Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-08-31
THE REASONS THEY OFFER.

II Is really amusing to hear the old
liae, rock-ribbed, bourbon Democrats
try tn explain the existing state of
affairs throughout the country. A
good many who voted the Democratic
ticket last fall have got an elegant
suiiciency' and assert they have voted
it for the last time. They have been
hoodwinked ard heard lies and mis-
representations to their hearts con
tent from those who were ambitious
for office. But the old liners are as
immovable as n mold or birth mark
on the back of their uecks. One favor
lite reply of such, when goaded about
existing conditions. is, "Well, you still
have the Mckinley law; the Demo-
Gratis have not repealed it," The bust
ness capacity of such Il man would
hardly be equal to the responsibility of
running Il peanut stand. This remark
clearly shows a lack of faith in carry
ing out party pledges or a total ignor-
unce of the law of cause and effect.
Large enterprises are established and
conducted on policies which are main
tanned by political parties; n policy
means the success of these enterprises,
another means ruin or an entire change
in the method of conducting their bust
ness. When n sudden reversal Of an
Industrial system is threatened the
country, distrust, doubt and fear take
the place of confidence, and inactivity
and stagnation follow until a new pol
icy is firmly fixed by law. The pres
ent distrust is far worse than the enact
of the most Objectionable laws. For
this reason n number of Republican
senators are determined, if possible, to
ploce the administration on record as
regards the tariff before the present
session closes. If we must have free
trade-or that new name for it, tariff
reform"-let us know it at once. 1t
will be better for the country. 1t will
enable manufacturers to curtail ex-
penses to II free trade basis, by the
purchase of less machinery and raw
material, by reducing their force of
operatives and cutting down their
wages. While the wage Garner will
save a few cents perhaps IN the S of
articles which he has to buy, he will
have a great deal less to buy with.
But this is what he voted for and he
should not he disappointed.
Another favorite expression of the
bourbon free trader is, well, these
panics come in regular cycles" Yes,
they come whenever the Democratic
party gets full control of the govern
ment, with its vagaries, ~falicies and de-
structive policies. The party must ad-
vocate omething directly opposite to
the Republican party, as the latter
aims to adopt measures for the best in
terests of the whole country. During
the civil wal the Democratic party was
one of infamy and treason and in times
OF peace it would destroy our industrial
system, if need be, to secure success.
Inc last ltllltlll VI thS iiSC auC
and the himsiest of all, is that the Re-
publican party left the treasury bank
rupt with its billion dollar congress.
Three years z they complained be-
cause the Republicans had accumu-
lated a surplus in the treasury. But
our Democratic friends forget that the
last session of congress appropriated a
billion and a half dollars, in an evident
desire TO surpass the Republican con-
gress in expenditures. But this is a
great country, and we have no doubt
the appropriations by both congresses
were in the main legitimate and neces-
sary. A great deal of money has gone
in the construction of a navy and the
improvement of rivers and harbors,
which was essential to the welfare of
the nation.
The fact is we confront a condition
that was brought about through a
threat to disturb our whole industrial
system, and that threat is the main