The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1895-01-30
"I'GNDElilNG.'
That is What the democratic National
Party Continues TO Do.


Isn't it marvellous how sometimes 4
single Well-choscn word flashed by an
artist into q dark and difficult envir-
onment can light up tie whole sitlla
tiOn! Here we area nation Of over
10000, 900 Of people-a good deal dis
turbed in our financial conditions,
with enterprise almost at a standstill
and all our industries SO depressed
that large numbers Of workin"men
are without employment and wide
spread distress prevails. Only two
years ago the country was prosperous,
employment abundant, wages good, !,
business humming, and the people as
a rule comfortable and happy. Citl-
zcns Of ordinary thrift were paying
their debts and laying up money, and
the government was gradually dis
charging it's financial obligations,
building up an uneqna]led credit
among the nations of the earth and
rapidly developing it's boundlcss re-
sources. The country was making
progress for which history furnished
no parallel. For all this the burden
Of taxation was SO light, and levied
in such MANNER that it WAS not felt.
But theorists and drcancrs and sill
Yer-tongued persons endowed with
the fatal gift Of 1luency, went about
saying that, in spite Of appear
ances, the people were oppressed By
taxes they were not aware of: that
they were suffering under a system
which encouraged favoritism and
made some men richer than others,
and that if only the theorists were
permitted to make the laws and adj
| minister the government an ideal
condition of affairs would be cstab-
lished, with money abundant, the ne
cessalies Of life and it's luxurics Sc
cllcapcned as to put them within
reach Of the poorest, and taxation
even the tax which was never felt
done away with entirely. The pco.
pie listened, believed, went off thcl
| feet, and said: ''Lct us give them !;
chance" and the present administra-
| tion and congress came in amid much
rejoicing.
And now there has been nearly two
years Of it. 1t is quite two years
since anticipation Of the ideal con
ditions began to exercise an influence
upon the business, the enterprise,
the finances, the credit, the entire
life OF the country. For two years
progress has been steadily downward.
Not only is business Frustrated and
distress everywhere prevalent, but
the national credit has been impair
ed and the debt increased until now,
in the closing days OF the most re-
time in foolish Wranyling, the gov
crnmcnt stands face to face with a
financial situation that means moth
ing less than national bankruptcy
For under the existing revenue sys-
ten, with its appalling insut1iciency
of income to meet expenditure, that
is the inevitable result. For two
years these people have been bunyling
at a trade they do not understand
with tools the use Of which they d(
not know. They have tnkcrcd the
tariff, puttcrcd with the currency
muCdlcd foreign and bOtchcu dOmcS.
tic affairs, qllarrclled among them.
selves in furtlnl"ncc Of petty per.
sOnal ambitions, until now, as they
draw near the end of their tenure
they begin to realize the seriousness:
Of the situation which they have
evolved. Referring to the miserable
failure Of his party to do anything
4 wise, prudent, or even coherent: dur
ing this congress, Senator Hill OF
/ Monday addressed to the senatorial
managers an inquiry as to what hat
become of the project for currcnc'
rcform which, llc said, had been mad
tile subject Of discussion in part
caucus CIV hat has become OF it,
he asked. ''ls it up in the air:
And lie snflcd contcmptuously at til
democratic statesmen who cOnsidc
themselves leaders as he propoundct
the questions.
Then came the answer Whic]
lighted up the whole envirmcnt
Came from Senator Pugh, Of Ala
bona. II undersand,' said tha
statesman, with dclibcration, 'tha
the finance committee is now pond
ering." "Pondering is good Scna
tor Hill is reported to have inter
ruptcd, with a snecr. 'Ponderin
with great care" continued tn
Alabama senator, 'and with sens
OF the responsibility which the sena
tor himself recognizes because til
question is full Of complications ant