The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-04-28
Populist speaking.

Mr.. W. J. Peddicord, the PopulIst candi-
date for JOINT representative from Sherman
and Wasco counties, addressed his fellow
citizens on the political issues of the day at
the court house last night. There were
not many in attendance, but those pres
ent appeared to pay close attention to the
speaker. Mr.. Petticord Is fluent talker,
and has an argumentative style; but we
believe his theories on the money question
| did not make many converts. When our
reporter entered he was just finishing some
| remarks about continental money in COM
| par.son with the issue OF greenbacks during
the war. Like mauy of his partisans, we
presume he believes 1t WAS government rob
berry for the authorities to destroy green
backs after they had been redeemed at the
u S. treasury. They generally contend
that these should be kept 10 circulation
continuously; that the people had comb
dence 10 them, aud that was all that
was necessary to establish their
money value. If the United States or anv
other country were to adopt any o.her
methods except those pursued in hones'
business, the fact would soon develop itse
that public :',il Al -: :in, etelY
wrecked The action of the government IN
redeeming its Pied ges aud FayIng every dbl
lar in coin when the paper currency come"
to the treasury constitutes Its su.veucy shi |
makes greenbacks at par.
On free trade h. did not distinctly de6ue |
himself, and at times our reporter considered |
him good protectionist. He did not con-
slider that the economic policy of the Re
publican party kept up the price of An.eri-
can wages, and stated that laborers in un
protected industries were paid as much as
those in protected ones. But Mr., Peddi
cord must not overlook the fact that the
policy in this country has created
divers industries, and that these render
the American laborer independent of any
particular employer. II he does not receive
suitable wages IN one vocation he will leave
it tor another. and this forces all employers
TO scale their wag,s IS high as possible IN
order to retain their worKmeD. Protection
has caused this state of things, and has
done more fer the elevation of the Ameri-
IAN laborer than all other influences COM
oined..
The theories of the Populists on the finan
nal question one must consider fallacious,
or every attempt made TO create fiat money
las proved disastrous, both on this sid= of
he Atlantic and ON the European continent
As far as the Republican plan of finances Is
oncerned it has received a practical test
or the past thirty years, aud raised the na-
ion from The dtplorable, bank upt CO. d.
ION lu which she was in 1865 to one of af1u-
nee and unexampled pros peiIty in 1892 No
ther argument need be used. The same s
an be said Gf the policy of protection IN
ugurated by the Republican party, and IN |
he management of national affairs the same t
lle applies in the cangroi OF comm IN a
,dividuafs busine.s-no Mug succeeds like
uccess. Experiments not the safest or L
,isest 10 nationals aft .ir auy more than they a
re In personal cases. That is always the d
oundest and safest that has stood the test b
practical ex erience
In this era OF depression men will look in S
ny direction for relief, ard, like drowning fl
len. grasp at straws. This may give n
.imulus to the third party this year: but o
hatever attraction it posses es SOON passes s
hen facts are insestiga ated aud results cou- k
dered