The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-05-19
IN TROUBLED WATERS
Southern Democrats Set Up q Howl
Against Cleveland's Policy.

|
Against Cleyeland's Policy.
The Atlanta Constitution is in a fine
frenzy over the course of what it call:
the Free Trade Goldolators" of the
north and east. 1t first attacked them
for their confidence in gold as finan.
cial basis, and now it discovers that
their gold leanings are making them
lukewarm in the matter OF tariff re-
form" 1t says they have suddenly
discovered that we cannot have our
gold and spend il, too; that a tariff for
revenue only will immensely increase
| importations that have been paid for in
| gold. For this reason the Free Trade
Goldolators that were recently bowling
| for tariff reform and denourcing all
| forms of protection are hedging The
change that has come over them is of
startling significance to those who ex-
pect prompt and complete fulfllment
of the pledges of the democratic plat
form" So it appears "a change has
come over the spirit of their dreams.
and they discuss the tariff, when they
touch it at all, with doubt and hesita-
ton They have alighted on new argu-
ments in favor of moving slowly and
cautiously. Their ardor is gone The
zealots have become doubters, the free
traders have become protectionists, and
all because of the gold myth
The Constitution correctly says that
there has been noticeable growth of
conservatism among the democratic
free traders since their party found it.
self in position to legislate in accord
ance with its own views, hut the cause
is not to be found in their devotion to
gold. The men of the east, without re-
gard to party, are opposed to the wild
schemes of finance for which portions
of the west and south are crying out.
Experience has taught them the folly
ofinfiation either through fat money or
its twin evil, the free and unlimited
coinage of silver. But they are not
protectionists on that account alone.
They belieEe in protection because it
has been potent for good to this coun-
try and to its people. Within recent
years there has sprung up among the
democrats of the east a leaning toward
free trade, but it was founded more on
a desire to create a campaign issue
than on the hope of breaking down the
tariff barriers. Proof of this is found
in their steadily increasing disinclina-
ton to inaugurate the tariff reform
policy now that they have the power.
They love free trade only for its power
as a negative minority argument: they
doubt its virtue as an affirmative policy
for responsible majority.
President Cleveland stands as the
apostle of democratic tariff reform, and
during the presidential campaign all
other issues were subordinated to that.
But no sooner is he in power than the
administration announces that the sub
ject will be reached in good time, but
the vital question of the hour relates
TO national finances and this must be
disposed of first of all. In other words,
the burdens of protection are not too
grievous to be borne for an indefinite
time. He denounces the Sherman silver
purchase lawas the cause of all the pres
ent financial disturbance Yet that law
operated with fair satisfaction for two
years. 1t was not until after the No
vember election and the triumph of the
democracy that the trouble began. II
this circumstance means anything. it is
that the people have distrust of the
democratic financial policy. and have
acted in accordance with their fears
until national disturbance has resulted.
If proof of this is needed, it is found in
the fact that better feeling immedi-
ately followed the wise announcement
by the administration that there would
be no discrimination between legal ten
der and coin notes in the payments of
gold. The plain fact is that no small
portion of the present unsatisfactory
financial feeling results directly from
the uncertainty regarding the financial
policy of the administration-an I'M
certainty increased by the evident de
sire of the president and the secretary
of the treasury to keep the public in
ignorance of their plans
If the administration really desires
good financial feeling, let it make a
clear demonstration of the ground upon
which it stands Let the public know
whether there is anyone to stand be-
tween them and the cheap money fanat-
les who claim to control the new con-
gress. If that does not avail to restore
it will then be time enough
to talk of bond issues and similar ex-
IRENE measures for national financial
Times