The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-01-12
AN ABSURD SYSTEM.


Mandate of the People.
On the sth of November, 1899, the
people Of the United States held an
election which turned on the question
OF tariff reform. The subject had been
under discussion for more than two
years The issue was made as sharply
as possible. The verdict Of the people
was unmistaiSable by an ovcrwhclm-
ing majority they declared in favor of
a lower tariff.
In his message to congress President
Cleveland says:
AFTER hard struggle tariff reform
Is directly before us. Nothing SO i'm
portant claims our attention, and
nothing SO clearly presents itself as
both an opportunity and "a duty-an
opportunity TO deserve the gratitude of
oar fellow-citizens and duty imposed
on us by our oft-repeated professions.
and by the emphatic mandate Of the
people. After full discussion our coun-
trymen have spoken in favor OF this re-
form, and they have confided the work
of its accomplishment to the hands of
those who are solemnly pledged to it.
If there is anything in the theory Of
a representation in public places of the
people and their desires. if public Off
GERS are really the servants of the pco-
pie. and if political promises and pro-
fessions have any binding force, our
failure to give the relief SO long await
ed will be sheer recreancy. Nothing
should intervene to distract our attcn-
ton or disturb our effort until this re-
form is accomplished by wise and care
full legislation"
This is perfectly sound doctrine. II
Mr.. Cleveland had been inaugurated
and congress had met last January, at
the same time with all the governors
and legislators chosen on the day of
the presidential election. there would
have been no dissent from his statement
of the case. Republicans themselves
frankly admit that the people had
given mandate" and that il was an
emphatic" one. II was then as clear
that the people of the country wanted
tariff reform as that the people of
Massachusetts wanted a republican for
United states senator, or those of Mis-
souri, wanted democrat for the same
office.
n year has now passed One Of the
greatest financial commissions in our
history has occurred. We are in n
period of hard times" Many are out
of work or have had their wages cut
down, and are dissatisfied with the
existing situation 1t happened that
four or five important states were to
hold elections for state officers in No
vcinber. 1898. These elections resulted
in republican victories. Immediately
the cry was raised that new man
date" had been issued by the people:
that they had served notice that they
did not want the tariff reform policy
carried out.
OF course this Is an absurd pled
have held an election upon the issue of
tariff reform, the voting Of three or
four states n year later-turning large
ly, and in New York almost exclusive
ly. upon state issucs-cannot be con-
sidered as entitled to the slightest
weight At the same time ii is true
that the very raising of this claim does
confuse the situation and is calculated
to puzzle the weaker sort of congress-
men, who are always anxious to keep
in touch with the people, and who are
told that the people do not feel now as
they felt a year ago.
The anomaly is SO monstrous that
there ought to be a radical reform.
Two mandates at once are one too
many. The thing to do is to carry out
every mandate as soon as possible after
it is issued at Washington. as is the rule
at every state capital in the country.
The present condition of things ought
to result in an agitation which will
bring about a change. a people sensi-
be enough to run their state govern
mcnts on the proper plan ought not To
maintain forever so idiotic system of
federal legislation as now prevails 1t
is a rcproach to the common sense of
the nation.-N. Y. Evening Post.
Git THEM DEE