Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-02-15
THE MANDATE OF THE PEOPLE

now the Republicans Have Ignored the
Country'G Interests.
The republicans in 1890. while nre-
pairing and thrustinp upon an unwill.
ing peoples the Mckinley abominatiou,
talked much of the mandate they had
received from the people in 1888, when
majority of the people voted against
enem- No question of raising the tariff
was before the people in 1883. 1t was
Question OF reducing it. and the re-
puoiicans obtained a majority of three
IN the house on the subterfuge that the
tarlH, while needing revision, ought to
be revised by its friends. Then thew
proceeded to reduce the revenues and
to increase the public burdens
In 1892 the people not only gave the
democratic candidates for the presi-
dency and wee presidency large plu-
rality. but gave the democrats a ma
1ority OF more than ninety in the house
and the control of the senate. These
facts, being matter of public record,
cannot be denied. But the repub-
icans say now that because they held
some republican states last November.
canSied a democratic state OF local
issues and have lately captured a DEM
ocratic district the mandate has been
recalled. This did not prove very eff
fectIve in the house, but they hope
that 1T may have better success in the
senate.
Ii the republicans had been guided
by the rule which they now lay down
there would never have been a McKin-
ley bill to repeal. So far as the man
date of minority of the people in
1883 could be tortured into meaning
anything, it was only a permission to
the republicans to reduce the tariff in
stead of having the work done by the
democrats. who, they said, would go
too far if intrusted with the task
When they We're about to pass the Nc
kinley bill, prominent members OF
their own party reproached them pri-
vately and publicly for their breach OF
faith in this respect.
More than this occurred The cleo.
tons in November. 1889, resulted in
sweeping democratic victories Iowa
and Ohio elected democratic governors
and Massachusetts barely missed doing
so by n bargain in certain wards OF
Boston. New York. that had voted fol
Harrison in 1888, resumed its place in
the democratic column. 1t was a re
publican Waterloo, only exceeded by
the phenomenal defeats which they
sustained in 1890 and 1892.
Was this a revocation of the repub
1iean mandate? According to what
they say now, it was. The Mckinley
bill was not yet begun. Congress hat
Gus now, it.was plainly their duty from
har int Of 60
of raising tariff rates in order to pro
hibit importations. But they went OF
and framed the Mckinley bill. Iror
manufacturers in New England SEN
their mammoth petitions for a restora
elton of the rates of 1857, the law which
their Henry Wilson said was the bes
ever framed. They disregarded thi.
memorial. Kansas, which had been {
republican stronghold, implored then
not to destroy her smelling and
threatened to desert the party if they
did. threat that was faithfully carried
out. Nevertheless, the smelling IN
dustry was driven to Mexico. Il
would take too long to tell of the pro
tests from other sections that were dis
regarded
None of these things. nor all of then
together, were then considered a re
call of the popular mandate Nc
Kinley and his accomplices insisted
that they were irresistibly driven for
ward by the mandate of the people to
rob the treasury for the benefit O.
trusts, to reduce the revenue by pro
hibitory duties instead of lower rates
and to increase expenditures to an ex
tent that was sure to lead, as it ha.
led, to deficit Such is the history O.
republican respect for the mandate O
the people. With this recent history
fresh in the minds of the people, they
should have the grace to remain silen
upon the subject now.-Louisvill,
Courier-Journal