The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-23
GAGE WRITES TO GOMPERS
SECRETARY ANSWERS RESOLU TON or
THE FEDERATION.
0isayows the Charge of Peryersity or Evil
Purpose in the Preparation Of His Hypo.
critical Bill.

Washington, DC, Dec. 22.-Secretary
Gage has written the following letter
to President Gompers, of the Federation
of Labor:
Il have read with care the resolutions
adopted the 10th instant ut Nashville
by the convention of the Federation OF
Labor, which recite as follows:
Resolved, That we declare our
selves most positively opposed to the
Gage financial bill recently introduced
in Congress by the Secretary of the
Treasury. 1t is a measure that, il
adopted as a law, viii only the more
firmly riyit the gold standard on the
people OF the country and perpetuate
its disastrous effects in every form.
Resolved, That we pronounce the
Gage bill an undisguised effort to retire
our greenback currency and all of the
paper money, with Il view to the sub
stitution OF national bank notes in their
stead, and thus fasten the national
bank system for years upon the Ameri-
can people,
Now, if it be true that the gold
standard-by which things have been
measured as to price for the last sixty
years in this country-is inimical to the
interests of the labOring classes of the
United States, then | think it is inimical
to all classes. In other words | do
not believe that he exploitation of one
class by another, either through false
weights, partial laws or bad monetary
system, can be made to work for the
permanent benefit of the exploiting class
itself, or for the general veal, even
were it defensible ON any ground OF
right or justice, which it is not. Granted,
therefore, that the permanence of the
gold standard (for which l argue) oper-
ates in this evil direction. then your
resolutions of condemnation are well
founded, and l am justly charged, either
with an ignorance which constitutes ms
a foolish adviser, or with a perversity
of motive which makes me an evil adj
wiser.
II have right to disavow the charge
OF perversity or evil purpose, since there
is nothing in my whole life as related to
from which the possession by me OF
much less demonstrated.
out ignorance often unconsciousiF
works as deep injury as evil intent might
do and to tnls sin of ignorance Gf Il be
a SIM, must confess myself to be a
possible victim. The confession, how
ever, ought not to classify me as sepa-
rate from my fellow men generally,
whether they be considered as individual
units or as congregated in groups. Ig-
nOrance is n relative. not an absolute
term, since few are totally ignorant and
none of us absolutely wise. Nor does the
number constituting the group change
this fact, since the wisdom of group,
however large. cannot be greater than
that of the wisest man in it.
This remains true whether the sub
ject matter involving knowledge and
judgment be astronomy, physics or f.
nance. Tie condemnation then invoIv-
ed in the resolutions referred to is meas
ured by the inst or imperfect apprehen-
sion of questions relating to monetary
science held by the wfsest men who sup
ported them.
"Laying these general considerations
aside. let me say to you. and through
you TO the great body Won so honorahlv
represent. that If instead Of denunciatarv
resolutions. which are not argument. yoN
or anv one on your behalf will show
that the views I entertain and advoc~'n
are other than salutnry to the croot
economic hodv Of which we are nlI ir H.
perdent members. I viii abandon th~~,
without hesitation. NV prespnt convic-
tion. the honest fruit of sincere study and
reflection. Is that hreak-down in ou~
nresent money standard would he -
most disastrous blow to nIl onr com
mercfaI and Industrial interests. and that
unon tho wag workers as class. wonld
he entai'ed the rnost ser'ors effects ~ the
d's"et"" Po1ieving this. must SO
bear witness"