Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-13
WHERE THE BLAME LIES.
Our Present Business Depression II the
Logical Result Of Democratic Success.

Our Present Business Depression II tia
Logical Result Of Democratic Success,
This state of affairs was NOT causef1
by the Sherman law nor remedied bv its
repeal at the dictation of President
Cleveland 1t is the natural and logical
result OF the success of the Democratic
party, a success that carried with it, for
the first time since the faroff DAYS of
poor, old, pottering, hesitant, irresolute
Buchanan, the executive and both
houses of congress. Times had been
good up to that event. The country had
weathered financial depression, and
under the provisions of the Mckinley
tariff was coming once more into full
swing of prosperity when this blow
was struck.
The elections of November, 1892,
placed the Democratic party in posi-
ton when it could-nay, when by its
own pledge it must-overthrow the pro-
tective system SO carefully planned, so
firmly maintained, and under which
we, as nation, have achieved mate
rial prosperity unknown in any land
under the sun, and in its place enact a
tariff for revenue only, like those of
1888, 1916 and 1857.
What has happened, what we face to-
day and what we must expect in the
immediate future is what was fully
predicted by Republican speakers for
years. This was we'll understood by all
who studied the situation from prac-
tical business standpoint 1t was not a
theory, but hard, unavoidable condi-
ton, which had arrived.
The solid south, with its whip, but
slightly modified, was once more in the
saddle. Throughout the whole country
those who furnish labor its opportunity
for honest and profitable employment
saw the danger signal close at hand
They were admonished by Mr.. Cleve-
lands free trade message of 1887, by
the passage through Democratic house
Of the Mills bill, by the attitude of
Democrats in both branches of congress
in recent years, by the action of the
Democratic national convention of 1892
i'll substituting the radical Neal resolu-
tion for the moderate resolutions on the
tariff reported by the committee on plat
form, that the south has not changed it's
attitude on the tariff since South Caro-
lima declared protective laws to be un-
constitutional and null and void, and
that if the United States should attempt
to enforce the tariff laws within her
borders she would destroy the Union.
Actuated by the instinct of self preser-
walton, these managers and promoters of
American industry and enterprise paused
to see where the threatened blow would
fall, and, diminishing their products,
getting rid of their surplus and forcing
collections, made ready for the threaten
ed storm. Every industry, every calling,
felt the shock, and the wheels of our
great industrial system were stopped.
The result is visible to all the world
to a verdi which never saw the like
before. Here in this free, broad land
5000, 900 honest laborers clamor or wait
in vain for chance to earn an honest
days work; the poor are growing poorer;
suffering hitherto unknown among
us is abroad inthe land, and with south
ern free trade and cheaper labor they
will soon be forced to a level with that
of Europe.