St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-03

from TINS policy, but 1t was regarded
rather as stump speech than as a
dogma or ruiestD be acted upon. 1t is a
wonder that it did not lead to the defeat
OF the Democratic party in 1892. but the
reason of this Is apparent. The tariff of
1890, though strongly protective, did not
In practices materially advance the rate
of wages of workingmen. 1t enor-
mouSly developed old and new indus
tries, but it didenot materially Increase
wages. Workingmen were DISCONTINUED
with the division of profits between the
employer aud employed. They perceived
that the employers were growing richer
and richer, while their wages were not
Increased. They naturally turned
against their employers without remem-
bering that while the protective policy
maintains wages, it reduces, by compe-
ton. theleOst OF production and cheapens
commodities to the consumer who thus
shares llithe benefit of protection.
As prices fell the purchasing power of
money increased, and thus the value of
their wages increased. beneficial re-
suit overlooked by them. The attempt
in certain places, and especially in
Pittsburg. to reduce the rate of wages
In the midst of the contest carried
against the Republican party the
great bouy of the workingmen
VI tiC NUltf1C1u 1uCy NOt
regard the Democratic platform as
serious threat against their industries,
but, disappointed at the first results of
the Mckinley tariff. they struck blow
at the Republican party which brought
about the election of Mr.. Cleveland and
the overwhelming triumph of the Dem
ocratic party.
The inevitable effect of this victory
was to create profound distruSt in the
mind of every producer of articles pro-
tected by: the tariff laws. They could
see that il the policy announced in the
Democratic platform was carried into
execution they would be compelled to
empeteswith foreign productions by
cheaperslabor. -
1t waSEeorreeiIy, assumed by importers
and dealers that prices must fail, and at
once the demand for American produc-
tiOnS was reduced, and industries that
had been prosperous became languid,
and sales difficult. The manufacturer
OF woolens could only afford to pay free
trade prices for wool when he believed
that within year his woolenS would
have to compete with goods man
ufactured from free wool by
poorly paid labor. This feeling of dis
trust extended to all branches of indus
try, and perhaps was magnified by the
what would be done by the Democratic
party in full power in all branches of
the government. believe this diStruSt,
more than any other cause, produced
the remarkable change in the vote of
the great manufacturing and agricult =
ural states of the North.
Another cause which contributed to
the defeat of the Democratic party was
the unfortunate suspension. without
hearing or trial, of more than 10000
pensions. and the slow progress in pass
ing upon pension claims. As the great
body of the pension claims grew out of
our Civil war Ill was a mistake to
place at the head of the interior depart
ment gentleman whose sylnpathes
would naturally not be in favor of
pensions. However careful ami mod
crate might be his management, his po-
sition would invite criticism. Though
our pension system is very liberal. per-
hapS uneXampled, yet the deep, strong
feeling among those who were OH the
side of the Union in the Civil war is
and will continue to be that the soldiers
of the Union army, their widows ana
orphans, should be treated with the
greatest liberality and with SYM
patiiy for their services and sufferings.
While the burden of pensions is heavy.
| sioners can scarcely be estimated The
results attained by them are SO deeply
cherished by our people as not to be
measured by money. know 1t is said
that from Revolutionary times the
| power to suspend pensions has been
exercised without notice or hearing
from the pensioner. but if this is
| so it is departure from the established
| principles of justice which prevail as to
| all other claims or obligations that no
| one small be deprived of his rights with
out notice and hearing. No Union SOL
der eSires the pension roll to be en-
| numbered by one who is not lawfully
entitled to the pension received.
bnt they insist that their rights
once adiudicated shall not be dis
| turbed without hearing. This feeling OF
pensioners and of those who sympa-
thize with them had deep and strong
influence in the recent election. l
know this to he especially SO in the
Democratic counties of Ohio. where all
parties freely contributed the flower of
their population torthe Union cause.
also believe that tine prolonged dis
cussion of the silver question in the
recent called session had much to do
with the result of the election. The al
most universal feeling in che United
States is in favor of the bimeialIic
standard OF silver and gold, and the
largest use of both metals for coinage
that can be maintained at par with
each other. But this indispensa-
BILE requisite Of the equality
of the purchasing powers of
the two metals when coined must be
maintained. The efforts made in 1878
and 1890 to maintain silver and gold on
parity by the purchase of silver bull
10, &c hyyf hn
proved equally unsuccessful. The OBJ
ject of these experiments was to pre-
vent the further fall of silver. but the
result was in both cases the constant
decline of silver compared with gold.
When congress Met we had come
to the forks of the road and had to
choose between either the free coinage
of silver at its present ratio, or the suS-
pension OF the purchase of silver. The
president, in accordance with his well
known opinions, earnestly recommended
congress to suspend the purchase of
silver bullion. That opinion was sup
ported by an overwhelming majority
of the house, and. l think, by a
still stronger weight of popular opinion.
The bill came 10 the senate, where for
| weary months we had a spectacle of
| endless obstruction, talk, talk, talk. No
| one could fairly blame the represent
tatives of the silver-producing states for
supporting a leading industry of their
constituents. But time soon developed
that there was. much more numerous
population that cared nothing about
| silver or the parity of the two metals,
but wanted cheap money in any form in
which it could be produced. As the
| silver in the silver dollar was worth
| in the market about 81 cents they were
| i'm favor of that. thew were IN favor of
revising the issue of state bank paper
money; they were in favor of Issuing
United States notes and loaning them
to the people at 2 per cent. These and
many other ideas approaching the Dor.
ders of insanity threatened to overthrow
the stable principles upon which the
credit and honor of our country and our
| financial system rest.
These cheap money ideas prevailed