New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-30
pprcFS AND CONSTITUTES.


Two reDlies have been made to the array OF
facts which prove that the prosperity promised
by the Democrats as the swift and sure resnlt
of Clcveland's election has not come INC
Erening POST one of the most conspicuous Tree
trade Journals replies that If prices are rum
ously low, particularly for farm products, that
Is q good thing for consumers, and we are all
consumers while only part OF us are farmers
The Boston Post, in the intervals OF an abusive
blaclguardism which has no meaning, conveys
the idea that plices are low because products
are abundant, that the prOstration OF industry
which followed Mr.. Clevelands election came
before his inauguration and was therefore not a
consequence of the election, and that az result
of the Democratic policy lighter burdens will
be laid on the people," so that business is
already revving.
Ii is waste Of time to argue with one VINO
has not intellectual sef-respect enough to pre-
fer reasoning to the epithets familiar IN pot
honsc disputes The Democratic Administra-
ton has not yet frightened the burdens OF
the people i'm the slightest degree, as free
traders promise it will Hence any revival in
business, according to The Boston Posts logic,
cannot be due to anything done by or expected
be due to the work of the Republican Admins
tration which preceded. But to "answor TOOL
according to his folly" is unscriptural. Tie
success of the frec-tradc party which the Lren-
ing Post and The Boston Post both advocate
was unquestionably main cause OF the uncX-
ampled prOstratiOn which followed the election
a prostration molc sudden and severe than has
ever been seen mt any other time when there
was no general collapse of the credit system.
The signs of recovery which all gladly welcome
are in fact due in a IA casure TO the growing be-
lief that the frec-tradcrs in Congress will not
have the power to charge the tariff, and that
Republican victories will so admonish the
Democratic party that it will not attempt such
n change. However far the improvement may
20. it is perfectly safe to predict that downward
reaction will come WEcD"vcr tine Democrats in
Congress do venture tO,hcgin another warfare
ON the tariff, if circumstances create public
impression that they may succeed.
The honest reply deserves resi- cctiul attcn-
ton. 1t s true that low retail prices are help
to consumers, if the consumers arc able to buy
ri any price. But when low prices are the dl-
rect result of the inability of great numbers Of
consumcrs 10 buy at all, because Of the failure
OF NplE OF the Ict l''I'i 81 N"-''' ' ~ VI i''''
u.e to them tllt price, are lower. That is cX-
acty he state Of the case within tn" past year.
Consumption has been forci5iy cut down, be-
cause 30D,0pO persons, more or less, were
thrown ont of employment, upon whom de-
pended fr1m t,ojh.OOO 70 LjJo) 900 p.r5o2,.
I'm addition, reduction of wages cut down by
10 per cent or more the ability of She remainder
10 purchase. TIN" inevitable eject has been
THAT producers have suffered severely, and all
the more because. i'm many cases, they had
c,uutcL upon somc recovery from the great de-
preston last winter and had expanded produc-
ton. If any frcc-tralcr imaeincs that it is Il
good thing for consumcrs t. have 40 work and
%, wages aud thea to have good, thrust under
ticir ro,cs at low prices, a little experience will
cure him of that dcluSion.