The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-03-07
ONE YEAR AFTER.

Philadelpnla EYenlIg Ielesralins SAluluAA.
At the going down of the sun to-day
the party in power will have completed
twelve months Of control Of the legisla-
tive and administrative departments of
the Federal Government, the first in
thirty-three years And what a period
of attempted reactionary revolution,
doubt and disaster it has been Within
this time the loss to the country has been
fnlly equal 70 one years expenditure dur
ing the great struggle for the preserva-
ton of the Union. II is doubtful, indeed,
if one thousand million dollars would
begin to cover the financial loss sustain
ed, which has extended to every depart
ment and TO all classes. The rich and
the very poor, those with much and
those with little, have been made 10 feel
the effect of the withering blight that
has come upon the country, paralyzing
industry, unsettling values, causing in
some lines Of investment unprecedented
sbrinkage, and in Others ruin.
One year ago the wheels of industry
were turning everywhere. labor was
employed at comfortable wages. There
was a well defined fear as to 'he imme-
5iate future, yet there was great hopeful
ness. In view Of the past career Of Mr..
Cleveland, and especially of his many
and seemingly honest and earnest decla-
rations Of loyalty to American institu-
tons, ideas and interests, it could not be
believed that serious harm would be
permitted to come to the people through
a radical change in economic policy. In
the inaugural address of last March
there was nothing to indicate such a
destructive warfare as has since been
waged upon American manufactures and
American workmen. The President in
sisted that his party should as early as
possible enter upon the work he claimed
it had been commissioned TO do; but he
tried to assure the people that this might
be carried out without violence TO estab-
lished industries, without a general up
roofing Of the economic system, with out
irreparable loss to employer and employ
ed, to capitalists and laborer, to landlord
and tenant, to merchant and tradesman,
to farmer, miner and lumberman.
This was Democratic tariff reform-in
theory. The vision of it in practice, as
thrown across the national screen when
the Wilson bill made its appearance,
chilled to the marrow. 1t came upon
the country with fearful effect, and not
withstsnding the overwhelming protest
that has gone up from every industrial
section Of the Union, these perverse tar
if reyisers have refused to listen. They
ignore alike the warning and the inevi-
table consequences to themselves in the
immediate future Of their own incom-
prehensible political folly. If the VIII
son bill had been modified in the House
in accordance with the demands of the
Democratic protectionists, and this course
had been indorsed by the majority in
the Senate, the bill might have been
law by this time, end everything in
shape for a renewal of industrial activi-
".
The country has repeatedly declared
in favor of a conservative tariff action,
and while it never prospered as it did
during 1891 and 1892, under the present
tariff law, it would be quite willing to
see the reasonable demands Of the sensi-
ble critics Of this statute complied with.
This is what was expected when the
Democratic party was placed in power.
Instead Of carrying out such q policy,
however, those in responsible position,
inspired, directed, sustained, and con-
trolled by Mr. Cleveland and those near
to him, hsve pursued a radically differ
ent course, one the country was not pre-
pared for and never will be prepared for;
one that has brought untold financial
loss and personal suffering; one even the
threat OF which demoralized industry,
and Of necessity threw out Of employ
ment, on the threshold Of winter, hund-
reds Of thousands Of honest and worthy
people, an immense numb-r of whom
have since been compelled to accept
charitable assistance in order to live at
all.
Still the President is a. stiffnecked as
ever. The Senate, through the commit
tee having charge of the bill, has been
struggling for a month with theproblems
before it but there is no sign from the
White House such as craftsmanship i'm
peratiyely calls for under such eircum-
stances. Grover Cleveland, wrapped in
the mantle of his colossal conceit, has no
use f,r wise counsellors. Hehas nothing
bat contempt for the pitfnl cry that
comes up from a multitude Of darkened
and suffering homes. He cares nothing
for the iRlpeTious demands of the enraged
political leaders Of his own party, who
with one accord have been pointing out
the breakers aid the rocks Just ahead.
His hand is on the helm, and he means to
keep it there. His course has been 6xed,
and he will not change it, no matter what
happens to himself or his followers, the
National Treasury, or the country.
The situation is exactly the reverse Of
sssst il was in the winter Of 1861, when
the weakness, coESrdice, and vscillation
OF the National Executive permitted the
country to drift into the throes Of the civil
war. High courage, a clear head, and a
firm hand at that crisis would have work
ed wonders. At this time strong man in
the Executive chair, reckless Of his obli-
cations to the people, intoxicated with
the love Of self-pride, perversely drives
ahead, d agging his party with him to ru-
in, imperilling the credit of the Govern
ment, daily adding to the enormous losses
which have been needlessly suffered, and
intensifying the discomfort and the sor-
rows of class Of people who largely form
the bone snd sinew Of the nation.
In such S crisis it belIooves the lit