The Republican journal., 1892-11-24
The Democratic Responsibility.

NleNei'ii't luS uDllouS speech dl Il Dan
quet given by Henry Willard, the railroad
speculator, in New York city last week,
naturally attracts much attention. Among
other things MI Cleveland said:
should not, perhaps, introduce any
thing Sombre on this occasion. but know
YOU will forgive me, when | say every
feeling of jubilation and even my sense of
gratitude is so tempered as to be almost
entirely obscWed by the realization, neal.
ly painful, of the responsibility | have as
sumed in the sight of the American peo-
pie. My love of country, my attachment
to the principles OF true Democracy. my
appreciation of the obligation | have en-
tered into with the best and most contid-
ing people in the world, and a conscious
ness Of my own weakness and imperfec-
tons. all conspire to fill my mind with
sombrc and Expressing reflections When
/ consider all that we have to do as a
party, charged with the control of the
government, feel that our campaign in
stead of being concluded is but Just begun
1t is difficult to decide whether Mr..
Cleveland should be taken seriously. or
whether he was merely -alking for effect.
He is not generally REGARDED as a man
who would be weighed down by respon-
siblitie>. on one to care much by what
methods OF pledges his high office was at
tanned. As the head of the Democratic
party, and the one who will be looked to
Tor the performance Of election prom
ises, he may well feel oppressed The
Democratic programme cannot possibly
be carried ont as a whole-it is in part
tiatly contradictory-bu if that were pos
sihle the result would be damaging alike
to the party and the country. The Mail
and Express publishes series of opinions
from the Republican editors of New York
state regarding the recent election and
the causes that operated to give the Demo-
Gratis majority. Editorially. the Mail
and Express says
The replies constitute a free and frank
review of the situation ON election day
and ot the influences that dominated. 1t
is clear from these that the Democratic
orators have again hoodwinked the work
ingman into the belief that he can earn
more and buy more cheaply under free
trade than under protection. while they
have also convinced the farmer that he
can hire hands fol less and sell his crops
fol more if the Cleveland tariff idea pre-
walls, The Workngman. according to
these replies. has stabbed at capital. and
the farmer has stabbed at the workings
man. both laholing under erroneous and
fallaeious impressions.
The iusincelity Of this Democratic talk
before election is >elf-confessed. Among
the reasons fol thankfulness enumerated
by Coy. Flower Of New York. in his
Thanksgiving proclamation are these:
Crops have been plentiful. business has
been active, industry has been well re
W1rdtft. intelligence and learning have
been more widely ditfused. and content
ment and happiness prevail generally
within the borders of our commonwealth
The same arguments that deluded vot
els in New York Were used in other
States, and a spirit of unrest was excited
among working people everywhere. And
this, despite the facts that the country
generally was enjoying uneXampled pros
PelitN. that wages had advanced. crops
were abundant and prices of all our prod,
ucts lelnunrrativc Can the Democratic
administration improve upon this situa-
ton? If they cannot: if, on the contrary.
wages decrease and the prices of the nee
essalioS Of lite increase. which is prob
able what satisfaction can they give to
those they have deceived?
In the Silver States the Democratic
platform was interpreted as for free sill
yer: hut IN New "rk and the other tnan-
clai centres assurance was given that Mr.
Cleveland stood for honest money and
would interpose his veto should there lie
any attempt to debase our currency. Evil
IDENTITY both pledges cannot be redeemed.
In some quarters the lure of free trade
was held out, and with that end in view
importers and agents of foreign manufac-
tuners contributed literally to the Demo-
cratic campaign fund. But free trade in
the sense thus implied is an impossiblitv.
Of course there will be an attempt at
tariff tinkering, but the most, and worst.
it will accomplish will be to perpetuate
an uncertainty that will paralyze business
Indefinitely, and throw thousands of our
people out Of employment.
There is another thing which NAV well
give Mr.. Cleveland cause for reflection.
He is to succeed a President who will re-
tire from office few months hence with
the respect OF the whole American people.
and in such measure as few of his prede-
cessor> enjoyed. The most ultra and big
oted Democrat fails to find flaw or blem-
ash in the Harrison administration. 1t has
been conservative, businesslke, and above
ALL thoroughly American. 1t remains to
be seer whether an Administration which
will owe its existence to the alien vote and
foreign money can equal the Republican
Administration in the latter respect. to
say nothing OF its other commendable
features.
Boston journal: The reports made to
the National Grange at Concord, y. H..
represent that the order is growing rapid
ly throughout the country, and that
farmers are giving increased attention to
legislation, especially such as particularly
! ".