The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-23

Secretary of the Treasury Replies to
Labor Federation Resolutions.

WASHINGTON. 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 goth inst. at Nashville by the
convention Of the Federation of Labor,
which recite as follows:
Resolved That we declare ourselves
most positively opposed to the Gage fnan-
eiaI bill recently introduced in Congress by
the secretary of the treasury II Is q meas
ure that If adopted as a law. will only the
mere firmly rivet the gold standard on the
people of the country and perpetuate its dis
astrous effects in every form.
I'm Kes0lSed Inat we pronounce tne Gage
back currency and all government paper
money, with Il view to the substitution of
national bank notes in their stead, and thus
fasten the national bank system for years
upon the American people,
Now, if it be true that the gold stand
ard-by which things have been measured
as to price for the last sixty years in this
country-is inimicai to the interests of the
laboring classes Of the United States, then
! think It inlmcal to all classes In other
words, l 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 per-
rlanent benefit of the exploiting class itself,
or for the general veal, even were it de-
fenSible on any ground of right or justice.
which 1t is not Granted, therefore, that
the permanence of the gold standard flor
which / argue) operates in this evil direc-
ton, then your resolutions of condemnation
are well founded. and ! am justly charged.
either with an ignorance which constitutes
me a foolish adviser. with perversity
of motive which makes me an evil adviser.
Il have right to disavow the charge of
perversity or evil purpose, since there is
nothing in my whole life, as related TO my
fellow-men, either in word or deed. from
which the possession by me of such charac-
teT1gficS inferred less demon
strated. But ignorance often unconscicusly
works as deep injury as evil intent might do,
and to this sin of Ignorance Of II be a SIM
i must confess myself to be possible VIC
tim. This confession, however, ought rot
TO classify me separate from my fellow
men generally, whether they be considered
groups Ignorance is a relative, not an alb
Solute. term, since few are totally ignorant,
and none is absolutely wise Nor does the
number constituting the group change this
fact. since the wisdom of a group, however
large, cannot be greater than that of the
wisest man in it. This remains true whether
the subject matter involving knowledge and
Judgment be astronomy, physics or finance.
The condemnation. then involved in the res
olutions referred to is measured by the just
or imperfect apprehension of questions re-
lating to monetary science held by the
wisest men who supported them
Laying these general considerations aside,
let say to you, and through you to the
great body you so honorably represent that
If, instead of denunciatory resolutions.
on your behalf will show that the views
/ entertain and advocate are other than SAL
utary 70 the great economic body of which
we are all independent members, / will aban-
don them without hesitation. My present
conviction, the honest fruit of sincere study
and reflection, is that a breakdown in our
present money standard would be a most
disastrous blow to all our commercial and
Industrial interests. and that upon the wage
workers. as class. would be entailed the
most serious effects of the disaster. Believ-
ing this | must so bear witness. "