Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1895 — GROVER’S KEYNOTE. [ARTICLE]

GROVER’S KEYNOTE.

President Cleveland Declines an Invitation, Bat Embraces the Opportunity to Stats His Views on the Money Question ■ ~ r—"M Length. In response to an invitation to addresi a meeting at Chicago in the interest of sound money, tendered several days ag< by a committee of business.-menjlreai-. dent Cleveland, Saturday, sent the following letter: Executive Mansion, I Washington, D. Ci, April 13. j To Messrs. William T. Baker, George W. Smith, John A. Koehe. T. W. Harvej, Davi4 - Keffy and Henry s. Kobbins: _ — Gentlemen —I am much gratified by the exceedingly kind and complimentary invitation you have tendered me, on behalf of many citizens of Chicago, to b< their guest at a gathering In the interest of sound money aud wholesome financial doctrine. My attachment to this cause is so great, a nd—l—kno w sow el I- theh osp itali ty ano kindness of tlie people of Chicago that my personal inclination is strongly in favor of accepting your flattering invitation, but my judgment and. my estimau of the proprieties of my official plac, obliges me to forego the enjoyment of participating in the occasion you contemplate. Tim situation confronting us demands that those who appreciate the importance o> mis subject and those who ought to be the first to see the impending dangei should no longer remain indifferent oj over-confident. If the sound money sentiment abroad In the land is to save us from mischief and and disaster it must be crystallzed and combined and made immediately active. It is dangerous to overlook the fact that! vast number of our people, with scant opportunity thus far to examine the question in all its aspects, haye nevertheless been ingeniously impressed with specloui suggestions which, in this time of misfortune and depression, find willing listeners, prepared to give credence to any scheme which is plausibly presented as a remedy for their unfortunate condition. What is now needed more than anything else is a plain and simple presentation of the argument in favor of sound money. In other words, it is time for tha American people to reason together as m mbcrs .of a great nation which can promise them a continuance of protection and safety only so long as its solvency is unsuspected, its honor unsullied and ths Soundness of its money unquestioned. These things are ill exchanged for the Illusions of a debased currency and groundless hope of advantages to be gained by a disregard of our financial credit and commercial standing among the nations of the world.

If our people were isolated from all others, and if the question of our currency be treated without regard to our relations to other countries, its charactei would be a matter of comparatively little Importance. If the American people wen only concerned in the maintenance ol their physical life among themselves they might return to the old days of barter, and in this primitive manner acquirs from each other the materials to supply the wants of their existence. But II American civilization were satisfied with this it would abjectly fail in its high and noble mission. In these restless days the farmer li tempted by the assurance that though our currency may be debased, redundant and unc <rtain, such a situation will improve the price of his products. Let ut remind him that he must buy as well ai sell; that his dreams of plenty are shaded by the certainty that if the price of thi things he has to 8 11 is nominally enhanced. the cost of the things he musi buy will not remain stationary ; that thy tuutor prices which cheap money proclaims are unsubstantial and delushq and that even if they were real and palpable, he must necessarily be left far behind in the race for their enjoyment. It ought not to be difficult to convince the wage earner that if there were benefits arising from a degenerated currency they would reach him least of all and lasi of all. In an unhealthy stimulation oi prices an increased cost of all the needs of nis home must long"be his portion, whily he is at the same time vexed with vanishing visions of increased wages and an easier lot. The pages of history and experience are full of this lesson. I 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, ba invested with a greater or lest importance to individuals according to their condition and circumstances. It is, however, only a difference in degree, sines it is utterly Im possible tha tany one In our broad land, rich or poor, whatevei may be his occupation and whether dwelling in a center of finance an I commerce, or in a remote corner of domain, can by really benefited by a financial schema not alike beneficial to all our people, or that any one should be excluded from a common and universal interest In tl < safe character and stable value of thy currency of the country. In our relation to this question we ary all in business, for we all buy and sell; sy we all have to do with financial operations. for we all earn money to spend IL We cannot escape our interdependence Merchants and dealers areiu every neighborhood apd each has its shops an 1 manuJictories. Wherever the wants of mas exist, business and finance in some degrey are found, related in one direction to thosy whose wants they supply and in another to the more extensive business and finance to which they are tributary. A fluctuation in prices at the seaboard ii known the same day or hour in the re: motost hamlet. The discredit or depreciation in the financial centers of anj form of money in the hands of the peoply is a signal of immediate loss everywhere If reckless discontent and wild experiment Should sweep our currency from it »afe support the most defeos-dess of al who suffer in that time of distress ant national discredit will be tho poor, asthej reckon the loss in their scanty support snd laborer or workingman as he seei the money he has received for his tof Ihrink and shrivel in his hand when hi tenders it for the necessaries to supply hit bumble home. Disguise it as we may, the line of batth is drawn between the forces of safe currency and those of silver monometallism I will not believe that if our people an afforded an intelligent opportunity foi sober second thought they will sanction ichemes that, however cloaked, mean disaster and confusion, nor that they wll eonsent by undermining the foundatloi of a safe currency to endanger the beneficent character and purposes of their Government. Yours very truly.

GROVER CLEVELAND.