The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-09-02
THE REAL CAUSE.

II requires no very great amount Of
foresight to trace the cause of the
present financial depression, and an
eastern exchange sums it up in the
following paragraphs:
"Ten months ago this republic was
as prosperous as at any period of its
existence. Manufactures of all kinds
were running on full time; wages we're
high and promptly paid; the products
of the factories and mines were cheap,
but there was margin for the pro-
ducer. Money was reasonably plenty,
and manufacturers, merchants and ar
tisans all prospered alike. But With
nations, as with men, sometimes in
their most prosperous days they are
the least satisfied So it was with the
American people in 1892, and in No
vember of that year they went to the
polls and expressed their dissatlsfac-
tion with things as they were by vot-
ing Co have them changed. They were
not satisfied with the currency laws,
and they voted with the Democratic
party, which had pronounced an
athemas against the Sherman bill as
the iniquity of lniquities; that had de-
clared that the principle of protection
which kept our looms going and our
furnace fires burning, and gave our
artisans better wages than similar ar
tisans are paid in any other nation of
the world, was wrong, was contrary to
the constitution of the nation, and
must be wiped out.
'Thus the dissatisfied joined the
free-trade Democracy and carried the
country like a whirlwind. They
elected the president and complete
national ticket, with large majority
of both houses of congress. The men
who had their fortunes invested in
great industrial enterprises stood
aghast. They had made their invest
ments Oh the promise of the nation
that they should be protected from
foieign competition that would he de-
structive of their enterprises, and now
they saw that the whole nation had
resolved that this protection should be
taken away frum them. They hesi-
tated, but began to prepare for the
worst. hoping possibly that the party
which had been given power did not
mean what it sand. But all of them
could not thus wait. The blight of
that November day, when the ballots
of the people made the hero Of the
mugwrmps the chief over the nation,
speedily settling over the whole coun-
try, chilling enterprise and gradually
slowing down the wheels of industry.
"Wheu the new president was in
augurated ears were strained if posi-
bly, there might be heard some word
on the policy of the new administra-
tion that would encourage both work
man and manufacturer. But no such
word came to them, and when finally
the members of congress were assem-
bled to settle the troubles that were
sorely distressing the nation, the chief
magistrate simply asked them to repeal
the so called Sherman ssluea laao, prom
sssng that he aooasld then call their at
teation to the subject Of protection, and
ask them to redeem the pledges made to
the people IN 1899. To the anxious
people these words were like the icy
northern wind to struggling plants
longing for the warmth of the sun
light.
sit is not from far-off India nor
from the mines of Colorado, Idaho,
and the other western states that the
evils that aff1ict US come. They are
nothing but echoes from last Novem-
ber; they are the natural consequence
of q conventions resolve to have a
complete change in the policy of the
national government, which was
by the people. A few paltry
millions of silver bullion purchased
for the treasury of the United States
has but little to do with the night
mare that renders our dreams odious
and burdensome when they should be
sweet and restful. The cause is closer
home. 1t is to be found in the 81 f
ent spindles, the deserted forges. and
.he dead furnaces; in the hundreds of 4
thousands of idle hands begging for :
york, in the millions of hungry
mouths that will soon be crying for
'read. That is what is moving the
leart of the philanthropist and max
ng the patriot anxious. That is what :
) destroying the wealth of the nation f,
nd causing every wise man to look tie o
he future with doubt and uncer- A
.anty." b