Omaha daily bee., 1892-02-10
TIE POLICIES 1T SrAKE.

The issues in the coming contest are
the industrial and financial policies of
the government, and Mr.. Blaine rightly
says that "thc popular decision on these
issues is of great moment aud will be OF
far-reaching consequence. The demo-
cratic majority in the present congress
was elected as the result of widespread
popular misunderstanding of these pol
icies. The Mckinley tariff became
law month before the congressional
elections of 1890. There was general
depression in all branches OF industry.
and it was especially severe in that OF
agriculture. All the conditions favored
the prophets of evil and disaster, and
they took the largest advantage OF the
opportunity They were successful in
leading majority of the people to be-
lieve that the tariff meant continued de-
preston and ultimate ruin OF all their
interests, and in their hastv judgment
the people returned TO congress ma
jority OF representatives hostile to the
principle of protection. For like
reason, the general depression, the
silver question was made to serve the
the purpose of the democracy \ re-
publican congress provided for Il liberal
addition to the currency by increasing
the treasury purchases of silver within
II safe limit, taking for this purpose
nearly the entire product of American
mines, but the popular demand for
more currency was not satisfied and the
democratic promise of free coinage won
many votes.
The people have since had time to
think They have seen the operation
of the industrial policy Of the govern
mcnt and know that none of the evils
predicted of IL have been verified. They
have Witnessed the extension of the
foreign commerce of the country under
the policy of reciprocity, with benefits
both to American m1nufacturers and
American farmers. They have seen
opened to our meat products the long
closed markets of Europe, while the
German empire admits our grain on
equal terms with that of her commercial
allies. The period of depression has
passed and the nation is entering upon a
period of prosperity that promises to be
prolonged. Nobody claims that the
tariff law is perfect Unquestionably it
could be changed in a number of respects
without injury to the principle of pro-
lection and with benefit to the people.
But it is not seriously expressing any
class nor mas it brought disaster to any
interest. There has been an equally
general and intelligent awakening re-
garding the silver question. Its
thorough discussion has convinced u
majority of the thoughtful people of
the country that free silver coinage
would be, under existing conditions, a
most dangerous spolicy-especially dam
aging to the interests of the agricultural
and laboring classes. 1t is not ques-
tionable that very large majority of
| the intelligent voters are in favor of an
honest dollar, and are therefore opposed
| to opening the mints of the United
| States to the silver of the world and es-
| tablishing here, as the inevitable result
of such policy, the single silver
| standard.
The industrial and financial policies of
| the government are at stake in the COM
ing contest-the republican party "epre-
| senting protection to American indus
| tries, the extension of American com
merce, and a sound currency: the demo-
| cratic party standing for tariff reform
! in tho direction of free trade and u
monetary system based on silver. The
| popular decision will indeed be of great
| moment and far-reaching consequence.