The Portland daily press., 1894-08-08

present relations of Norway and Sweden,
holdlng that by the union under one
KING dlsproportionate share of impor-
lance attaches to Sweden. In foreign
| affairs especially Norway demands more
voice, asking for separate consulates in
| foreign countries. 1t is also understood
that after the solution of the question as
to separate consulates the Liberals will
demand separate minister of foreign
affairs and internal reforms including
woman suffrage The affair is regarded
as serious, and as a possible source of
international complications
THE HOPE OF A RETURN OF PROS
PERITY.
The hope of better times in this
country is quite generally based upon
the probable nearness of Congresses adj
journment. 1t is assumed that uncer
talnty as to tariff changes is holding
industry bound to the. ground; and that
when this incubus shall be removed
business will at once spring into activity,
ike strong man anxious to use his
powers. While this hope is not wholly
wild, 1t is too sanguine. The Industrial
organization of the nation has been
shaken too profoundly to admit Of instant
recovery. AT first men halted In their
enterprises because the programme of
the party in power gave rise to uncertain
ties. This is always the case when
political bodies begin to regulate affairs
OF business. Whenever the tariff has
been revised by the Republican party
we have had these uncertainties and
the consequent depression, in mild
Iorm.t But public confidence has quickly
returned, because down deep in the popu-
lar heart there was strong confidence
IN the general capability of the govern
lnglpowers. Many faults have been
charged to the Republican party in the
long years of its power. Different men
and parties have accused it of harboring
corruptionists, of practising extravaganza
OIL being arbitrary, of giving undue
favors to manufacturers, of nominating
occasionally scamp for Office, and of
doing various other things such as have
been charged against all organizations
from the time when parties began to ex-
lst But even the men who believed
these charges, considered the alleged
faults rather as excrescences on an or
ganism otherwise healthy. The Demo-
cratic party, being out OF power, and
protesting high virtues without oppor-
tunity for anyone to test these profess
ions, naturally proftedsby the continual
criticism to which the party in power
was subjected. 1t began to enjoy a
high reputation simply because men
were forgetting its old character, and
took without testing It's professions
that it had been born again.
The experiences of the last two wears
have unmarked the Democratic party.
An alarmed country has found that this
great oganization has running through
it no one purpose of moral or even ola
political nature. 1t is an aggregation
of oppositiors, without fixed principles;
and incapable OF having q definite,
reasonable purpose, much less of carry
ing such purpose out. This language
is not too severe. Candid Democrats
will themselves admit its truth.
When any body of men, like the bust
ness men OF this country, find them
selves subjected to any new power.
they are naturally anxious until they
find out the temper and dispositions of
that power. Have the things they have
learned about t he Democratic party, in
the last year tended to aliay that ankle.
ty? Have they not rather tended to in
crease it, and to beget condition of
numbness and even of despair? The old
illusion, created by long years of able
Republican administration, that the
prosperity of this country could not be
injured, even if the Democrats should
get i'll, has been rudely dispelled. Men
limitations can.hardly lay up food and
clothing for year ahead; and the wolf
is never very far from the door of even
the. most prosperous peoples.
This fact we are learning by practical
experience We are realizing that some
actual wisdom is required to manage
successfully the affairs of this nation:
and that the howlers who did very we'll
at driving out the Republican party, are
out of place as administrators.
The Democratic party has rendered
itself SO entirely an object of susp icion
that business cannot revive permanently
until the people understand that the
party of disorder and trouble has been
driven out or put under guardianship.
The opportunity to perform the former
pleasing task will not come before the
fall of 1896: but the guardian can be
obtained sooner. A Republican House of
Representatives can be elected this fall:
and must be elected if there is to be
permanent revival. The restoration
of a single branch of the government to