River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-03-15
One Year of Democracy.

ments of the Grand Old Party are Tia e
proud possession of the worlds history.
No other party in any country at any
time since the dawn of history has &C.
complished such grand results in
arms. in finance, in the material prosp-
Gritty of nation.
Ia the early years of its ascendeney
it confronted the most formidable
armed rebellion that ever rose against
any government in any age. 1t Great
ed magnificent army under unparal-
leled difficulties that after four years
of fierce and stubborn strife eliminated
in the complete and permanent defeat
aud dissi patton of the insurgent armies,
a suppression so complete and perma-
nent that sporadic guerrilla outbreaks
failed of anticipated realization. This
supreme end was attained only at the
sacrifice of immense treasure and
blood. Three million bronZed and
hardy veterans laid aside the arms of
fratricidal strife and returned quietly
to their accustomed avocations. The
revenues of the government had been
expended and besides an immense
debt had been accommodating, running
far up into the billions. But i'm.
mediately upon the cessation of hos
Utilities the nation exerted its energies
to rebuild its waste places and enlarge
its Industries; to provide for the pay
ment of the interest on its bonded
obligations, to pension the disabled
soldiers, to provide for the reduction
of its immense debt and to further
internal improvements. So success
full had all its plans resulted that
return 10 specie payments was DELHI
erately determined upon in the wise
counsels of congress and So quietly ac-
compIished as to produce no ripple of
distur bance in the centers of trade.
Slavery had been abolished, the freed
men endowed with the ballot, the
states lately in rebellion reconstructed.
Not only had no man been punished
FOR taking up arms against his govern
ment but all with a single exception
had been restored TO the privileges of
complete and equal citizenship with
the nations defenders.
The wise policy of the party il
power in redeeming its bonds put into
circulation thousands of millions of
money which was discussed by indi-
vidudls in the building of hundred
Thousand miles of railway; in the sue.
cessful establishment of new aud prof.
liable industries, and faith in the
permanency OF the national policy of
protection resulted in the consequent
enlargement of these and kindred in
dustrles. In 1892 the diversified in-
dustTies of the country were every
where prosperous. Labor was univers-
ally employed at profitable wages.
.Ulamorous Labor knocked with its
hundred hands at the golden gates OF
the moI nIDg." The population OF th@
country had more than doubled since
1850, the wealth of the nation was
three times as great as in that year,
tAe United States attaining the posi-
ZION OF the richest and most powerful
nation on the globe. Its trade assumed
a magnitude incomprehensible to the
mind IN contemplating the figures re-
presenting il, the value of exports in
1892 alone amounting to one thousand
Two hundred million dollars and far in
excess OF the value OF its imports. In
The midst of this era of unparalleled
prosperity the democrats To their own
surprise and the astonIshment of all
found that they had elected the Presi-
lent and a majority of the Lower House.
Later, by the shameful theft of one
state legislature aud the treachery OF
republicans in two others,it was certain
that the party of destruction would
nave complete control of the govern
ment after the 4th of March 1898
Tue democratic party since 1850 had
been party of obstruction. la 1864
il formulated platform declaring the
war "a failure and demanding a cessa-
lion of hostiIities on the best terms
obtainable from "A triumphant foe. Ii
nad opposed the issue of greenbacks,
designating them as worthless rag
money" it had opposed pensionlng
the soldiers, the freeing of the slaves,
the reconstruction of the states on the
INES of loyalty, the building OF the
great highways across the continent.
The democrats stTenuously opposed the
resumption of specie payment and
afterwards advocated the unlimited
issue of greenbacks, stultifying them.
selves by an advocacy of what they
had upon principle so ardently orpos.
ed. The whole tenor of their policy
seems to have been to get possession
OF the offices. They have them; by
what means this was accomplished
need not now be pointed out. The
condition of the country since then
concerns us mostly at present, lit is a
condition." and no longer "a theory,
A condition that affects all classes, a
condition that few consider satisfac-
tory, a condition that most feel with
evident dissatisfaction. Ii is needless
10 call the attention of people to the
present unsettled condition of trade,
TO the uncertainty of the futu. ,. 1t
confronts every industry, ever! Ian.
iIeat banking Institutions have col
lapsed, innumerable firms have failed
manufactures ceased operation, mines
closed, many industries ruined, one
third of the vast army of lahorers out
Of employment, the volume of trade
has lost a thousand million dollars a
month during the past year; twelve
hundred millions of railroad property
mas gone into the hands of receivers.
| The revenues of the country no long 81
meet the ordinary expenses of the
/ government. Tue prices of farm com
| modities are the lowest ever known,
4 GnPh !