Huntsville gazette., 1893-05-27
LOST CONFIDENCE.
southern Democrats Set Up Howl
Against Cleveland's Policy.

Against Cleveiands Policy.
The Atlanta Constitution is in fine
frenzy over the course of what it calls
the Free Trade Goldolators' of the
north and east. 1t first attacked them
for their confidence in gold as a 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 it, too; that tariff for
revenue only will immensely increase
importations that have been paid for in
gold. For this reason the Free Trade
Goidolators that were recently howling
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 fulfillment
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 tn at
there has been noticeable growth of
conservatism among the democratic
free traders since their party found it
self in a position to lcgislate in accord
ance with it's 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
ofinfation either through fiat money or
its twin evil. the free and unlimited
coinage of silver. But they arc not
protectionists on that account alone.
They believe 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 leaning toward
free trade, but it was founded more on
q 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
iect 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 law.as 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. If
this circumstance means anything, it is
that the people have a 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 immcdi-
ately followed the wise announcement
by the administration that there would
be 10 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 un-
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 pn bile know
whether there is anyone to stand be-
tween them and the cheap money fanat-
les who claim to control the new con-
cress If that does not avail to restore
confidence it will then be time enough
to talk of bond issues and similar ex-
treme measures for national financial
relief. Troy Times.
tN"Grand, marvellous, incomprehen-
sible," were the words used by Presi-
dent Cleveland after short tour
through the exposition grounds. Of
course it is to him incompreh
that nation should be able to create
such fair while repudiating the sacred
principles of free trade. And as the
executive views the American exhibits
in detail he will find further reason for
doubling the virtue of his recently ac-
quired knowledge of maxims and OF
markets. IfAmerican protection needed
vindication it secures it at the Colum BIZ
an exposition Times.
sYThe nearer democratic states
men get to 1.-The robber tariff" the more
they seem disposed to handle it ginger
ly with long handled tongs They see
the years of prosperity it has built up