The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-18
Talk That Means Little.

Talk That Means Little.
The republicans seem to find some sort
of satisfaction in saying that If an cleo
tion were had now the democrats would
be swept from power by a tidal wave of
popular Indignation such as the country
has not seen for twenty years
Il is not improta Die that there is some
foundation for this statement, because the
business depression that IS inseparabIe
from any great changes in the tariff pro
duCes dissatisfaction with the party in
power. Even those who recognize theme
cessity for a reduction in the tariff, and
voted for it, are apt 20 express dis
satisfaction with the party responsible for
the tariff changes as soon IS their bust
ness interests are affected unfavorabIy.
But it doesn't follow that because there
is a great deal of dissatisfaction now
with the party in power, there will be
after the new tariff has been adopted.
If prosperity returns when the country
adjusts itself TO the new conditions the
dissatisfaction viii disappear, and the
popularity OF the Democratic party will
be greater than ever, and that the new
tariff will be productive Of grea ter pros
perity than the country ever before en-
ioyed there is good reason to believe.
The theory Of the Domo-
cratic party is that the Mckinley
tariff is gradually running the best inter
ests Of the country. 1t is robbing the
masses and enriching a few monopolists
who are in a position to profit by it, The
Wilson tariff would lift a portion Of
the burden from the masses and make it
impossible for mOuopolies and trusts to
accumulate vast fortunes at the expense
of the toiling millions. If this theory is
correct, and there are good reasons for
saying it is, it will not be long before the
dissatisfaction, of which so much is heard
now, Will disappear, and the opinion viii
be very generally expressed that the Dem
ocratic party IS in power to stay for a
long time.
1t was hardly to be expected that the
tariff could be lowered without produc-
ing certain amount of stagnation in
business. Importers must know what
the tariff is before they can safely import
freely, and manufacturers cannot go Oh
producing until they are certain of the
conditions on which they can conduct
their business. 1t would be folly for
them to buy heavily of raw materials
before they know whether or not month
or so hence they would be able to buy
raw materials at a much less price. They
are holding back until they are in posi-
tion to make a safe estimate of the cost
of their products for many months to
come.
Assoon as the schedules of the Wilson
bill are definitely determined. factories
will be run on full time to satisfy the
orders that will flow in upon them, and
the long and annoying depression in bust
ness viii be a thing of the past.
The democratic party will not be
turned aside from its purpose to lower
the tariff by the prediction that it viii be
swept from power because of its tariff
legislation. 1t was placed in power TO do
certain thing, and IL is going to do it
Notwithstanding the Efforts that are being
made to turn it from its purpose.
If the Wilson bill should not accomplish
what the Democratic party believes it
would, then there would be ground for
thinking that that party would be swept
0ub "a ppWEI ny Il bltdl wave OF popular
indignation and it would deserve to be
for making such mistake, but it is not
going to be swept out of power" before
il becomes apparent that it has made
mistake
The people understand that the Repub-
lican party is responsible for the present
unhappy condition of affairs Had the
tariff during the Harrison administration
been lowered instead of raised, and had
there been economy instead of extrava-
gance in the administration of the gov
eminent, and had the Sherman silver
purchasing law never been enacted, the
chances are there would have been no
money panic last summer, and there
would be so little depression in business
that it would be hardly noticeable. The
| democrats are not going to be swept out
of power quite SO easily as the republi-
cans seem to think.