The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-08-17
is THE FAULT IN THE PEOPLE
OR IN CONG RESS?


Last Thursday while Democratic
congressman at Washington were in
triguing with Populists and Republi-
cans, getting their assistance to fight a
Democratic president, the Democracy
of Ohio met in state convention to
nominate state officers and issue its
platform. The following are four of
the planks of that platform as pub
lished in THE STATESMAN on last
Friday:
We hereby approve the platform of
the Democratic party adopted by the
national convention at Chicago and
especially those portions of it refer
ring to the tariff and to currency legis-
lation. We congratulate the country
upon the early prospect of measures OF
relief as outlined by the presidents
late message to congress, and we have
confidence that the Democratic con
gress will devise laws to furnish such
relief.
The financial situation is the unfor-
tunate legacy of Republican admin
istration. 1t is the natural result of the
Mckinley tariff, the Sherman silver
law and extravaganza with the rev.
enue of the party lately in power, and
the creation and fostering of trusts
and corrupt combinations by that
party; all combining TO shake credit,
to create distrust in the money of the
country and TO paralyze its business.
We recommend that national banks
may be permitted to issue their cur
rency to an amount equal to the par
value of the United States bonds
which they may deposit with the
treasurer of the United States, to the
end that the volume of currency may
be Immediately increased.
The country had abiding faith in
the integrity, patriotism and exalted
courage of President Cleveland. True
to the people and watchful of their in
terests, he will enforce honest and eco
nomical methods in the conduct of
public affairs and secure to every sec
ton of the country the blessing of good
government.
Now for plain question:-Is
there a state in the union, barring
possibly the silver states, whose
Democracy, if in state convention as
sembled, would not last week have
said just what the Democracy of Ohio
said2 If they would, and what Demo
crat would deny it, then look at that
platform and see what Ohio Democrats
said. They congratulate the country
upon the prospect of relief as outlined
IN the presidents message. Have
Ohio's Democratic congressman read
this fresh expression from their slater
If so how do they stand aligned in
Washington? If this platform is a
fair specimen of what other states
would now say, what must be thought
of the Democratic row at Washington?
Things are so shaping themselves
in congress that it is evident
the third plank will be put
into effect and much good will result
therefrom.
But what of the last plank? How
does it compare with the actual state
of affairs2 The Ohio Democrats have
faith in Cleveland, so have the Demo-
Gratis of all the other states VI the
Union-but what of Democratic con-
gressmen2 Possibly the plank means
by country" only the rank and file OF
Democrats, those who make congress
men and not congressman themselves
when they have climbed to the lofty
pinnacle of their self-glorifcation.
That some congressman at least have
not faith in Cleveland is only too
plainly evidenced by their flying to
the arms of their friends, the enemy,
Populists and Republicans, seeking
aid to defeat Cleveland upon
the very first recommendation he
sends to congress after he has tri-
umphantly led Democracy into power
and after the sweeping victory has
told the peoples faith in him in ac-
cents that rang around the world.
Have the people gone mad or are they
just playing farce comedy? Were
the Ohio Democrats honest in their
platform, are the states generally hon
est in theirs2 Then what can Demo-
cratic congressman mean by thus fly
ing in the face of the people? Recon-
cie the contradictory condition of af-
fairs if you can; to us it presents a
solid brick wall.
DEMoCRACY's boast has been that