New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-06
THE PROBLEM FOR CONGRESS-.

Congress comes together 10 face extraordinary
trials and emergencies Of its own making. III j.
a prctence not worthy of repetition by any man
" Democrat that all disasters have come from
Republican laws which produced only prosper
ity while they were in full force. The people
have stamped that defence as false ana fraudu-
lent by maiOrities nearly unprecedented. ana
those ma iorties have only contempt for the
beaten trickstor who insists. AT this late day.
that the decision 10 change the policy OF the
Government in 1892 and the conduct OF the
Administration and the party In power nave
moi been responsible for the misfortunes when
have resulted Congress would save little ol
it's dignity and self respect IT, rising above I'M
Truths which prove too shallow 10 have effect
az The polls il should manfully face the faci
that what il has done and what II has failed 10
do have brought the country into great trouble"
Tho nature of this trouble must be honestly
recopnized before any useful remedy can DE-
eypected The chief fact is that the people are
actually buylng about quarter less than they
bought in 1892 The payments in November
70 clearing houses in all parts of the country
were 239 per cert less than two years ago
This is both a result and cause Of the fact
that large body of the people are ont OF en-
ployment and il is also directly Il result OF IN"
foct that the wages Of some millions have been
materially reduced Every Democratic Con
gresham knows that the proposal 10 admit a
greatly increased quantity Of foreign goods al
lower prices is the obvious and sufficient cause
Of n decrease in production and employment
and of "A reduction in wages Of those who have
IN compete with the foreign products admitted
nj lower rates Of duty. The expectation OF thls
change brought prosration before the change
itself had come.
Being less able to buy or TO import. the people
have not so increased their purchases Of for
eien goods that the duties AT lower rates have
Welded as much as the higher duties yielded
Tins customs receipts have been $l0OOOo0
less for the last three months than for the
same months in 1892. when the old laws were
in undisturbed operation. and the total revenue
for three months has been SCI .171.SI2 against
| S92. 472O00 in 1897. A great deficit In the
Treasury results. which the Administration has
met by selling S1OO,OOO.O00 Of bonds during the
wear. and adding S5,OOO.OOO. or nearly quar-
Ter. 10 the annual interest charge This would
| be less important if the known deficit and the
obvious incapacity Of Congress in making pro
| vision for the Government had not caused dis
| trust both here and abroad, and thus affected
| the whole financial system
This disirust was first prcclpitated by Sccre-
tary Carlsle's proposal to pay the new Treas
urv notes in silver in May, 1893. which brought
n the panic AT once but could not If industry
adj been assured and prosperous. and II the
,cton Of Congress had not been in itself a
eat Of free coinage and free State banks.
ow il is proposed 10 expose the country. III lis
depressed condition. to Il new financial rcvoll-
t..H
| that they can evolve out Of their inner CON
,sciousncsS a better monetary system than has
1 sen developed by the practical business OF the
| Il thirty years is not a decent excuse for such
Il urbance at Il time like this. and at the
| hahds Of discarded bungers.
Cfhigrcss ought 10 have manliness enough TO
recognize that the people want as little Of lis
metiIling as possible. Great humility would
becope men who have brought upon their party
the most overwhelming political revolution Of
this generation. II Congress has CLEANS ~
sanity,"it will promptly refuse to tinker with
the currency at all. will turn Il deaf ear TO all
silver agitation, and will attend strictly to the
obvious duty Of relieving the country from the
| trouble 4 has brought about. The least II can
do Is to provide for borrowing money at low
| rates of interest. and by a popular loan Instead
| of deal with banking syndcatcs. Money must
| be had II Democratic revenue laws are IL
stand. and II will no, be easy TO raise II, II
Congress goes t. tinkcrng with the currency.