The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-12-21
EIGHTH PAGE ESSAYS.
No. a.

When the Democratic party assem-
bled in national convention in 1902
and nominated Mr.. Cleveland for the
presidency, it did promise and vow
three things, if put into power: First,
to repeal the Sherman silver purchas-
ing act; second, to repeal the federal
election law; and third, to repeal the
Mckinley tariff act.
Upon that promise we went to the
country, and after contest of unusual
interest and activity, the democrats
were put into power by a majority
over Mr. Harrison Of nearly 4oo, 900
and the electoral college stood, C,eve-
land a77, Harrison I45, Weaver 2a,
showing majority for Cleveland over
all of his opponents of ITO.
Mr.. Cleveland called Congress to-
gether in extra session, Aug. 7, 1898,
and the bill to repeal the Sherman sill
yer act passed the House August 2S.
1t went to the Senate and substitute
bill passed that body October 81,
which, upon being reported to the
House, was agreed to and became
law by the Presidents signature.
At the regular session the federal
election law was also repealed, and
thus free ballot was established and
federal soldiers were deprived from
any and all interference with the
elections of citizens, and intimidation,
seizure, and arrest prohibited and
every man was protected in his right
to vote according to the dictates of
his own judgment.
The Wilson tariff bill, repeating the
Mckinley bill, was also introduced,
and after prolonged debate, overcom-
ing all objections made by foes and
pretended friends was passed and be-
came law on the aSth day of Au-
gust, just one year after the House
passed the Sherman silver bill.
Thus, within eighteen months after
the democrats came into power, they
had fully redeemed the pledge they
had made to repeal those three most
mischievous and ruinous acts which,
during the canvass, had been debated,
considered and most emphatically
condemned. We assert, therefore,
that the people of the country had no
cause to find fault with the democratic
party. 1t had fulfilled its pledges, it
had kept the faith with its constit-
uents, and it was entitled to be tried
by its works before it was condemned
for its performance of duty. Sixty
days of revenue tariff had started
almost every industry in the country,
and activity in all manufacturing cen
tres will continue under democratic
legislation as democrats predicted it
would, and to that we now call the at
tention of all readers.
In the face of all these facts, repub-
licans now proclaim that the demo
Gratis cannot govern the country; but
however that may be, no more can
the republicans govern it, except by
money or by force. When they were
in power they could only get along by
the aid cf Doodle, backed by bayonets.
The republican party is now what it
always has been. 1t was and it is es-
sentially war party. 1t was and it is
essentially a party of prescription.
The democratic party, purged of its
baser elements, terminated by the
constitutional doctrines of Jefferson,
inspired by the national spirit of Jack
son, is the natural, the inevitable party
of the constitution and the people,
and as such it is bound to live and re-
gain its lost prestige.