The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-24

fhe :" "Tltes u Aettoe TO PRESIDENT Gompers
Regarding the Action Of the Federation
In Denouncing His Financial sche He
Asks for Arguments Against, Iasse.d of
Denunciasion OF His Proposed Currency
Keform-He D~plores Arr Ing One Class
Against Another
Washington, December 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 instant 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
financial bill recently introduced in con-
greSs by the secretary Of the treasury.
It is a measure that, if adopted as a
law, will only the more firmly rivet 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 undisguisad effort to re-
tire our greenback currency and all
government paper money, with a 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
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 l think it is in
imical to all classes. In other words,
/ do not believe that the exploitation
of one class by another. either through
false weights, partial laws or a bad
monetary system, can Cbe made to work
for the permanent benefit of the ex-
plotting 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 per-
manence of the gold standard (for
which l argue) operates in this evil di-
rection, then your resolutions of con-
demnation are we'll founded and / am
justly charged, either With an ignorance
which constitutes me- foolish advisor
or with the perversity of motive which
makes me an evil adviser.
Il have a right to disavow the charge
of perversity or evil purpose since
there is nothing in my whole life as re-
lated to my fellowmen, either in word
or deed, from which the possession by
me of such characteristics can be in
ferred, much less demonstrated.
But ignorance often unconsciCusly
workssas deep injury as evil intent
might do, and to this sin OF ignorance
Cf it be a sim, l must confess myself
to be a possible victim. This confess
sion ,hnWPVqr nllOht n ella cEify
as separate from my fellow men gener-
ally, whether they be considered as in
diVidUal units or as cOngregated in
groups. Ignorance is a relative, not an
absolute term, since few are totally ig-
nOrant and none is absolutely wise.
Nor does the number constituting the
group change this fact, since the wis
dom of a 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
finance. The condemnation then in
Volved in the resolutions referred to is
measured by the just or imperfect ap-
prehension of questions relating to
monetary science held by the wisest
men who supported them.
Laying these general considerations
ASIDE, let me say 10 YOU ana through
you to the great body you so hCnO-ably
represent, that if instead of denuncia-
tory resolutions, which are not argu-
ment, you or any one on your behalf
will show that the views j entertain
and advocate are other than salutary
to the great economic body of which
We are independent members, 1 will
abandon them without hesitation. My
present conviction, the honest fruit of
sincere study and reflection, is that
break down in our present money
standard would rDe a most disastrous
blow to all our commercial and indus
trial interests, and that upon the wage
workers, as a class, would be entailed
the most serious effects of the disaster.
Relieving this must so bear witness"