The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-03-11
pEHocRAg1c PROMISES.

OEHOt hdlLC loGO.
The inaugural address of President
Cleveland is full of bright promises,
and the Democracy should be happy.
He emphasizes the fact that "nothing is
more vital to our supremacy as ma
tion aad to the beneicent purposes of
our government than a sound, stable
currency" This will be endorsed by
all classes of citizens; but while BIZ
metall,sts will contend that gold and
silver could both be currency-without
being regulated by the former as the
standard of value-and not impair the
sound financial basis on which the ma
tion rests, yet such language from MIR.
Cleveland undoubtedly means mono
metallism. Free silver men must walt
patiently for the realization of their
hopes, tor back of any legislation that
may be enacted by congress in their
favor the veto of the president will be
an insuperable obstacle.
In his condemnation of the doctrine
of protection, he refers to it as dis
position to expect from the govern
ment especial and direct individual
advantages" and considers it the duty
of the administration to expose and
destroy the "brood of kindred evils
which are the unwholesome progeny
of paternalism." If calling into ex-
istence the great manufacturing indus
tries, which haye furnished employ
ment for thousands of wage-earners,
is to be considered as legislation for
especial individual advantages" the
Republican party must plead guilty to
the charge. But it must be remem-
bered that this economic policy has
raised the nation from state of bank
ruptcy in 1865 to one of the first pow
ers Of the world in 1898, and has been
the means of labor commanding a
higher price in the United States than
in any other nation, and also of plac-
ing our manufactured articles in sue
cessful competition with those of for
eign countries. In Mr.. Oleveland's
glowing tribute, in the first part of his
address, to the glory and grandeur of
the nation, he paid an ecomium to Re-
publican. administrations and the in
dustrial policy he condemns. "Pro-
lection for the sake of protection"
"paternalism of government" "direct
and especial individual advantages,
etc., sound well rhetorlrally to round
a period or as catch phrases for ora
torical preorations; but they contain no
argument, and sink into insigni6cance
before the array of facts and figures
which Mr.. Harrison produced in his
last message to congress in support of
the Repu blican economic policy.
National economy and frugality fur
nish>a fruitful theme for the president,
and this comes in good place after the
adjournment of the present extrava-
CANT Democratic congress. Mr.. Oleve-
lands rule that "public expenditures
should be limited by public necessity
is safe one; but this would not lncul-
cate penuriousness that would retard,
the development of the country or
hoard unnecessary wealth in the treas
ary when the demand for improve
ment of our rivers and harbors is so
urgent. 1t may be true that there. has
been prodIgallty regarding pensions;
but the soldiers and sailors of the ma
tion should be remembered and not
allowed to become paupers. There
are, no doubt, frauds in this line which
should be remedied; but the correction
should be made without imperiling the
general principle.
Taken as whole, the inaugural ad-
dress is state document worthy of
careful perusal by every citizen. 1t
will be applauded by Democrats as
ushering in that era in our political
history for which they have SO long
waited; but Republicans will desire
practical test of Mr.. Oleveland's opin-
IONS on national questions before they
will endorse them. He can talk
bravely of civil service reform, because
he cannot expect another term as exc
cutive of the country; but his ideas on
that subject must be placed side by |
side with those on the tariff, trusts,
and economy and frugality in the
of public affairs. They
must pass the crucial test of expert
ence, and in 1896 one can have more
intelligent opinion of Mr.. Cleleland as
q Democratic reformer.