The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-07-22
Which Party is ResponsibleP

When the Democratic party turned over
the government to Mr.. Harrison and his
party in March, 1889, there was one hun
bred millions of dollars in the treasury, all
obligations had been paid, and undue bonds
had been purchased and cancelled with the
surplus of the treasury produced by tax
system that unnecessarily burdened the
people.
In four years the Republican party spent
all of the one hundred millions of surplus,
increased taxation, passed the Sherman
silver purchase act that threatens to put
the country on silver basis, and caused
considerable excitement and unrest through
out the country by endeavoring to pass an
election law, to be sustained by federal
bayonets, that threatened the liberties of
the people. They loaded the pension lists,
for partisan purposes, with large number
of persons not entitled to government
bounty and who did not need it. They
squandered money in every conceivable
way, including subsidies to steamship lines
and bounties to sugar manufacturers, and
increased the annual expenses of govern
men. some twenty-five or thirty millions of
dollars.
On its record the people voted it out of
power, and in March last the Democratic
party assumed control.
Not law has been changed, and at least
one-half of the public places are still held
by Harrison appointees, and yet the Re
publican papers and orators have the I'M
blushing effrontery to proclaim that the
numerous bank failures and private assign
ments are all due to the fact that the
Democrats are in control of the govern
ment.
These same papers and orators are clam
oring for the repeal of the Sherman sill
yer purchase act, Republican measure,
passed by Congress Republican in both
branches and signed by Republican
President. To its operations are ascribed
all the financial ills, and they affect to be-
lieve, and so declare, that the present con-
dition of the country is due entirely to the
intent of the Democratic party.
The Democratic platform, upon which
Mr.. Cleveland and the Democratic party
was elected, after four months discussion,
denounced the Sherman act "as cowardly
makeshifL, fraught with possibilities of
danger in the future, which should make
all of its supporters, as well as its author,
anxious for its speedy repeal.
Not only, therefore, did the Democratic
party declare for the repeal Of the Sherman
act, but Mr.. Cleveland and Secretary Of
the Treasury Carlisle announced month
after they succeeded to office, that the whole
power of the treasury would be used to
maintain gold and silver on parity.
Not only this, but considerable num-
Der of Democrats in both houses of Con-
gress, who have heretofore been in favor of
free coinage of silver. have declared for
the repeal of the Sherman act and have
modified their views very much on the
silver question.
And further, the most pronounced and
aggressive free silver advocates are Repub-
licans Teller, Walcott, Stewart and Others.
In view of the denpnciation of the Sher-
man act aud the demand for its repeal by
the Democratic platform; in view Of the
declaration of the President and Secretary
of the Treasury; in view of the change OF.
opinions of some heretofore free silver
Democratic Congressman, it is difficult to
believe in the honesty of the assertions of
the Republican press and Republican lead
ers, when they ascribe the present financial
condition to a Democratic Administration.
If they are honest, they are Ignorant OF the
real facts; if they are not Ignorant, they
are dishonest, and for partisan ends, to dis
credit the Democratic party, are making
deliberately false statements.