The herald., 1897-05-29
Over the Need of Business
Confidence
ASKED M'KINLErs ADVICE
AND RECEIVES ORDERS WHAT
TO SAY
The Great Needs Of the Country Are
Revenue and a Sound Money
System Of Currency

CINCINNATI. O., May 2s.-The pro-
gram Of the closing day Of the union
meeting of the Commercial clubs of
Boston, Chicago, st. Louis and Cincin-
natl was interrupted by inclemen,
weather
The crowning event was the banquet
at the Clifton mansion of Alexander
Mcdonald
The brief speech of Lyman ]. Gage
secretary of the treasury, was perhaps
the feature Of the banquet. He was
vigorously applauded when he arose to
speak. Secretary Gage prefaced his re-
marks with the statement that before
coming he called upon the president and
asked permission to say for the admin.
istration. that there must be proper reve-
nue. raised and that there must be q
sound system of currency established
The president, he said, replied: THAT
is exactly what want you to say"
Continuing, the secretary remarked
that he had discovered that two par
ticular themes held first place in the
thoughts of all business men. These
were the tariff and the public finances
He then said in part:
upon the settlement Of these two
questions enterprise waits and industry
languishes, and have thought that on
this occasion could do no better serv.
ice than to give you assurance and hope
AS to the great fabric now before con-
gress, known as the tariff bill, have
nothing to say in detail. want to bea,
testimony, however, to the good faith
Of those in both houses who have that
measure in charge. They are fully con.
scious of their great responsibility and
are working faithfully to discharge It
measure are likely to oppose with will
full and unjust objections the course ol
legislation. Protest there will be; more
or less fencing for position must be ex-
pected, but having now come into con-
tact with many Of the representatives
Of the people in both houses Of congress
deem 1t my duty to bear witness, 50
far as it may have value, to the honor
able and patriotic motives that inspire
the minds Of the great majority, wheth-
er upon one side of the United States OF
the other, and prophesy an early re-
suit in the national councils to which
this great question Is now committed
I make these remarks, not to defend 9
body for which hold no commission t
speak, but to correct in one direction
If I may, the operation of an injurious
sentiment-a sentiment which is sowing
its seeds in many directions. 1t is di.
viding classes, destroying unity and
T. - = Co. = L
is 'distrust' Faith and courage lead tc
conquest and victory. Distrust para
lyzes and destroys.
"As to the financial question, to which
have already referred, must content
myself with few words. I am glad
that they may be the words of assur-
ance. II any of you harbor the suspi-
cion that the administration just now
installed into the responsibilities of high
Office has forgotten or is likely to forget
the mandate of the people whose vote
IN behalf Of honest money and sound
finances rang out loud and clear in No
vember last, put that suspicion aside
1t was unjust and unfounded. In good
time and in proper order the affirma-
tive evidences Of my declaration will
appear. In the meantime, friends, dc
your part to help those charged with
legislative and administrative powers
Do not let-inertia, engendered by feal
and distrust. creep over you. We have
been passing through period of great
trial, and nobly have we endured ths
strain. The future is not dark will
forebodings; it is illumined with ration.
al hope. The revival Of industry is
near and with the establishment of q
revenue law sufficient to bring into the
treasury an amount sufficient to meet
the reasonable needs of the govern
ment. and with the establishment OF
our finances on a sound and enduring
basis, nothing now foreseen can delay
the repair of past losses and the inaug-
uration Of a new forward movement
along the lines Of material advance
ment and social progress, which we
may humbly trust is in the benevolent
mind Of God to bestow upon the Ameri-
can people"
At midnight special trains were in
waiting and conveyed the guests to Bos-
ton, Chicago and st. Louis.