The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-12-20
POPULIST JUBlLATiON.
Historical Review OF the Popular Unrest
Tariff No Remedy for Emsting Evils

BY John Davis, NJ. E.
1t is an old saying that He laughs
best who laughs last The same is
true in the matter crowning, or jubi-
lation after elections. The Republi-
cans Of Kansas had to hurry up their
JOY after the recent election lest 1t
might be changed to dust and ashes
Dy the development Of facts. In 1883
that old back number party boasted
Of $4,000 majority in this state. In
1890 their majority had vanished and
the party held the state by plurality
only. In 1892 the state government
passed into the hands of the Popu-
lists. Now. in the struggle for dear
life. by the help of the banks, the
railroad corporations end 2 cohort of
renegade Democrats, the Republican
party will again take charge Of the
state by plurality only. Over this
state of things the Kansas Republi-
cans have held their ''jubilations. ="
How easily they are pleased. Now
let us look on a wider scene. The
Republican party was in power from
the close of the war until March t.
1885. During that time they con
tractcd the currency of the country
and demonetized silver. which acts,
brought on panic such as this coun-
try had never seen prior to 1873.
The panic ragged for four or five years
with varying severity. In 1877 Pitts
burg was badly burned by a mob of
hungry men. Enforced idlcness of
labor and general anarchy was pre-.
valcnt. Then for the first time Dem
Ocrats in influential numbers appear
ed in congress. In 1873 two laws
were passed. One was to prevent the
further destruction Os grccnhacks. the
other to add $1,000, 900 per month cf
silver to the money of the country.
These financial measures gave relief.
Business revived, the people found
work, times improved, and the su
pregnancy Of the Republican party in
congress was for Il time saved.
But in 1882 the national banks be
gan to retire their currency. This
violent and rapid contraction reversed
the situation. Again the country ha,
falling prices Of property, enforce,
idleness of LIEN and general public
distress. This condition Of thing:
was not redressed by the Rcpublica,
party They tried tariff revision il
1888, but it only made things worse
so the people IN 1884 voted to han(
the government over to the Demo
Gratis for the first time in % years
But. on trial. it was found that Wal
street leaders of the Democratic part
were 4 unit with the Wall street Re
pub!icans. Hence the Democrat
were knocked out of power by tn
election of 1888, under the genera
impression that the Republicans ha
learned something, and that thei
promises of relief were made in goo
faith. Again they tried the .ar'tf re
medy by the passage of the Mckinle
law of 1890. But times grew rapidl
worse, and, by the elections of $50
and 1892, the Republicans wer
knocked out Of power more complet,
" than ever before, under the pop,
lar impression that the Democrat
had now possibly learned somethin
and would afford relief But tim
proved their want of wisdom The,
too, like the Republicans. tried til
tariff remedy. 1t only made thing
worse: and now, with Il stronger an
better aimed blow than ever previou
" witnessed at an election in tn
country. the Democrats are agar
: knocked out. perhaps quite annihila
ed. The tariff laws of 1888, 1890 an
1894, have proved be. ond doubt tn;
the tariff remedy. either high or 10,
will not cure the evils and distress,
of the country. They have also pro
ed that the tariff is buzzsaw, fat
to either of the parties that offers
as a remedy for the hard times Ju
as plainly. the laws of 1879. increasir
the money of the country, have pro
ed that the successful remedy must