Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-01

eminent the country was enjoying an era
of unexampled prosperity. Under the
sway of the Southern men who
control the Democratic party, assisted
by President Cleveland, the prosperity OF
the country was speedily brought to close.
The hardest times known to the history OF
the republic have ensued, and 90 long a.
the Democratic party continues in power,
there is little hope of relief from them.
From the very inception of its lease OF
power, the members of that party in Con-
gress, under Southern leadership, have de-
voted their energies to the destruction OF
the manufacturing industries of the coun-
try located, for the most part, in the North
ern states. How successful have been
their efforts in this direction, is now pain
fully apparent to all intelligent men.
Wages have been constantly reduced.
Mills have been closed in all parts of
the country. Misery and want have
stalked abroad in the places that
were hives of prosperous industry under
Republican rule. The suffering among the
wage earners of this country last winter
was the severest ever known. Never were
the kindly offices of charity so generously
invoked-and largely by people who had
never before been forced to seek such aid.
Soup houses were erected in the very
shadow of silent factories that had, under
Republican rule, given profitable employ
ment to the cry people now reduced to the
extremities of destitution. The Demo-
cratic papers said at is not the fault of our
party; it 10 the result of Republican legis-
lation. Just wait few months and give
us a chance and we will change all this.
We will give the country the largest degree
of prosperity" And the people have waited
long weary months-months of tariff agi-
tation, months of internal discord
and wranging within the Democratic
party. Months of continued business de-
preston and want among the masses. And
now, at the approach of another winter, the
long promised tariff bill has become law.
And what law! Nothing like it has ever
been known in the history Of our country.
1t violates every pledge of the national
Democracy to the American people. 1t is
neither free trade nor protection. 1t is a
hybrid dictated by the most powerful trust
in the United States, in order that its men,
bers may fitch millions of dollars from the
pockets of American consumers. As Mr..
Reed we'll said in his mastery address at
Old Orchard, it affords tie spectacle of
Darty that has always vociferously de-
nounced both protection and trust, giving
protection to trust! So infamous
measure is it that Democratic
Presi lent, who did not hesitate
to pose as the warm friend and
supporter of the dusky Queen Lii of
Hawaii, has refused to give it the sanction
of his signature, and has declared it "party
perfidy," and so shining Democratic light
as Senator Wilson does not hesitate to give
it as his opinion that the measure "Does
not reflect the sentiment of 1000 people of
the United States
But bad as this measure is, we are as
sured that it is not to be finality. So
long as the Democratic party remains in
power the business of the country is to be
kept in an unsettled condition by continu-
Gus tariff agitation. The President declares,
in his letter to Congressman Catchings, that
he takes his place with the rank and file
of the Democratic party who believe in tar
if reform and who refuse to accept the re-
suit embodied in this bill as the close of
the udr." Chairman Wilson, of the
ways and means committee, told Mr..
Reed, amid Democratic cheers, eve do not
intend to give up the .fght." Mr.. Roger Q.
Mills of Texas, declared upon the floor of
the United States Senate, in behalf Of him
self and his Democratic associates, "Ne do
not at all accept this as final settlement
of the question of tariff reform. We haze
carried the outposts that defended the ctta-
del Of the enemy, and zoe intend to push the
contest until zoe carry the gates of the city
and saceep the streets of the enemy and take
| everything from them"
1t is evident therefore, that the only pos
sible way for the business interests of the
country to avoid continuance of tariff ag-
itation, and put an end to the hard times,
will be to elect Republican majority in
the National House of Representatives this
fall. All people in the North have felt the
evil effects of Democratic rule, and party
lines may well be obliterated while
the voters of the old Pine Tree State unite
in protest against the reckless sacrifice of
the country's industries at the hands of
Southern Bourbons. Maine has especially
Irrcrreso