The record-union., 1897-12-23
Dan0urcing the SecretaU's Currency Sill
Now Before Congress.
Says That IF the Labor Leader
VIII Show That the Views He
(Gage) Entertaius and Advo-
Gates Are Other That Salutary
to the Great Economic Body,
He VIII Abandon Them With
out Hesitation.

WASHINGTON, Dec 22.-Secretary
Gage has written the following letter
to President Gompers CT the Federation
of Labor:
Il have read with care the resolutions
adopted the 10th inst, at Nashville by
the convention OF the Federation OF
Labor, which recite as follows:
"'Resolved, That we declare our
selves most positively opposed 20 the
Gage financial bill recently introduced
in Congress by the Secretary of the
Treasury 1t is measure that, if
adopted as law, will only the more
firmly rlvet the gold standard on the
people of the country, and perpetuale
it's disastrous effects in every form.
Resolved, That we pronounce the
Gage bill an undisguised effort 10 retire
our greenback courrency and all Gov
ernment paper money, with q view to
the substitution of national bank notes
in their stead, and thus fasten the ma
tional bank system for years upon the
American people,
Now, if it be true that the gold STAN
dard, by which things have been meas
ured as to price for the last sixty years
in this country, is inimicable To the in
terests of the laboring classes or the
United States, then l think it is ini-
mical to all classes. In other words, l
do not believe that the exploitation or
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 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 perma-
nence of the gold standard, for which
I argue) operates in this evil direction,
then your resolutions of condemnation
are we'll founded, and l am justly
charged either with an ignorance which
constitutes me a foolish adviser, or
with a perversity of motive which
makes me an evil adviser.
II have 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 unconsciously
works as deep injury as evil intent
might do, and to this sin of ignorance.
if it be a sin, I must confess myself
to be a possible victim. This confess
sion. however, ought not to classify me
as separate from my fellowmen 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
ignorant, and none are absolutely wise.
Nor does the number constituting the
group change this fact, since the wis
dom of a group, however large, can
not 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 resolutions referred to is measured
by the just or imperfect apprehension
of questions relating to monetary
science held by the wisest men who
supported them.
Laying these considerations aside,
let me say to you. and through you to
the great body you so honorably repre-
sent that If, instead of denunciatory
resolutions. which are not argument,
you, or anyone on your OeHaII, VIII
show that the views ! entertain and
advocate are other than salutary to
the great economic body of which we
are all independent members, l will
abandon them without hesitation. My
present conviction, the honest fruit of
sincere study and reflection, is that
breakdown in our present money stan
dard would be a most disastrous blow
to all cur commercial ana industrial in
terests. and that upon the wage work
ers, as a class. would be entaiied the
most serious effects of the disaster. Be
lieving this, l must so bear witness"