The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-08-05
THE NAN, NOT THE PARTY.


The Democratic press, in their dole.
full comments Oh the present distress
ing times, appear to blame President
Cleveland entirely for the "change"
that has taken place in the condition
of business, and some of our exchanges
charge him with treason to the party.
Every intelligent person must ac-
knowledge the fact that the present
financial depression is terrible, and the
worst that the country has ever expe-
rienced. There is the blackness of de,
spair In the present outlook, and it
seems to grow worse as the season ad-
vances; but in what manner Mr.. Cleve-
land could have averted it, and fol-
lowed party principles, is something
that not single Democratic paper at
tempts to explain. An esteemed CO.
temporary, the Eveaaiaag Telegram, fol-
lowing the line of severe censure,
breaks out in the following: "If Mr..
Cleveland is an honest man, he should
not have accepted the Democratic
nomination unless he intended in good
faith to carry out the pledges of his
party's platform. If he isn't an hon
est man, he ought to be turned out of
office along with the rest of the ras-
calls"
The Chicago convention was cap
tured by free-traders and free-silver
Democrats, and they made platform
to suit themselves. Mr.. Cleveland
was we'll known to be in favor of gold
as the standard of values, and of a
moderate tariff reform. He was
nominated by the party as their can
didate for president, Notwithstanding
the fact that he was opposed to many
of the doctrines enunciated. In his
letter of acceptance he made his posi-
ton clear on the questions agitatlng
the country, and this was not in har-
mony with the Chicago platform. His
election was due to the fact that the
people had greater confidence in his
personal integrity than in the honesty
of the party he represented. Mr.. Hill
was a representative Democrat, "to
the manner born;"- but he did not re-
ceive the nomination, and could not
have been elected if he had. The
Democracy thought it could make Mr.
Cleveland act the chameleon-present
an agreeable color to the electors, and
then. after being successful, presto
change, turn the free-trade and bi-
metallist sides to view. But MIR.
Cleveland is not constructed of such
malleable material. He has very pro-
noun>ed opinions on national ques-
tions, and possesses the courage of his
convictions.
The president undoubtedly realizes
the fact that the Democratic craze for
free trade and free-coinage is the
cause of the present distressing times,
and if he were to attempt to inaugu-
rate the doctrines of the Chicago plat
form now he would make confusion
worse confoanded." As statesman
and patriot he does not believe in
hurling the industries and finances of
the country into the vortex which is
now threatening to engulf them. He
has called special session of congress
to consider some remedy for the wide-
spread distress which is now being
suffered in money centers and in all
departments of productive labor, and
the people may expect courageous
words from him in his message.
Banks have failed, factories have
closed and there are thousands of
American citizens, women and child
rem, with the horrors of starvation
staring them in the face. The picture
cannot be painted too black or hideous
to be truthful, and during the past
few months it has burst suddenly
upon the country like scourase from
God. There is no man who realizes
the situation more fully than he who
is executive of the nation, and if he
has any of the elements of greatness
in him, his duty to his country in this
will be paramount. His
party affiliations must be forgotten,
and the good of his fellow citizens
must demand his whole attention.
Heroic methods must be used if
necessary to restore public confidence,
and, like Brutus, Mr.. Cleveland must
every Caezar that claims his
affection for the dearer object of
Rome's glory and prosperity. 1
During all the periods of financial