The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-01-06
DEMOCRACY TO THE DREGs.

DEMOCRACY TO THE DREGS.
The eight uninterrupted years OF
Democracy under jackson brought on
the panic of 1887, and the other eight
years of uninterrupted Democracy,
1852 to 1860, brought on the panic of
1857 So, eliminating in secession. In
both cases the hard times were the re-
suit of a tariff built on the free-trade
plan and perniclous monetary policy.
In 1887 there was destructive con-
traction of the currency, in 1858 there
was wildcat expansion.
In this connection leading Repub-
lican paper says: Twice 10 its history
has the country drained the cup of
Democracy to its dregs. Must it do
30 once more2 There is no little dan
ger of it. The Wilson bill. which is
really the nearest free trade measure
of any general bill ever introduced in
congress, seems sure to pass with some
incidental amendments. Latest ad-
vices indicate that the ad valorsm
feature, with its premium on under
valuation frauds, will be somewhat
modified, but nothing has cropped out
SO far to show that the Bourbons of
either the house or senate have learned
anything by the lesson of last Novem-
Der. They remember the returns of
1892 and that is all. They seem to
think that because the workingmen of
the country then yielded to the soph-
ism of Henry George and other apos-
ties of free trade that they will accept
starvation for themselves and their
families with cheerfulness, and con-
tinue 20 wear with proud satisfaction
those Cleveland roosters. All signs
point to the passage of thu Wilson
bill, and that under the whip and gag
of the administration, deaf and blind
to the soul -sickening spectacles of the
vast army of the unemployed. already
bivouacked on charity and tenting on
the fields of starvation.
The presidents message, the report
of Mr.. Eckels, the comptroller of the
currency, and an interview with Con-
gressman Springer, chairman of the
committee on banking and currency,
all concurred in giving the impression
that the pledge of the Democratic
party to repeal the prohibitory tax on
state bank bills would be allowed to
rest dead letter. Never once has
Mr.. Cleveland so much az alludsd te
that plank. He has avoided it as he
would a den of rattlesnakes. Mr.
Eckels advised against it, and MIR.
Springer was still more pronounced
against it. But the later indications
are that the wildcatters are still bent
on repeal, and are by no means dis
couraged. The fact that the president
has no substitute to offer for the re-
pealed purchasing clause of the Sher-
man bill plays into their hands. Some
provision, they say, must be made for
meeting the demand for an increase in
the volume of the currency. Just now
there is more currency than the coun-
try needs, owing to the general and
specific paralysis of industry. The
latest Gnancial reports have much to
say about the plethora of money, es-
pecially in New York, the central res
ervoir Of idle funds. But the argu-
nent will be used. all the same, as if it |
really applied to the country at large
in its present condition and prospects.
There is remote chance, at least a
possibility, that if the lesson of the
;wo former experiences Is not needed
hat of the actual distress now pre-
railing will. The whip of the admin
will be freely piled in the
nope of driving the Democrats of con-
yress to carry out the original pro-
,ramme, especially in the passage of
'he Wilson bill, bat the question of
whether the cup of Democracy must
,e drained to the dregs or not is still
'omewhat open. Therein lies the hope,
however faint, that the hemlock and
he gall of Democracy may in part
BASS from us.