The herald., 1894-04-19
THRILLING WITH THE COUNTRY.

The United States senate seems to be
no nearer ready to come to q vote ON the
reform tariff bill than il was a month
ago. Indeed, the longer it is before that
body the farther off seems the time for
definite action upon it. The country is
in the throes of q business and indus
trial agony. II the tariff question were
energy and enterprise would at least
know what to depend upon and address
themselves to the lifting of the country
out Of its stagnstion. As it is, the un-
certainty as to what congress will do has
a more psrslyzing effect upon business
that even repressive and inimical legis-
lation would have. 1t unmans every
body-tskes the els dnima out OF the
most elastic spirits, and helps to per-
petuate condition OF things that has
become intolerable.
1t is with regret that we say it, but
the Democratic party cannot escape
from the responsibility Of the situation.
Whilst it is true that we are going
through an ordeal OF hard times that was
an inheritance bequeAthed to us by the
party that had held power &c long, and
which had leRislated for the classes in.
stead of the masses, yet the Democracy
will be held to account for failing, when
the people had placed the power in their
hands, to carry out the solemn pledges
of their platform. II there was one
thing more than another which brought
victory to their banner, it WAS the prom
ise to reverse the Mckinley tariff policy
aud give US schedule that would be
just to both the producer and the con-
sumer and arrest the fatal strides of the
government to go into complete partner
ship with the monopolists. We are get
ting well along in the second year of the
rule of the party called to power on
this and congener issues, and yet nothing
whatever has been done TO redeem the
solemn pledges made to the people
How can the party hope to retain the
contidencs of the country il by its acts
1t shows that it's solemnly asseverated
principles are a hollow moekery, and
T. Bolts, that platforms are made to
catch votes, as molssses is spread on a
sheet to catch flies. Ths people pro
nounced in unmistakable tones their
wish that the Mckinley tariff should be
reformed. The Democratic party
pledged itself to do 30. So far it has
fsiled-utterly, scsndalously and igno-
miniously failed. The senate, which is
in the possession of The party. shows no
sign that it will redeem the pledges
made at the Chicago convention. In
deed. the country ia justified in be-
lieving, from the att gude o some OF
the most conspicuous leaders of the De-
in the upper house, that there
is set determination to pass no reform
bill at all.
If there ever was q political orgauizA-
tivlI Shl~S OoAvviivd auu rpIiI up
into factional anteRonisms by it's own
leaders, 1t is the Democratic party OF
today. Cleveland, with his perverse
ness and strong headed concets, has
split the party in the west down the
back by pspdering in his fulminations
and vetoes to the money power OF Wall
street. No doubt he is sound on the
tariff proposition, but he has ruined his
prestige with the west and the south by
his silver course. The lack of harmony
among the leaders in the senate is the
natural sequence of the presidential
egotism and perversity, and the result
is before us-a tariff reform bill which
is assaied in the house of it's friends,
and policy of procrastination that is
wearying the country and giving a blow
to the party in power from which it will
only recover after another long and
humiliating penitentisl probation.