St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-05
Waiting For CONGRESS.

Merchants and manufacturers. who
vanish into comparative nothingness by
reason of the inaction of congress OH the
tariff. are now compelled to face a
gloomy outlook for the business of the
autumn. The railroads are feeling the
Stagnation kecnly. The sidetracks are
crowded with empty freight cars, their
rusty wheels resting upon corrOding
rails. Passenger coaches have few oc-
cupants, aud the swarth face of the
sleepihg-ear porter becomes shade
darker as he views the beggarly array
of boots to black. Everybody enjoys
the occupancy of section, though pay
ing only for berth. and his companions
on the journey no longer unite in a
merry laugh over timely joke. This
is not the time for laughing or joking.
The outlook is too serious for these.
Danger not only threatens. but has al
ready overtaken the fall trade. The
present month is the time when mer-
chants usually prepare for it. 1t is the
harvest of the travelling man. He is in
evidence in every mart of trade, and with
his samples is soliciting orders. But the
sagaclouS merchant has no use for him
now. People are buying only what they
are compelled to have, and he dare not
enlarge his stock in anticipation of
future trade, lest the tariff bill as finally
passed shall unsettle values and cause
him loss. Every man wears suit of
clothes few weeks longer than has
been his custom, In the hope that the
effects OF the new law will be to reduce
the cost of new outfit, and the women
make an old ostrich feather freshly dyed
serve the place of new one. Every
branch of trade has the same story to
tell. There is retrenchment all along
the line, and lessening of production
such as has never before been expert
enced in our commercial history Mer-
chants never before have carried such
light stocks, aud never before nave they
had less occasion to replenish them, for
there is no trade for them to supply.
These conditions are doubtless known
to every senator and representative in
congress. If they are in ignorance of
them their ignorance is the result of
design; for every observing citizen, no
matter what his condition. is fully
aware of their existence. But with
perversity that falls little short of GRIM
lnalIty, congress refuses to do what is
necessary to bring about an improve
ment. 1t is more important to them
that they make little political capital
for use in the fall elections than that
they contribute towards a settlement of
questions that will affect the fall trade.
1t is as certain as fate that there will
De no revival of trade until the tariff
question is finally settled. 1t is almost
equally certain that there will be no
elections held this fall in which the
members OF congress instrumental in
causing the delay in its settlement will
have any interest save the ascertain
ment OF the precise majorities their %.
ponents will have in the total vote.
The modern Neros Who are fiddling
while the business of the country is
suffering may awaken to sense of their
responsibility wnen it is TOO late, and
when their utmost efforts will be DOW
erless 10 repair the ruin their negligence
has wrought. There is no excuse they
can offer that will palliate or Justify
their OtfenSe. 1t is unpardonable-a
mortal SIN against the people who have
reposed confidence in them only to find
that their pretense of honesty was
sham. and their assumption of virtue
mockery. Their future will be one of
Infamy deep and unfathoinable.