The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-03-31
THE PEOPLES VERDICT,
How tho Republicans Have Ignored this
Country's Interests.


Country's Interests.
The republicans in 1890 while pre-
pairing and tbrusting upon an unwill
ing people the Mckinley abomination.
talked much of the mandate they had
received from the people in 1858, when
a majority of the people voted against
them. No question Of raising the tariff
was before the people in 1883. 1t was
question of reducing it. and the re-
puh1icans obtained a ma ority of three
in the house on the subterflge that the
tariff, while needing revision, ought to
be revised by its friends. Then they
proceeded to reduce tho revenues and
to increase the public burdens.
In 1892 the people not only gave the
democratic candidates for the presi-
dcncy and wee presidency a large plu-
rality, but gave the democrats ma
jority of more than ninety in the house
and the control of the senate. These
facts. being a matter of public record,
cannot be denied. But the repub-
leans say now that because they held
some republican states last November,
carried democratic state on local
issues and have lately captured dem
ocratic district the mandate has been
recalled. This did not prove very ef-
fective in the house, but they hope
that it may have better success in the
senate
II the republicans had been guided
there would never have been n Mckin-
ley bill to repeal. SO far the man
date of minority of the people in
1883 could be tortured into meaning
anything. it was only permission to
the republicans to reduce the tariff in
stead of having the work done by the
democrats. who, they said, would go
too far if intrusted with the task.
When they We're about to pass the Nc
Kinlcy bill. prominent members of
their own party reproached them pri-
vately and publicly for their breach 0;
faith in this respect.
More than this occurred. The cleo
tons in November. 1889, resulted in
sweeping democratic victories. Iowa
and Ohio elected democratic governors,
and Massachusetts barely missed doing
SO by bargain III certain wards of
Boston. New York. that had voted for
Harrison in 1888, resumed it's place in
the democratic column. 1t was re-
publican Waterloo, only exceeded by
the phenomenal defeats which they
sustained IN 1890 and 1892.
Was this a revocation of the repub-
lican mandate? According to what
they say now, it was. The Mckinley
bin was not yet begun. Congress had
not met. If the epublicans are scri-
Gus now, it vas plainly their duty from
their point Of view to give up all notion
Of raising tariff rates in order to pro-
and framed the Mckinley bill. Iron
manufacturers in New England sent
their mammoth petitions for a rcstora-
ton OF the rates of 1857. tho law which,
their Henry Wilson said was the best
ever framed. They disregarded this
memorial. Kansas, which had been a
republican stronghold, i,nplored them
no.. to destroy her smelling and
threatened to desert the party if they
did. threat that was faithfully carried
out. Nevertheless, the smelling in
dustry driven to Mexico IT
would take too long, to tell Of the pro-
tests from other sections that were dis
regarded.
None of these things. nor all Of them
together. We're ttcn considered n re-
call of tho popular mandate. Nc
Kinlcy and his accompiiccs insisted
that they We're irresistibly driven for
ward by the mandate of the people to
rob the treasury for the benefit of
trusts to reduce the revenue by pro-
hibtory' duties instead of lower rat es.
and to increase expenditures to an ex-
taut that was sure to lead. as it has
led, to 4 deficit Sucll is the history OF
republican respect for the mandate of
tho people. With this recent history
; frcsl, in the minds OF the people, they
should have the grace to remain silent
upon the subject row.-Louisville
. tnuricr-.Ionrpal.