The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-03-02
THE JUNE ELECTION.
Letter to Republicans on Con-
ditions of the Country and
Oregon's Interests.

A~5SAA - AAAS~s ~SSS'
The following letter on the present po.
litical situation has been received from
Senator J. N. Dolph by the president of the
young mems state republican club:
The coming political contests during the
present year, commencing with the June
election in Oregon, will be the most import.
ant contests for years, and the results will
determine the future prosperity of this
nation, and the happiness of the people of
this country. Not only is the prosperity
of the whole nation at stake, but absolutely
all the great interests of our state are in
jeopardy. The principles of the republican
party will bear the closest scrutiny, and the
most thorough discussion. They have been
ON trial, by their practical application to
public affairs, for nearly third of a century
for SO long period, that the younger
generation had no criterion, within their
own experience, with which to compare
them, and many were misled by the con-
tinued assaults made upon, and the mis-.
representations of the party in power and
its policy, to believe that change in the
administration, and the control of the gov
ernment by the democratic party would be
beneficial. The change came The re-
versal of the policy of the republican party
which had so long controlled the govern
ment, was decreed.
SITUATION IN 1892.
when the American people determined that
the executive and legislative departments
of the government should pass under the
control of the democratic party, the coun-
try was enjoying high degree of prosper
ity. The revenues were sufficient to meet
the current expenditures of the government.
Our mills and factories, and the thousands
of industries which furnish employment to
millions of laborers, were in full operation.
The great railroads and other transportation
lines were prosperous. giving employment
to labor and extending their operations to
new regions. Appropriations for public
works were liberal. Every industry flourish.
ing. Labor was employed. There was no
enforced idleness. The country was pros.
porous. Want was comparatively unknown.
Prosperity, happiness and contentment, as
q rule, reigned in the abodes of the rich and
the poor. To be sure, there was in some
places and among some classes spirit OF
discon tent There was occasional friction
between the employers and the employed;
but this has always been the case, and must
be expected while time endures. Dissatis-
faction with present conditions is natural,
and necessary as an incentive to improve
ment. But the condition of the laboring
classes was better than it had ever been be-
fore in this country, and better than that
of the laboring classes of any other country.
Wages had been constantly increasing for
fifty years; while the cost of necessary arti-
cles consumed by laborers had been con-
stantly decreasing. The character of en-
ployment had improved, becoming perma-
nent and continuous. The hours consti-
tuting a days work had been decreased,
and, in many ways, the condition of labor
ers had been improved, and the tendency
was toward further Improvement.
REPUBLICAN ACHIEVEMENTS AND AIMS.
The republican party was earnestly and
intelligently seeking to promote such inn
provement. 1t had, by legislation, dedi-
Gated the public lands for homes for set
tiers; by maintaining policy which fur
nished employment to our own citizens, H.
stead of to laborers of other countries;
by legislation to prevent coolie immigration,
and the coming to this country of laborers
under contract; by the improvement of water
ways; by the regulation of interst COM
merce, and legislation for the protection Of
employees of corporations; and many other
ways which 1 cannot stop to enumerate,
been constantly promoting the welfare of
the laboring and producing classes. But
mankind is prone to forget past experiences.
We easily become dissatisfied with existing
conditions, and under the pressure Of present
evils are disposed to charge the fault for
unsatisfactory conditions upon the party
in power. 1t was not to be wondered at,
therefore, that portion of our people came
at last to think a change in the admins.
tration of the government would better
their condition. The change came
EFFECTS OF THE CHANGE.
The question as to whether the change
will be beneficial is no longer problematical.
1t does not now depend upon opinion. 1t
has been solved by demonstration-by act
nal experience. The success of the demo-
cratic party, pledged to the reversal of the
policy that has prevailed in this country
since 1S6l-of protection to American. in.
dustry-has proven disastrous to the busi-
ness industries and the finances of the
country. Scarcely had the news of the
democratic victory at the last presidential
election been flashed upon the wings of
lightning to the remote corners of the
ion, where there appeared in the clear sky
of our prosperity signs of coming storm,
which spread with amazing rapidity, until
clouds of blackest hue, portendmg dire
disaster, obscured the whole national hori-