Evening star., 1900-10-12
CLEVELAND FOE OF SILVER
THE FORMER PRESIDENT STANDS
WHERE HE DID IN '96.
Writes a Letter to Friend In Louis
vile, KY, Reiterating
His Views.

John s. Green of Louisville, KY. has re-
ceived a letter from former President Gro
yer Cleveland saying he has not altered the
views expressed in a letter he sent to Chi
cago business men on April 13, 1895.
Mr.. Green wrote to Mr.. Cleveland, saying
his friends were in doubt to the po-
sition he held, and asked him to state his
views. Mr.. Cleveland's letter is dated Buz-
yards Bay, October Z. and reads:
Il have received your letter, inclosing q
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 could not state the case better at this
time If l should try. l have not changed
my opinion then expressed in the least"
Mr.. Cleyeland's letter to the Chicago busi-
ness men was about one thousand words in
length, and was devoted entirely to the
financial question. In 1t he said:
IF reckless discomfort and wild expert
ment should sweep our currency from its
safe support the most defenseless of all who
suffer in that time of distress and national
discredit will be the poor, as they reckon
the loss in their scanty support, and the
labOrer and worklngman, 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 people are
afforded an intelligent opportunity for sober
second thought they will sanction schemes
that however cloaked, mean disaster and
confusion, nor that they will consent by un-
dermining the foundation of a safe currency
to endanger the beneflcent character and
purposes of their government.
'"The situation we are now confronting de-
mands that those who appreciate the i'm
portance of this subject, and they ought to
be the first to see impending danger, should
no longer remain Indifferent or overconfi-
dent. If the sound money sentiment abroad
in the land is to save us from mischief and
disaster, it must be crystallized and COM
bined and made Immediately active.
1T is dangerous to overlook the fact that
vast number of our people with scant op-
portunity thus far to examine the question
in all its aspects, has nevertheless been in
geniously pressed with special suggestions
which, in this time of misfortune and de-
preston, finds willing listeners prepared to
give credence to any scheme which is plaus-
IDLY presented remedy for their unfor-
tunate condition.
1T ought not to be difficult to convince
the wage Garner that If there were benefits
arising from degenerated currency they
would reach him least of all and last of all
In an unhealthy 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 vanishing visions Of in
creased 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 advocates of a 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 for
selfish and wicked purposes are willing to
sacrifice the interests of those outside their
circle.
Il believe that capital and wealth,
through combination and other means,
sometimes gain an undue advantage, and it
must be conceded that the maintenance of a
sound currency may in a sense be invested
with a greater or less Importance to indi-
viduals, according to their conditions and
circumstances.
''It is, however, only difference in de-
gree, since it is utterly impossible that any
one in our broad land. rich or poor, what
ever may be his occupation and whether
dwelling in center of finance and COM
merce or In a remote corner Of our domain,
can be really benefited by a financial
scheme not alike beneficial, or that any one
should be excluded from a common and uni
versal interest in the safe character and
stable value Of the currency Of the coun-