Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-13

csnsFessman warner On DIseosissi, Pspu
lists and National earks.

ing OF the recent clect1oDS. las 10 oregon,
the figures SO far indicate that the Demo
Gratis and Populists together outnumber
the Republicans, but the latter have a
large plurality over either Of the former.
And what does it signify? The only thing
that seems to me tolerably certain Is that
the Populists out west are growing at the
expense of both the oteer parties and you
know what the usual rule Is in the evolu-
ton OF party. As soon as it gets large
enough TO control elections here and there
or even to dictate to the other parties it
acquires strength very rapidly for awhile.
/ don't wonder at the increase Of the Pop
ulists. There Is a great general discomfort,
and there Is good cause for discomfort.
Their platform calls for great many nos
trums in which do not believe but the
real meaning Of it Is discomfort And who
can wonder at 1t with things going as they
are! Here Is the whole financial system
Of the country gradually falling into chaos
and this congress making of itself aspecta-
Gle before high heaven. Here are men pro-
claiming that the national bank system
Ia the perfection Of human reason, needing
only few amendments, while the fact is
notorious and still fresh in the public
mind that the system was teetotal fail
urc in furnishing any remedy during the
panic.
When the Pinch Came.
Talk about elasticity! They might
as well talk about it in q straitjacket.
The system works when there is no strain
on it, and 20 would any other system, but
when tho pinch came, why, New York had
to simply bolt the law and issue the clear
Ing house certificates about which VIC have
been making all this fuss. Isn't it com
ical-thcsc men arguing here that the pco-
pie In n state ere not capable OF managing
their currency, and 30 tho national bank
system must be rigidly maintained to keep
them from doing it, and yet when the day
Of trial comes the national banks have to
do tho very thing which these men say the
local mon are not capable Of doing-that
Is, Issue n local currency?
''As have often pointed out, tho banks
disregard tho law whenever stringency
arises and discount freely in spite of de-
plctcd reserves, but the discussion ia done
with, and the tax on state banks stands,
and now the question is, What next? The
Sugar trust has not got quite ms much
from tho Democratic senators as it did
from the Republicans, but it has got alto
gcthcr too much, and the people are discon-
tented. 1t will be up hill work to recon-
cilc them to renewal OF tho tax on sugar.
But why enlarge? can only conclude as
bcgan-that this Populist movement Is
not to be taken for what is set forth in its
voluminous platform, but rather rs n gen.
cral aggregation Of discomfort, and in that
character I look for it to accomplish q
great deal in tho northwest and possibly
in few places south"
State Issues In the South.
1t Is scarcely necessary to add that VIC
get from tho south much moro cnthusias-
tic promises for tho Populists, especially
from North Carolina. Mr. Settle, the
lono Republican from tho far south, Is jul
bilant over the prospects and declares that
the fusion between Populists and Rcpub-
licans in his state Is complete and the
Democrats indirectly concede as much by
declaring that they will make the cam
paign entirely on state issues and thus
pillow around silver hard times, low prices,
inability to borrow money, Carlisle,' Cleve-
land and oil tho rest. The Republicans, on
tho other hand, declare that the campaign
from start to finish will DO on national
issues, except that very vigorous fight
will DO made in favor of u radical reform
In tho voting system. They arc arranging
things, says Mr.. Settle, on the calculation
that congress will adjourn late in July and
that tho Alabama election, which will be
on the 9th of Agust will furnish them
some valuable information. The present
arrangement is that the Populists shall
nominate for state treasurer and chief
justice OF the supreme court and the Re
publicans for the three associate justices,
while similar divisions will be made in all
the counties according to relative strength
of the fusing parties. The Democrats
make no attempt to conceal their concern
and admit that they are additionally
handicapped by internal disscnsions cspc-
cially by tho rcdhot fight between Sena-
tor Jarvis and Senator Ransom. Never
thcless they rely upon tho old and well
established habit of voting tho ticket when
tho time comes, regardless of previous
quarrels.
Tariff Prospects. .-. ~ ESQ,
The anxiety of house Democrats for i'm
mediate action in the senate has become
actually pathetic, and yet amusing. Tho
very latest estimate is that there are still
six Republican senators who arc eager to
maintain tho fight if they have to talk till
the ith of next March, and 1t Is scarcely
necessary to add that Mcssrs. Hoar and
Chandler head the list. At least 10, how
overland this includes all the silver scna-
tors--arc ready to conccdc the vote when
ever the Democrats ask for it, and so Mr..
Aldrich admits that tho end is near, as OPP
position for mere delay is not justifiable
after tho passage of the bill is assured. 1t
is now assumed. though no senator will
make himself responsible for the prophecy
that the bill will he reported in full on the
18th inst. and that no more than three or
four days will then he consumed in voting
aud talking on the various Schedules so
it will probably reach tho house on the
23d. Roughly speaking, there are three
parties among the Democrats in the house
One led by Mr.. Springer in favor Of i'm
mediate acceptance of the senate amend
ments; another. of which Mr.. Harter is
the most outspokcn exponent, for reject
ing the thing outright on the ground that
it would be n greater burden to the party
than no bill at all, and a third which is
willing to accept all the senatc's work OK
Sept the sugar schedule. And II the bill
fails, say the most experienced members,
sugar will be tho cause of it, OF course,
they add--tho Democrats, that is-that it
Iist not and shall not fail, and SO We may
NV look forward to an early termination