New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-21
nr1CKERY IN FLNANCE.

1t is much easier to draw up platforms of
sounding phrases and glttering generalities
than to make wise and sensible laws. So long
as the remarkable political association that
reioices in the name of the National Green
back Labor Party" had only to find fault
with existing institutions, and declaim against
pretty much everything that has been ap-
proved by the judgment and tested by the
experience of mankind, its way was smooth and
easy. 1t was not strange perhaps that it drew
together considerable number of uneasy and
dissatisfied persons, one portion of whom were
quick to seize upon the opportunity to play
upon public credulity and gain temporary no.
toriety for themselves, and another were SIM
pie enough to be imposed upon by the falla
cies and sOphistries, the plausible Quackery, of
cheap demagogues. 1t is a little to be Won
dered at that in a State like Maine, where the
citizens are as a rule both intelligent and hon
est a party like this, whose fundamental
doctrnes-if it has any doctrines that
may be called sO-aTe at war equally
with common sense and common honesty,
should grow up suddenly to a position
only second in numbers and influence;
should actually control the legislation and
direct the policy of the State, divide the
representation OF the State in Congress, and
become formidable rival for permanent con-
troll to the party that has been so long in IN
disturbed possession. Ii is true that q variety
of causes, local and personal. aside from any
approval OF the special theories of political
economy and finance put forward by the new
organization, contributed to swell its ranks
and deplete those OF the older parties; but the
fact must be admitted that its chief attraction
has been the bodness with which it charged
upon the party in power the blame for bust
ness depression and financial distress, and The
cool assurance with which it offered perfect
panacea which should remedy all these ills,
and bring prosperity at once.
In Maine they so far trusted these profess
sions as to send two of the doctors of the
new systematic natural fnanciers-to Con-
gress. They sent others from Pennsylvania,
Indiana and Iowa. To these men, advanced
now by the confidence of their fellow-citi-
zens beyond the irresponsible platform max
ing stage of the convention to the position
oflaw-makers, there came the responsibility and
duty of formulating their theories into some
thing like a system. and expressing them for
mally and practically in actual legislation.
In conventions and on the stump these
statesmen had enjoyed the satisfaction of free
criticism of the work of other people. and
INDUCED in large and bountiful discourse
about what they could do themselves if they
only had the chance. The chance was given
them. Not, thank Heaven, to carry out fully
their crude and ill-digested notions, but to
put them, at least, into some shape more
tangible than the loose irrelevancies with
which they were in the habit of befogging
discussion. If they had not the power TO pass
the laws by which they proposed to abolish
poverty and distress and bring prosperity;
they could, at least, offer them for the cOnsd-
Grafton of Congress and public discussion.
And tins they did. Let us not withhold from
them the credit of answering to this extent
the expectations of the large body Of voters
who trusted them. They certainly did not
shrink from the responsibility of writing out
their prescriptions, and they showed no
timidity nor lack Of confidence in urging
them. And now that they have done this;
now that they have given us, in the concrete
form of carefully drawn proposed statutes,
instead OF the windy distractions of cOfven-
ton platforms and deliverances from the
stump, the precise character and quality
of their Wanted remedies, we ask for