The sun., 1873-10-30
Hard Times Ahead.

Hard Times Ahead.
From every part OF the country we have
reports OF the stoppngc Of mills and work
shops, and the discharge OF workmcn.
Hundreds OF thousands Of able, industri-
Gus people, skilled in their avocatious, are
thus deprived of employment. Instead Of
adding TO the wealth of the community
and providing for their own comfort and
for the education Of their children, they
are suddenly converted into useless mem
bcrs OF society, aud compelled 70 subsist
upon their former saw iups or upon the char
NY Of others. 1t is evident that a wintoro Of
misery and suffering for vast number of
excellent people, who only demand the
opportunity OF being useful, is now TO be-
expected.
What is the cause Of this great misfor-
tune? Who has brought such an immense
calamity upon the country Why 1T that
all this wretchcluoss must be endured
These are questions that every thought
ful man will seek TO auswer for himself.
II cannot be expected that all will agree
IN the solution of such n problem; but
there are certain facts which are essential
20 the case and which no one who at
tempts to study it should leave cat Of
view.
The Republican party has exercised un-
qualified control over the national Govern
ment and over most Of the State Govern
ments for moro than twelve year.. No
party ever had such authority before or
encountered 80 little or so Intellectual oppo-
-iton. The people have given their entire
4. 81 (.
statesmen and its legislators have desired
has been done. Its dictates respecting the
finances of the country and respecting all
our business Interests have been submitted
to with more than cheeriuluess. The public
have been forward and Jealous To obey, and
have borne under its direction an amount
- taxation such rs scarcely any people
ever endured before. lie power has been
well nigh absolute, its responsibility Is
commensurate with Its power. Ii IL there
fore in the legislation Of the Republican
party aud in its administration OF the
Government that we must look for the
origin of the misfortuncs in which we arr
now involved and Of the crushing evils
which they produce.
OF course, writers and theorists will
point to other caus,s. They will tell Us
that there has been excessive speculation,
gambling in public enterprises; that too
many railroads have been built; that too
many foreign luNuries have been con-
-umed that the sentiment of honesty has
been relaxed and that corruption and cx-
travagance have done the mischief. And
10 great extent they will say truly. But
where has this excessive speculation
taken its riser Where has the corrup-
| ton found its chief indictments, eXcm-
/ plars, and practiioners7 What set of
| public men have caused SO many uunccos-
| -ary railroads TO be built aud given them
subsidies and land grants2 70 ask these
| questions i TO answer them. Our financial
machine has run OF the track with all
these passengers Oh board the train, and
the destruction is tremendous. But the
power that controlled and directed the
tram was the power Of the Republican
/ party, and all the passengers that have
I turned out 10 have been engaged In plum
| derng us while we thought everything was
! going smoothly, were passengers that il
| put on board and obstinately refused 10
have turned away.
Only year ago Il considerable number
| II citizens anxious about the future, at
tempted TO compel u change in the admin
| istration Of the Government Their ideas
were radically different from those of
Gen. GRANT and his adherents; and they
declared their purpose to enforce n thor
ough reform in every department Of public
affairs. They warned the country that
things were not right ana that scriou,
trouble was ahead. Their advice wa.
neglected; their warning was scofled at
! their candidates and their measures were
repudiated. The majority Of the country
concluded that 1t was best for them tC
! keep Gen, GRANT and his men In power
but now that the calamity that was fore
told has come, perhaps some Of those who
would not then believe that il was i'm,
pending will understand that they wcr,
not so wise as they thought themselves
and, Mt any rate, all viii admit that tn,
crisis which Is upon us was not produced
by either the critics or the opponents o.
the Republican party, but by the Leaders
and chosen representatives and delibernt,
policy Of that party itself.