Saint Mary's beacon., 1894-05-31


triumph. but all could not agree upon The
methods By which they should be obtained.
06seured for the Moment.
Dissension bred discouragement The
very liberty OF thought and action which
had sustained the Democratic party through
all these years of disirust aud disaster and
drawn within its folds the conscience and
young life of the nation cast shadow be-
fore the ultimate and certain triumph of
principle and good government.
The bold were impatient 10 the verge of
rashness. The timid hesitated. Inability
to make others think as they thought
clouded the judgment of honest minds.
Dissatisfaction with details befogged for
the moment that great common purpose
which drew together an overwhelming
majority of American citizens only few
months before.
Nor was this all. The Democratic party
came into power simultaneously with the
elimination Of generation Of misrule and
public abuses. The people recognized the
evils, repudiated those responsible for their
existence, and put upon us the task Of erad-
ication and reform. But few, If any, ap--
preciated the extent Of the undertaking.
Tariff reform, the one great achievement
decreed and necessary, would have been
comparatively easy then. Butthe fruits of
Republican policy had not yet been resped.
Needless and ill-considered financial
legislation had not produced its full effect.
Business depression became so general that
the whole country seemed likely 10 be pam
ic-stricken. 1t was absolutely necessary
% subordinate all other questions 10 the
prompt eradication Of this evil. None Of
US who were here at that time will soon
forget the memorable struggle which fol-
lowed. Party lines were broken at the
very beginning of Democratic adminstra-
ton. but patience and courage triumphed
in the end as patience and courage always
/ do.
The most captious of critics could no,
refuse grudging tribute TO the strength
and persistence that overcame obstacle,
| WnfSn sSCaico W pS Observation-Disclosures. y
far the action Of the party in power wal
commended, but the critical tendency had
become irresistible. We were not only
urged, but ordered peremptorily, to "re-
form the tariff at once. Why waltz Vol,
first. Talk afterwardl'
| Mr.. President, IL is not my purpose d
pass judgment upon advice such as this
/: furnishes lis own answer 10 sane an.
intelligent minds. Nor shall attempt q
rebuke those impatient friends. whose cen
sure know In most cases has been who'll,
unmerited, ana whose zeal has 90 far out
! run their discretion as 70 jeopardize th
very purpose which they aim to achieve
II 10 sufficient 10 recall the fact that exactl
similar cries were heard during the silve
debate, when, as now, they seemed TO som
degree warranted by the unfortunate in
dussrial conditions. But when we loo
; back upon that incident in our Ieeislatiy
. history, as we can look back now ~ithoy
prejudice, aud consider all the circumstar
ces and the difficulties both within an
: without the party, Ii IL net more surprisin
/ that the victory was won at all than III,
tha vsDQuished refused to yield at the fir
|. blast Of the trumpety Was ever 80 con
: plete q reversal Of our financial policy 4,
complished In 50 slsort timer