The Indianapolis journal., 1893-05-15
THE FINANCIAL PROBLEM.
1t Will Have TO be Solved by the Logic of
Events, that of the Forum Being Powerless

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journals
/ have read with much interest the paper
of p. S. Kennedy in Mondays Journal. As
usual with nearly oil ho writes, he COM
mands my assent to his propositions and
his logic but what of iti Such questions
are not settled in this country of late. by
any logic except tho logic of events; and
this not because of q lack of intelligence
on the part of the people or of convictions
as TO the right or wrong OF any given
proposition. but because we cannot or will
not concentrate our forces upon the issue
apd It's belongings. but allow ourselves to
be driven or to drift into the support of
party that never has been and never will
be anything but party OF obstructionists.
Forty years ago the public conscience
was as much against slavery as ii was ten
years later, when the emanci patton prOola-
nation took etfect. and TO all Intelligent
men the economic detrIment OF
the system Was was obvious. but.
voters persisted In keeping the Democratic
party III power until In It's madness 1t Ie-
solved to appeal To arms to maintain its
long supremacy-for slavery was only re-
motely the cause of the war; the real cause
was the arrogance of the Democratic
party, for all who rebelled were Demo-
Gratis, and il was only because they had
been dismissed from power. Thus slavery,
and for thirty years the Democratic party,
yielded to the logic of events, not TO the
logic of the forum.
And now whati While Mr.. Kennedy's
propositions will not be seriously oontro-
verted by any Intelligent American, ex-
cept, possibly, by the creditor class. who
hope 10 be gamers by the losses of others.
there will be no successful movement in
the direction of relief from legislation. A
study OF our political situation must con-
firm this proposition. He closes his excel
lent paper by expressing hope that the
Repub blican party will not abandon its
traditional advocacy of a sound currency.
1t never Will But what can it do
towards materialiZing Its viewss A mo-
menJs reflection will develop the fact that
the wise financial measures which have re-
suited in transforming q bankrupt nation
paying II per cent for money with which
to run the government In times OF peace
into n government whose three-per- cent.
bonds are In request the world over aud in
furnishing the people with q sound cur-
rency and plenty of il in lieu of the shin
plaster currency which Democratic finan-
ciering had supplied, ara the creatures of
and intelligence to provide these wise
measures much more than the result Of
abstract fnanciering. That events will
ultimately compel substantially the policy
outlined by MIR. Kennedy 1 have no doubt,
and 1t Will be- when wrought out, only q
development of the general financial policy
OF tho Repu blicsn party ali these years.
But what Indications of such q consum.
nation are at present In sight? In the first
place, we are confronted by q solid Sout
whatever. It's only political purpose 10 to
keep the Democratic party In power. and
there is no measure. from tissue ballots to
shotguns. that it will not resort TO for t1is
purpose. Even II some may have choice,
personally. for or against protection, for or
against free silver. OF for or against any
other economic measure, nothing stands IN
the way of it's devotion 10 the Democratic
party, and the more that party retains its
ante bellum characteristics the better. Not
q baubee does the South care for any OF
these things: and they find sympathizers
enough in the North of the same spirit 10
eDabee them TO control many Northern
States.
He is ignorant who does not know it. as
he is unwise who does not heed
the fact, that the controlling q
factor in Northern politics to-day
is the solid saloon. Of itself it is not
| drill makes it formidable. Free silver OF
| free trade cuts no figure in it's politics; il
| knows nothing but free whisky, and fol
| years it has given Its entire force to the
Democratio party. not that it loves the
Democratic party more. but it loves the
| Republican party less.
As further contrmatorv of the PROPOSE
| tion that grave questions. such as are in
VOWED In the Tree coinage OF silver or the
| issuing of currency by the government
| must await the logic of events, however
! costly that may prove to.be, take the fac'
| that large number of Northern voters
| some of whom are fairly intelligent. Ut
| terly ignore such Issues in the exercise o.
| their rights as voters. One sees nothins
| IN the political horizon but prohibition
| and he must stand up TO be counted yeal
! after year with not the remOtest proba
bihty of ever having majority
| his way of thinking; another seel
| single tax. another eight hours day, aD(
| so on. These do not all vote the Demo
| cratic tioket-practically they do not vote
| at all-thus leaving the Democratic party
| to obstruct all reform measures. and t(
| thwart all wise economic measures with
| ont once proposing any substitute. But
| events are fast formulating the irresistible
| Their logic will be needed. though million,
upon millions could be saved bv listenipl
| TO the logic of the forum. u. l.. SEE.
| INDIANAPOLIS, May 13.