The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-10-04
DEMocRAoYS CONDITION.

W1CQ1Q- q month nearly HI Gu0 sIAC0S
will hold elections for congressman,
hence the political situation just now Is
decidedly interesting. The policy of the
democratic party, and the party itself
are both on trial; the former by the
entire people, the latter by the indivld-
ual members of the party itself. Its
policy is on trial by all the people, for
the effect of its legislation has been ex-
perienced by all regardless of political
beliefs. What the verdict of those who
are not blinded by partisanism will be, is
easily foreseen. Less than two years
ago when President Cleveland took the
oath of Office, the country was prosper
GUS, mills were running, agricultural
products had good and active market,
labor was employed, and capital invest
ed or seeking investment, debt was
being paid off rapidly, and this was
being done without burdensome taxa
ton. Mr. Cleveland had no sooner
taken his seat in the presidential chair,
than change came, but not the change
the people had been clamoring for. The
first act of the president was to call
special session of congress to repeal the
purchasing clause of the Sherman act,
and virtually putting stop to the ex-
The threatened change of the revenue
system to a free. trade basis, caused
along with the demonitization of silver
as a future money metal, univer-
sal distrust. Capital began to protect
itself, to gather up its wealth, and cease
from investments. A run on the banks
by people of moderate means followed
and the money of the country went into
the old stockings and hid itself from
public view. Agricultural products
went downin price because the factor
les no longer furnished employment,
and the laborer had not the money to
purchase. Hard times fell upon US, and
while tax burdens were not increased
the revenues of the government fell of, ,
and instead of decreasing the national
debt, $50,0OO,O00 of interest bearing
bonds were issued. OF the final COM
promise to describe it mildly, with the
sugar trust it is not necessary to speak.
But for all these things the policy of the
party is up before the people of this
country for their Judgment, On the
other hand the party itself is on trial
by its own members. The appoint
ment of Gresham, the flirting with
Queen Lii, but above all the surrender
to the sugar trust, and the abandoning
of the principle for which honest demo-
Gratis had contended so bitterly for years,
the abandoning of the free trade plat
form on which democracy triumphed,
these things the honest members, the
rank and file of the party will be called
upon to pass their judgment on. There
can be but one result. The country has
suffered incomparably by the change
and the country will correct it as speed
lily as possible. Democracy has suffered
unto death at the hands of every de-
partment OF the government except the
lower house of congress. The president
choked the life out of il in forcing it to
do his bidding concerning silver, and
the senate kicked it's aspirations to
pieces in forcing it to yield to the
sugar trust. The people will down de-
mocracy, and the democrats will assist
in holding the wake.