National Republican., 1888-01-02
Strutting in stolen Plumape.

Strutting in stolen Plumage.
The Democratic fuglemen have changed
their campaign cry. a few short weeks ago
they were marching to renewed power
through the re election Of the sage of Oak
View, because the country demanded more
Of the Jacksonian policy. They were az.
gressve, confident, aud uncompromlsing,
The change is sudden and marked. Now
they are begging for new lease OF life, on
the ground that the administration has
been fairly successful aud the country is
prosperous.
This is conspicuous tumble'for a com
binatiou Of political refOlm and Statesman.
ship which came into power on boom fo'
revolution in political methods aul T.
policy which was to give the country uu
precedohttd prosperity. Only three year
has thie unique experiment paraded before
the world, ard nov IL must be content It.
plead in extepuatinn that 1t has done n
we'll as the other party would have done,
and to Osk continuation Of the trust be
cause It has done no worse. 1t Is the specll
plea Of frightened attorneys in a dropping
cause. 1t is confession OF failure anl +
petition for postpouing judgment.
Upon what capital Is this dem l2rntlr
combination banking? In what raiment is
It par0dily. What has 1t done 10 iinprov,
the capital aud % deserve the ramen'?
Twenty six yeas ago the Republican
party took the government from Demo
cratic bands. The public credit was so 10"
that creditors demanded 70 and IL per
centum for mouey to replenish the de-
pltted treasury. Manufactures werl
languishing and trade was halting under
the infuerce OF "reveuue taritn and
Democratic proiligacY, The country was
rent by the intrigues OF another Democratic
state rights combination asking for re-
newal Of power because 1t had done no
worse. The task set for the Republicans
was a great one, but 1t
went forward. 1t conquered the demand
for 'renewal Of power" on the battle
field; 1t provided honestly for paying an
enormous debt necessitated by that former
Democratic demand; It improved the gov
ernm6nt credit so that money begged for
chance to earn three per centum; 1t
quadrupled the manufacturing enterprises
Of the people; 1t caused the whole country
to smile with the sense OF solid prosperity.
This was the condition Of affairs when
through coalition OF faulty with fraud
the Democratic party seized the reins OF the
government they had 80 iguominIously
despoiled few years before. Nearly
three years 1t has been In power,
with inherited opportunities for great
achievements. What has 1t done with
the grand legacy coming from twenty.
three years of Republicanlsm 1t has
lived chiefly upon the boast Of having
preserved that legacy In tact. Whenever
it has made advancement ithas been simply
by pursuing the line marked out by the
Republicans. The bombust OF it's Post
master General, its Pension Com missi )ner,
its Secretary Of the Navy, and Other func
tiorarles about great improvements ia the
public service mean simply that they have
kept as close to the example of their prele.
cessois as possible, and are 9Aick 70 dl,r
cern and seize ar.". a" -~'age u N'ip there.
from. -, 'N>'
Wha,E.- the positive achievements OF
his boastful administration? 1t has sur.
rendered the rights aCd the interests OF the
New England fishermen to the atrocOus
glCed Of British subjects. II has given
away to foreign corporations privileges de.
uied cur own carrying trade. II has on all
possible occasions Disseminated iu favor oi
foreign industries In the collection OF
taiiI dues. 1t has withheld its proper IN.
Gueuce in upholding the Monroe doctrine,
and abandoned natural advantages In the
face OF foreign encroachments If these
are deeds to be proud Of, Democracy
should have a perpetual lease OF power.
But the merits of the Democracy are
chiefly displayed In what 1t has failed to ac
complish with all its might; It signal!zed its
return to power by assailing the system Of
protection through which the country hdt
marvslously grown and prospered. IT.
purpose, Was plainly stated to be the open
ing of American markets, so far as possible
tCthe cheap productions of Europe. Th
Republican party stood in the way OF thi
mischievous scheme. The administration
has stood aghast and helpless before the &C
cumulating surplus in the treasury. Blindll
cllngiDg to financial theory calculated t.
upset American values and paralyze grea
enterprises, IL refused to repeal th,
internal taxes, which would have given re
lief 10 the country long ago. In the lirs
instance the Republican party saved tn,
party In power. from committing a fata
blunder; in the second instance the Repub
llcan party pointed the way to relief, bu
could not move the majority to action
The consequence of these failures to enforce
patriotic policy Is that the country is ol
the verge Of relapse, and is preserved solel.
ly the failure of Democracy to overturi
Republican methods of administration.
The history OF modern Democratic rule /
repetition OF the rule under Buchanan
Where 1t is positive, 1t is dangerous AN.
dishC0rtCnlng. Where II Is passive, IL I
cOwaIdly or imbeci,c. The prosperity o
the country is due to the fact that NOR
ihGn three years OF such rule are require
to break down the mighty structure Of tn
R,publiGan party. The strain has beef
terrific, hut It is resisted aud busInes
Nourishcs, because Of the country's be
ief that four years will close tn
experiment Of BucbananIsm revived, Tn
country is prosperous in spite of Dymoc
racy. 1t VIII continue prosperous as lnnl
as there Is hope OF Democratic decline, |
his furnishes q reason for re eecting th
sage q Oak View, with the British FREE
trade view thrown 10, tgc people of tn
upited States have swapped reason for
crDzr, and overlooked the plain fact thi
the Cleveland administration Is strutlin.
about in stolen pumuge,
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