
matter involving knowledge and Judgment
be astronomy physics or finance Tho
condemnation then involved IN the reso-
,utons referred 20 ls measured hy the Just
or imperfect apprehension ~ questions re-
iat'ng 10 monetary science held by the
wisest men who supported them.
laying these general considerations
aside let me say 20 YOU and through you
% the great body you 50 honorabiy repre-
sent that n instead Of denunciatory reso-
iuuons. which are not argument, YOU or
any one on your behalf viii show that the
views entertain and advocate are other
than saluiary % the great economic body
OF which we are al independent men,
bers viii abandon them without hesita-
ton Nv present conviction. the homes;
fruit OF sincere study and reflection. -
that a breakdown IN our present money
standard would be a most disastrous blow
% an OUT commcrcial and Industrial in
tercsts. and that upon the wage workers
as a class would be entailod the most
serious effects of the disaster. Believing
this. ! must 50 bear witness