Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-11-16

OH~ "AoO SSSSSN
of government, might easily be trans
formed at the hands of legislators, whose
abilities were not even sufficient to the
carrying out of their own improper and
imperfect ideas of government.
Two years Of democracy and populism
resulted upon the experiment. Two
years in which the democrats have had
absolute control of the nation, in each
Of it's legislative branches, and in the ex-
ecutive department. Such a tremen-
dous revolution could not occur, with
out a change in existing conditions.
The platform Of that party proposed
plans, whose carrying out meant radical
changes from the established customs of
a quarter of a century. When democ-
racy's hand was first shown, it became
necessary that business should be con-
tracted to the minimum, until a new
basis should be established by the demo-
cratic policy. This contraction brought
about hardship, this hardship brought
about a contraction of purchases, these
contractions resultedi n suspensions and
failures, and during all Of these troubl-
u times, the democratic party, incom-
petent to the enactment of healthy laws,
deaf to the demands of the people, un-
able to agree, ever among it's own
leaders, as to what should be the policy
of the government, enacted a sectional
rag-bag, crazy.quilt tariff, formulated in
the interests of trusts, and denounced on
all sides by it's own leaders. And this
was the democratic contidence-restoring
device!
70 distinguish themselves, the popu-
list representatives in congress combin-
ed to the introduction Of impossible
measures, still further to drive capital
back into the hole into which democ.
racy had plunged it headfrst. They
would have issued money to the extent
of 96,000,000,0OO of dollars, money
whose very quantity would have made
it valueless. And they proposed in this
way to relieve the distress which popu-
lism had helped to bring about!
In the words of Lincoln, it is difficult
to fool all of the people all of the time,
although the deception may be
brought about temporarily. A year
of senseless pickering in congress
by the democrats, with occa-
sional brilliant and convincing dem
onstrations of almost absolute idiocy by
the populists, as a sort of special feature,
exposed to the mass of the voters the ex-
act degree of helplessness in which they
had placed themselves by their election,
and their utter incompetency to grapple
with the questions which lave confront
ed them.
These are the causes which have COM
bined to the result which was brought
about OF Tuesday, November 6. The
democrats have merely been afforded a
sufficiently long rope, and they have
made the use of it which has been so
often foretold. The people have come to
see what may result to the ship of. state
when the helm is controlled by incom-
petent and inefficient hands. And they
have spoken for it's REIMBURSEMENT by
the hands which have proven themselves
unable to manage it.
Populism has partly expired Of it's own
rankness. It has been a tester upon the
body polite, to bring to the attention of
statesmen the necessity of applying
remedies to certain evils, which cannot
but grow up out of civilization, no mat
ter how nearly perfect it may be-. Hav-
ing done this, it's mission is ended, and it
will die away, as have the several other
offshoots from the great parties, which
have sprung forth and died in the past.
1t is not claimed that the republican
party is perfect. 1t is impossible for
any party to be perfect. Perfection is
not a characteristic Of humanity. But
1t has been proven that the republican
party is the one which is best able so to
administer affairs as to bring about the
best results to the nation. It has faults,
but these it is ever willing to correct-in
striking contrast to democracy and popu-
lism. It has made mistakes because it
is composed of men, and mankind is
prone to err. But it is a party which
has wrought best for the people, and it's
supremacy has brought prosperity, and
will bring it again, Notwithstanding
the walls and howls of demagogues. For
the next two years the republicans will
keep a check upon the vagaries of dem
ocracy and populism. In 1896, it may
be safely asserted, the restoration of the
republicans to power will be complete.
And then, the same wise, careful and
judtcious administration of affairs which
has characterized the party in the past,
Will bring about another period of pros
perity and happiness. The mistakes of
the past will be avoided.
The of this nation
are unlimited. It's elasticity is un-
bounded. The election just passed
p r. -.