The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-05-12
THE TRUE CAUSE.

THE TRUE CAUSE.
The Democratic press of the coun-
try are attempting by every possible
sophistry to make the public believe
that the distressful, times now being
suffered are the natural result OF
causes that have been at work for
quarter of century, and are not the
consequences of the tariff agitation.
They print editorial after editorial
enumerating the strikes that have
taken place in the United States dur
ing the last twenty years, and state
that these inevitably pointed to the
present "hard times" The price of
wool has steadily declined, they state.
since 1883, and it is no matter OF sur
prise that in 1894 it reached the min
mum. If one were to take their
statements as fair and full in regard to
this country the conclusion would soon
be reached that the United States had
not been as prosperous as has been de-
picted, and that during all the years
of plenty we had been gradually ap-
preaching an abyss of national bank
ruptcy. But a careful analysis OF
the question will prove the sophistry
employed by Democracy, and will
cause the reflective mind to assign diff
ferent causes for the stagnation In
business.
There has always been conflict be-
tween labor and capital, and this can
be traced in almost every instance to
local causes. Wage-earners desire to
receive as high price as possible for
their labor, and capitalists, actuated
By the same selfish motives, wish to
reduce the wages of their employees as
low as possible. Under these circum-
stances, an influx of Italians or Hun
garians-cheap workers-may cause
friction and impel conflict at any
time, and even in the most prosperous
years. There is no national signi6-
canoe in lockouts or strikes, only in
times of depression they are liable to
be frequent and widespread, and, never
in the history Of the country, have
they been so general in almost every
portion Of the country as during the
past year.
The production of wool has largely
increased in all parts of the world
during the past ten or fifteen years,
and the percentage of increase has
been greater in this country than in
any other. This overproduction has
caused declination in the price in all
markets; but on account OF the pro-
lection policy Of the United States
although our increase Of production
was the largest-the decline has oeen
the least. But the disparity between
the prices of 1898 cents-and
1885 and 7 cents-has never been
witnessed in the history of any prod
uct, and must be traceable to some |
other cause than over-production. It
can only be accounted for by the rea-
son that factories purchased as little |
as possible and at free.trade prices.
The market for wheat is in Liverpool,
and the price is regulated BY the sup |
ply. During the past few years India,
Russia and Egypt have had abundant
crops, and the continued peace in
Europe has caused the market to be
low. If war between Germany or
France, or Russia and Great Britain
would take place American breadstuffs
would rule high in the foreign market,
because hundreds of thousands OF
producers would be in the army and
debarred from following industrial
smployments.
When the general stagnation in
business, financial depression and clos
ing down of factories ere considered
some other reasons must be stated for
them other than those mentioned.
There is as much money in the coun-
try as there was in 1892, and hsrvests
are ss bountiful. As soon as the new
regime was inaugurated the people be-
came tremulous and discouraged,
money was withdrawn from invest
mants and locked in vaults, and the
wheels of factories stood still. It was
the fear of free trade, the same that
caused the hard times of 1848 and
years following, and was siuply bis
tory repeating itself. To re establish
prosperity the former conditions must
be restored and the old policy of pro-
lection revived. Then capital will
AXE courage, and the United States
will again assume the position of the :
most prosperous country in the world.
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