Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-10-02
/" HARD TIMES"

In his keynote speech at Monte
rey, Va, on last Highland County
Court day, Capt. Bumgarder is rep
resented by the Vindicator to have
said, in referring to the " hard times"
"They can be ascribed TO no change
made by the Democratic party, for
since that party took possession OF
the Administration the tariff has not
been touched or changed in d word,
figure or letter. The tariff of today
rs the same Republican tariff that
has been in active operation for fif-
teen years. And yet the Republi-
cans tell you that their tariff is a
sure guarantee of good prices for
farm products and good wages for
labor. This is their tariff how do
they explain its failure to give pros
perityR From 1861 to March 1, 1886,
there have been Republican laws
executed by Republican Admins
trations. How do they account,
then, for hard times ever since
1883 %
There was no change, it is true,
made by the last session Of Congress
which had Democratic majority of
40, in the tariff laws, but not because
the Democratic Speaker and Demo
cratic Committee of Ways and
Means, and a Democratic majority
in that body did not want it, TWAS
because thirty-four Democratic mem.
bers, led by Samuel j. Randall, uni
ted with all the Republicans except
four to prevent it. Had the Demo
cratic party, as such, been able to
carry out its policy a disastrous
change would have been made, and
the Democratic President would
have approved the change. The
fact that the Democratic party as
such, which had opposed every act
of Congress that brought about our
national prosperity, was in power,
frightened capital and capitalists,
and as consequence money was
placed behind strong bars, instead of
in the active channels of industry as
when the Republicans were in full
power, and this brought about bust
ness stagnation. 1t was the fear of
the Democratic party and its policy
that brought about hard times. The
business of the country for twenty
years had adjusted to Republican
legislation. The country had passed
from bankruptcy and poverty under
Democratic policy, to wealth and
prosperity under. Republican policy,
and when the Democratic party,
which was recorded against all the
wise measures which contribute to
national advancement, came intopow-
er with platform adopted in their
National Convention antagonistic to
Republican legislation, and record
hostile to American labor, it was
natural that distrust and doubt
should follow. And it is only the
assurance, now that Congress has
adjourned that no legislation can be
enacted which will radically change
present custom laws for twelve
months, that the indications favor a
revival of business. tits a damaging
record for the Democratic party, and
1T amounts to reckless Indifference
to the history of that party that a
Democratic candidate for Congress
should refer to it at all.
The panic of 1873 was the out.
growth of an inflated currency, re.
sulting from the war, and yet the
Democratic party persistently OPP
posed every step which looked to a
solid, enduring financial basis. II
opposed the resumption act of 1876
and predicted the most dire effects
from the operation of the law in 1879
the period fixed for it's enforcement
The Republicans had confidence in
the people, and believed that the
promises and integrity of the gov.
eminent would be maintained by
them, and In this they were not dis
appointed. From the passage of
this act to 1884 the business of the
country was extended, the wealth OF
the Nation increased and our indus
tries were expanded. Not until the
apprehension of Democratic success
in that year seized upon the people
were the currents of business stag
mated, and the people became idle
and the country groaned under the
oppression of hard times" Demo
cratic orators and writer's predicted
a change in this condition should q
Democratic President be elected
and Democratic Congress chosen
But instead of a change for the bet
ter, it was for the worse, and not
until it was demonstrated that a
Republican Senate stood as a bull
wark of defence against Democratic
theories and policy and the ruin that
would follow their practical enforce.
ment, was a degree of confidence
inspired. 1t is to the fact that we
have a Republican Senate and Re-
publican strength enough in the
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