Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-12-20

dentally 10. revenue. Thus issues
were joined. with the result that the
republican party went down horse
and dragoon. Strong republican
States swung from their moorings,
and it looked as if the tariff ques-
tiea was thoroughly and finally
settled in favor of the democratic
position. For several years the
attention of the country had been
called to this question as never be-
fore The fight was waged and
won, fairly upon this issue, and so
asserted By the democratic speakers
and press OF the county. This was
desired by the republican party.
The truth. to my mind, is that the
position of neither was entirely
tenable. Ii is true the fight was
made upon this issue, but the peo-
pie were ripe for revolt, and the
democratic party in 1892 could have
won upon any platform that prom
ised relief. They were heartily
tired of the republican party and
its long rule of oppression, aud were
willing to trust the democratic party
for relief. Did this relief, promised
so loudly and so earnestly by the
democratic party, come! | am
forced to say it did not materialize,
at least in time to be Of any prac-
teal benefit before the late electors.
For this the party is partly, and
partly not, to blame. That the
Congress elected in 1892 did not
convene in regular session for a
year and month, is no direct fault
of the democratic party. submit
that this is too long a time for the
peoples representatives, who are,
or should be, in immediate touch
with the people. to meet after elec-
ton. The people, in their distress
can lily brook such long delay.
This defect, in my opinion, should
be remedied. Why the conditions
that called them together, may have
passed, and be almost forgotten,
before they can respond to the
peoples mandate.
For this then the party, or its
legislators, are not to blame. But
they are fairly responsible for their
acts of commission and omission,
after they were convened by presi-
dent Cleveland in the summer of
1898. Then it was, that, under
standing the distress and impatience
OF the people, consequent upon the
long delay intervening between
their election and their call in extra
session, they should have applied
themselves assiduously and earnest
ly to the work in hand. Unity of
counsel and action was imperative
ly demanded, but instead it soon
became apparant that distrnst and
personal rivalry, more or less point
ed existed, aud rendered that frank
and ready cooperation between
Congress and Executive necessary
to successful effer:, corresponding
ly abortive. 1t was painfully ap-
parent to the more knowing, that
during the whole of the extra and
regular session, the relations be-
tween the dominant party in Con-
gress and the President were
strained. This was unfortunate.
and initiated against the peoples
interest. MIR. Cleveland never has
been popular with the politicians of
bis own party. They much pre-
ferred that some one else should
have been nominated; and they did
all they could, or at least a goodly
number of them, to defeat him, but
the masses were more than a match
for them, and they nominated him,
Notwithstanding his own State was
apparently against him. For this
it seems some never forgave him,
and proclaimed their resentment
openly in the halls Of Congress.
This / repeat was unfortunate in
more respects than one. Private
resentment should have been laid
aside for the public veal.
don't pretend that the Presi-
dent is altogether blameiess, s,-he
would be more than human IL he
was. Errors he doubtless has COM
mitted and who has not. IL
may be that he is defcisn. in that
personal magnetism that captivates
mems hearts, but that he is cousci-
entIously and manfully discharging
the duties Of his high office, and
avar anlicitnna nf AZ x.S-lz,. -