Smyrna times., 1886-06-09
Prospects Improved-Aud Why.

There are more hopeful prospects.
Industry and trade are not vet out of
the woods, so to speak, but the dangers
have diminished. Six months ago.
when Congress assembled. there were
threats of tariff agitation, fears that the
currency would speedily fall to a silver
basis, and just apprehension of destruc-
tive legislation affecting the interests
of all railway and other invested prop
erty. The spirit Of the demagogues
was dreaded, and with good reason.
The spirit remains, but its claws have
! been cut. Six weeks ago, when threat
ened strikes for eight hours were re-
ported from all parts of the country,
while riots and armed resistance to
law seemed to many to threaten the
| stability of free institutions, there was
much alarm among persons who did
| not understand the temper of the
American people toward anarchy and
rioting, and much real reason for ap-
! prehension among those who did un-
! derstand how industry would be affect
ed by the great changes proposed. 1t
is worth while just at this point to re-
view the situation, and see what has
been gained, and how it has been
gained.
There is, first, no present fear of the
silver basis. Credit for this is due to
President Cleveland and Secretary
Manning, the more because they have
been obliged to defy their party in or
der to defend the country from harm.
No credit therefore is due to the party,
but no Republican will hesitate to
thank the President and Secretary for
their adoption of steps to keep
good the gold reserve, and to prevent
dangerous expansion in the circulation
of silver notes. Congress has been in
| session six months. 1t has done moth
ing to deprive the President or Secre-
tary of powers which they are employ
ing and have shown that theV
mean to employ. The Democratic
House, pOwerless for good, is also i'm.
potent for evil But it is impotent
only because, on this as on other ques
tiOns, nearly the entire Republican
force stands firm in defending the in
terests of the county. Months ago Tn,
Tribune showed that it was entirely
within the power of the Administration
to render continued silver coinage
harmless for 4 considerable period
The country trusts that the Admins
tratiOn will not fail to exercise tina
power.
The fear Of disastrous changes of tar
if has passed away. 1t is true, Mr.
Morrison still proposes to have vOt,
on his bill. But he is not in hurry
about calling it up, and says he means
to 'Wait till the clouds roll by"
2 The danger of communistic legisla
zion is also pretty well out Of the way
There are still some bills which tn
House may pass, and which if passe
would do no harm. But the Senat
has greatly lessened the danger in on
direction by passing the CullOm Raj
E road bill, which, with all its faults,
= immeasurably better than the Rega
/ bill favored by Democrats in the House
= The chances are that the two house
: may disagree, and that nothing will b
Y done, which is perhaps not the wor:
: result conceivable. The Arbitratio
i bill passed by the House, a measuI
h not well guarded, is entrusted to
S committee in the Senate headed b
;. Senator Logan.
/ Finally the good sense of the Amer
e can people has substantially OVercOm
= the dangers threatened hy the labC
a agitation. The eight-hour movemen
T. as it proved, obtained the support
o only a small fraction OF the worker
That was enough to condemn it in Il
S estimation of free people There
N no sense in compelling millions of fir,
e men to work only eight hours becau
n, a few of them do not want To work te
ii 1t WAS fortunate thing for the cou
1t try, ana for workingmen themselves
Of the end, that the agitators display'
l. their incapacity, reckle59nes5 and vic
d edness SO clearly as they did in Il
s. Southwest strike and riots and in Il
Of Chicago massacre. The cOmmOnsen
f. and law-abiding spirit of the who
Ie people quickly aroused to put down
IS lawless and riotous insurrection false
g said to be for the cause of lahor.-N
York Tribune.