Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-12
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A GREAT ANNIVERSARY.
Vivid Picture CT the Fatalities Caused BY
Ono Year of Grover Cleveland.

!
Vivid Picture CT the Fatalities Caused BY
One Year of Grover Cleveland.
On the 4th of March, 1898, Grover
Cleveland. citizen of the state of New
York, was inangurated president Of the
United States in the presence of great
multitude Of citizens of the several
states who had come to do honor to the
occasion and admire the great national
capital and to learn something Of the
grandeur of this government, of which
all are so proud.
When Grover Cleveland stood before
this multitude and delivered his inau-
gural address, among other things he
said, 1.-The people of the United States
have decreed that on this day the con-
troll Of their government in its legisla-
tive and executive branches shall be
given to political party pledged in the
most positive terms to the accomplish
ment of tariff REFORM =
This statement of the president when
entering upon the duties Of the Office
Of president makes prominent land
mark from which to observe the re-
suit of one years operations in accord
ance with the principle as enunciated
by him-namely, tariff reform"
On March 4, 1898, prosperity marked
every element of industry, and thrift
was everywhere visible. Manufacturers
and merchants We're busy; mills were
| crowded with orders; commercial houses
were unable to more than keep pace
with the growing demands made upon
them. Labor was employed and the fu-
ture stimulated by the high hopes Gre
ated in the minds of all the people by
the reform party coming into power.
March 4, 1898, may well be said to
| mark an era in our history. There was
surplus in the treasury sufficient for
the demands Of all public business with
ont impairing the national credit by
| drawing upon the reserve funds. The
revenues were sufficient for the wants of
the government, SO that there were no
forebodings of a deficit in the treasury.
Turning aside from this marvellous
beginning, we stand in the presence of
the same assembled multitude with
Grover Cleveland, not on the eastern
portico Of the capitol, but in the dismal
swamps of the Carolinas, celebrating
the first anniversary of his induction
into Office for his second term. A brief
look at the state of things March 4,
1894, gives us what might be called a
fair estimate Of the results of one years
experiment in tariff reform.
First, let us notice that for the first
time in the history of the country in 80
years the national debt is increased
more than $780, 600, 900 i'll one year. For
the first time in the history of the gov
eminent for more than quarter of a
century the public revenues fail to meet
the demands of the government, and a
deficit Of more than $70,000,0 900 is
found in the national treasury. The fac
tory system of the country, extending
from California to Maine, covering the
entire domain of the country, is seen in
great prostration. Mills are everywhere
closed, and thousands who on March 4,
1898, were peacefully and happily en-
ployed in the everyday industries that
pAouShV tHillo lll,A w Viz lLlA-
lions of homes in the country are now
seen congregated in the great centers
where once was active shop and factory,
looking for work and begging from door
to door, or lodging in public houses at
the public expense, or begging for a
plate of soup at the hand of charity.
No more vivid picture N&s ever paint
ed in the history of any nation in civil
lized times of the wonderful fatalities
attending all business enterprise than
that of Grover Cleveland and his Dem
ocratic administration in tariff reform
for the IL months ending March 4, 1894.
Tariff reform has, under Mr.. Cleve-
land's leadership, accomplished the same
results for which it has always been
noted in this country-namely, the es-
tablishment of souphouses, the impov-
erishing of the thrifty operatives by us
ing up their surplus from the savings
institutions of the country, driving CAPT
tai out of commercial enterprise and
leaving commerce stranded with but one
thing sure-uncertainty. The loss to
business for the year is estimated by
Dun and Bradstreet at S12, 900, 900, 900.
This is the cost of tariff reform for one
year,