The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-01-13
THE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA

lists have any weight Wltn tne people,
THE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA
The Cleveland administration has
been In hot water ever since inaugura-
tion day, and as time advances it
seems to become deeper and deeper
involved. When the change was made
last March wage-earners were receiv-
ing higher remuneration than ever be-
fore, and business of all kinds was
prosperous; but immediately there was
financial depression, followed by the
failure of banks and general stagna-
ton in trade.
The president considered this the re-
suit of the silver-purchase clause of
the Sherman act, and isaued his proc
lamatien for congress to convene IN
special session on August 7th. By the
aid of Republicans, the part of the act
that was particularly dlstasteful to the
friends of honest money, was repealed;
and many thought that this would
cause the needful reaction, and that
confidence would again be re-established
and business would seex its for
mer prosperous chapnels. Months
have passed, and there is no indication
of any improvement in the conditions.
If there is any change, it has been for
the worse, and those who support Mr.
Cleveland's opinions on financial af-
fairs are forced to the conclusion that
he was mistaken in his judgmen. of
the actual cause.
Not only the economic policy pur-
sued by Mr.. Harrison was for the best
interests of the people, but in our re-
latlon with foreign nations there was
firm course pursued that made every
American proud of his country. This
cannot be said of Mr.. Cleveland and
his cabinet. The provisional govern.
ment had been established in the
Sandwich islands, and our intercourse
with that country was of the most har
monious nature. Almost the first act
of the Democratic president and his
secretary of state was to attempt to
undo what the proceeding Repu ubllcan
administration had DONE Mr.. Blount
was sent to Honolulu, without the
knowledge or consent of congress, with
authority to reopen the question of
the late resolution, and report his find
lngs to the White House. Soon after
Mr.. Willis was seat there with in
structions to subvert the existing gov
ernment and re-establish the queen on
the throne. All this was done during
the recess of congress, and in opposi-
tion to the express provisions of the
constitution in reference to interna-
tional affairs. Very properly the leg
islative branch of the government has
called the executive to task for his ar
bitary actions, and the end is pot yet.
Want and starvation have increased
to an alarming extent, the treasury is
constantly becoming depleted, and
tariff reduction bill is now before con-
gress. There is a deficiency daily be-
tween the expenses of the nation and
Its receipts from revenue, and this will
continue in an increasing ratio while
industries are shutting down and trade
is being paralyzed. If the silver pur-
chase clause of the Sherman act did
not create the distressful times, now
being suffered, there must have
uCCA sOuO OtuOT Cduoc, duu mr. |
Cleveland and the Democratic |
leaders should have possessed
sufficient wisdom not to at
tempt to change the industrial policy
Of the nation when apparently the ship
Of state is rushing rapidly to destruc-
tlen. But the Chicago platform called
for free trade, and this must be carried
out if the country is financially ruined
and hundreds of thousands of Ameri
can citizens are rendered homeless and
benniless.
There has not been single set of
he present administration that will
to the glory of the Demo-
cratic party. After the late civil war
he organization was in such had re.
oute that 1t took generation for it to
recover its former prestige, and after
eur years of Mr.. Cleveland's blunders
t will be in a worse condition than
,ver before.