People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-28
They Are Hard Jtp,

business Of the country was par
alyzed; the burdens of the people were
becoming unbearable, and they de-
manded certain changes in our laws
which seemed to hold out the prom
Use of relief. 1t had been charged
by the democrats that the distress.
producing conditions were due to
adverse legislation, for which the re-
publican party was solely response
ole, aud if the people would entrust
the whole government to them that
they would speedily SO change the
oppressive laws as to materially ben
eft the people and lift their burdens
Upon these promises a demo
cratic president and a democratic
congress were elected, and full
power placed in their hands to make
whatever changes they saw proper
to make. The majority of the PEG
pie had realized that the w-makino
power divided, with +. one party in
control Of one branch OF congress
and another party in control Of the
other branch; or an executive in the
white house who was not. in party
harmony with the legislative branch,
would continually disagree and one
branch would nullify the action OF
the other branch; a condition which
would prevent the enactment Of such
laws as were needed. To stop the
see. saving between two parties, one
party alone must be put in complete
control, and the people chose the
democratic party, relying upon the
promises made by its leaders.
Nearly two years of democratic
rule have passed. Whatever that
party intended to do for the people
they have had ample time to do.
Their action is now submitted to the
people, not for approval or rejection,
so far as the laws they enacted are
concerned, but for approval or rejec-
ton of the party that enacted them.
The party is on trial and the peo-
pie are the jnry. If it has faithfully
carried out its pledges; if it has faith
fully discharged the commission
which was intrusted to it, then it
should be endorsed, and with "well
done, good and faithful servant" re
turned to power. If, on the other
hand, it has violated its pledges, and
failed to do that which it was placed
in sole power to do, then it should be
condemned as "a wicked and slothful
servant" and cast into the outer
darkness Of ignominous political de-
feat.
To influence the jury into render
ing favorable verdict the action of
their party is presented in most
favorable light by tho democratic
orators and press. They are in no
wise modest in the credit they claim,
and unblushingly assert that they
have redeemed their pledges and
ask for an endorsement and another
lease of power.
The boldness of their pretensions
now, is only equalled by their disre-
gard of their pledges in action and
the weakness Of the testimony they
offer.
They were pledged to economy
and a reduction of expenditures.
They claim to have redeemed that
pledge and put stress on reduction
of pensions-a reduction which is
natural with the passing away of the
pensioners-when their total appro-
priations exceed those of the last
congress by four millions.
They were pledged to restore the
free coinage Of silver, and they claim
that a closing of the mints to silver
completely was a preliminary step in
that direction.
They were pledged to establish
state banks to provide good money
for the people, and they claim that
the issuance of $50,000,000 of bonds
to secure the gold reserve was done
for the purpose Of making our money
good in Europe and that was all we
needed.
They were pledged to lower the
tariff which was an Infamous rob-
berry, and they claimed they have
do1e go. Their galf is not quite
equal to the task of claiming that it
has been reduced on sugar, for with
the almost daily reminder Of !! cents
additional on each pound of sugar
he buys even hoary mossback
wonld stauper at that; but in a