The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-10-18
CLEVELAND STILL 0P-
POSES DECEASED MONEY.
Important Note From the Ex-Presi-
dent to a Friend in Louisville.
Views of 1895 EndOrsed-Then He Wrote
to Chicago Business Men Against Free
Silver-Sound Currency is Necessary.

bOUlDN LILLE, OSIs COhA ~
Green of this city has received a let
ter from Former President Grover
Cleveland saying he has not altered
the views expressed in letter he sent
to Chicago business men on April 13,
1895. Mr.. Green wrote to Mr.. Cleve-
land saying his friends here were in
doubt as to the position he held, and
asked him to state his views. Mr..
Cleveland's letter is dated Buzzards
Bay, October z, and reads:
II have received your letter, enclos-
ing copy of my letter written over
four years ago to the business men OF
Chicago. l had not seen it in long
time, but it seems to me l could not
state the case better at this time if l
should try. l have not changed my
opinion as then expressed in the
least"
Mr.. Cleveland's letter to the Chica-
go business men was about 1000
words in length and was devoted en-
tirely to the financial question. In it
he said:
"If reckless discomfort and wild eX-
pertinent should sweep our currency
from its safe support, the most de-
fenseless of all who suffer in that time
of distress and national discredit will
be the poor, as they reckon the loss
of their scanty support, and the la
borer and workingman, as he sees the
money he has received for his toll
shrink and shrivel in his hand when
he tenders it for the necessaries to
supply his humble home.
81 will not believe that if our peo-
pie are afforded an intelligent oppor-
tunity for sober second thought they
will sanction schemes that, however
cloaked, mean disaster and confusion,
nor that they will consent, by under
mining the foundation of safe cur
rency to endanger the beneficient
character and purposes of their Gov
ernment.
1.-THE situation we are now con-
fronting demands that those who ap-
preciate the Importance of this sub
ject-and they ought to be the first
to see impending danger-should no
longer remain Indifferent or overcon-
fident If the sound money sentiment
abroad in the land is to save us from
mischief and disaster it must be crys-
talized and combined and made i'm
mediately active.
sit is dangerous to overlook the
fact that a vast number of our people,
with scant opportunity thus far to
examine the question in all its aspects,
has, nevertheless, been ingeniously
pressed with special suggestions
which, in this time of misfortune and
depression, find willing listeners pre-
pared to give credence to any scheme
which is plausibly presented as a
remedy for their unfortunate condi-
ton.
"It ought not to be difficult to con-
vince the wage Garner that if there
were benefits arising from a degener-
ated currency they would reach him
least of all and last of all. In an un-
healthy stimulation of prices an in
creased cost of all the needs of his
home must be his portion, while he is,
, at the same time vexed with vanish
ing visions of increased wages and an
easier lot. The pages of history and
experience are full of these lessons.
"An insidious attempt is made to
create a prejudice against the advo
Gates of safe and sound currency by
the insinuation, more or less directly
made, that they belong to financial
and business classes, and are therefore
not only out of sympathy with the
common people of the land, but fol-
selfish and wicked purposes are will
ing to sacrifice the interests of those
outside their circle.
II believe that capital and wealth
through combination and othel
means, sometimes gain an undue ad
vantage. and it must be conceded
that the maintenance of sound cur
rency may, in sense, be invested
with a greater or less Importance t.
individuals, according to their condi
tions and circumstances. 1t is, how
ever, only difference in degree
since it is utterly impossible that any
one in our broad land-rich or poor
whatever may be his occupation, ant
whether dwelling in center of financ
and commerce or in a remote corne
of our domain-can be really ben
Gifted by financial scheme no
alike beneficial, or that anyone shoul'
be excluded from a common and uni
versal interest in the safe characte
and stable value of the currency o
the country"