The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-11-25

TIE DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY
On and after March 4th, 1898, for the
first time since 1861, the Democratic
party will be in full possession of
every branch of the general govern
ment and will be responsible to the
people of the United States for the
manner in which the trust is used.
We have no fear of the result. Under
the guidance of Grover Cleveland and
the earnest, able and honest men
whom he will doubtless choose as his
political advisers, we may expect that
the government, as far as the eXecu-
tive can control it, will be restored to
its legitimate functions-the greatest
good of the greatest number of peo-
pie.
The election on the Sth of Novem-
Der has definitely settled, for many
years to come, that the tariff policy of
the government will no longer be one
of protection for projections sake,
but there will be a return to the fun
damental doctrines of the Democratic
party-a tariff in which the question
of revenue will be first considered.
No tariff that levies duty upon for
eign imports could be constructed
which would not afford protection TO
American manufacturers in Compel
ing lines, but the DemocI attic policy,
as we understand it, will be to so ad.
just the tariff that no legitimate
American industry will be handicap
ped by foreign cheap labor, and at
the same time affording our own citi-
zens the advantage of the necessaries
of life at the lowest cost.
By their profligate use of power
Speaker Reed and his Billion Dollar
Congress have impo- ed heavy bur
dans upon the United States treasury,
apparently rendering a high tariff
necessary to produce the revenue re-
CURED by the government, but in
reality for the benefit of favored
manufacturers in exchange for liberal
contributions to Republican campaign
funds. These obligations, largely
caused by an undue swelling of the
pension list, the new Democratic add
ministration will have to meet. For
tunately the country is rich-although
the wealth is unequally distributed
and there are never wanting those
who prefer foreign articles at high
price to domestic goods equal in quail
ity without the tariff added, and by
judicious tariff schedule the burden
of unjust taxation which now rests
upon the agricultural, mechanical and
laboring classes will be relieved, while
the government, at the same time,
will be enabled to provide for the
enormous charges left as the legacy of
Republican administration.
There need be no fear that the transit
ton from policy of high protection
to q moderate tariff for the benefit of
the mass of the people will be attend
ed with any violent wrench that will
unsettle business or cause loss in finan-
cial circles but the work will be done
thoroughly, in a way to last for many
years, and its beneicent effects, we
believe, will be seen and felt in a
greatly increased foreign trade in
breadstuffs and manufactured arti-
cIes; in cheaper living and general
diffusion of prosperity among all
classes.
The prediction that the Democratic
party will not be able to measure up
to the full standard expected of it may
be dismissed as idle. Fortunately, it
has definite policy and aims, which
are not new or untried, and in its
body are many of the ablest men of
the country-patriots and statesmen,
who will shape legislation in order to
carry out the will of the people as ex-
pressed at the polls. With Grover
Cleveland in the Executive chair, and
a Democratic Congress to frame the
laws, we believe the country will en-
ter upon Il career of prosperity, unex-
ampled in her past history-one in
which the blessings and benefits of
free government will be more equally
distributed than they have been for
many years past.