The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-04-21
OREGON DEMOCRACY.


The Democratic party has always
had the reputation of being inconslst-
ent, and its national success i'll 1892
has not changed this trait. When
the government was given into its
hands it had the executive and both
branches of congress, and could guide
affairs to suit itself. The special ses-
sion of congress was called for the re-
peal of the silver purchase clause OF
the Sherman act, and this caused the
frst factional fight. Ever since the
organization has been divided on diff
ferent questions. and confusion worst
confounded" has existed both in and
out of the national legislature. This
Democratic disaffec:ion has been par
ticularly marked in Oregon, where such
lifelong adherents to "tiue-honored
principles" as Gov. Pennoyer and
Capt. Moffett, of the telegram, have
denounced both the executive and his
policy. The former has cast his lot
with the Populists, and the latter re-
mans with the organisation hoping he
may effect reformation.
With these we'll known dissensions
in Democratic ranks the platform
builders at Astoria had q herculean
task to perform; but instead Of man
fully meeting the issue and declaring
themselves either in favor of Mr.
Cleveland and monometallsm, or
against him and favorable to free
silver, they grasped both horn of the
dilemma, and in Quixotic man
ner endorsed the president, bimetallism
and unlimited coinage of silver, free
trade and Wilson's sectional protection
bill. In this inconprehensible atti-
tude the party has gone before the
people, and will ask citizens at the
ballot-box to support ticket that is
pledged to everything and to nothing.
Every member of the convention knew
that the plank stating that they had
an implicit confidence in the integrity,
good faith and patriotism of President
Cleveland was opposed to the one de-
manding free coinage, for there is not
q irmer gold-bue in Wall street than
the executive. But this conglomerate
mixture was swallowed at a single
gulp, and pronounced sweet, palatable
and digestible. If some of our we'll
known humorists had been assigned
the task of drafting declaration of
political principles they could net
have been more successful in making
it extremely ridiculous.
1t was becoming preamble to such
ludicrous effort that the Republican
party should be charged with all the
evils now existing, including the low
prices of wheat-governed by the
Liverpool market-non-employment
of labor, general depression in busi-
ness and stagnation-the results of
Democratic tariff tinkering in con-
gress. But this must be viewed In the
same light with other portions of the
platform and will have the same
weight with intelligent voters. On
the question of the widespread de-
preston in business the Republicans
have facts and figures to prove their
and are not forced to make
unsupported statements.
In keeping with the insincerIty of
other provisions is one In favor of the
speedy opening of the Columbia river.
The fact is, for many years past, a
Democratic house has defeated senate
bills which had this object in view,and
our delegation has been forced to fight
Democracy step by step in the appro-
priations that have been secured for
this great, natural highway of com
merce.
Democracy is, sat sea" on national
questions, and it is drifting it knows
not where, with no competent pilot at
the helm.