Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-06-13
cleveland's shrewd Game.

free coinage OF silver winch the cdD-
met is now making, have developed
some interesting speculations in re-
gard to his past purposes and future
intentions. Two decided deductions
are drawn from past occurrences and
| the present situation. One is that,
with keen political trickery, Mr..
Cleveland has endeavored to con-
ceal the effects of his low tariff
| policy upon the industries OF the
country, and make it appear that
the panic of 1888 was the result Of
republican legislation; and another
is that he is endeavoring to erect Il
bugaboo, over which he has COM
plete control, to force his party, or q
fraction of his party, to nominate
him for fourth time and for a third
term as the only logical savior of his
country from a policy Of deprecia-
ton and ruin. No sooner was the
democratic victory of 1892 announ-
ced than impending Industrial and
financial disaster was in the air.
Our currency system was supposed
to be sound and satisfactory. The
uncertainty over the tariff was the
ruling force that predominated in
all Industrial and commercial re-
trenchinent. In the midst of this
impending storm Mr.. Cleveland
raised the cry for the repeal Of the
Sherman law, and discontinuance of
the purchase If silver. Congress
met and repealed the Sherman law.
This was some relief to the treasury,
but had little or no influence in
checking the general panic. The
panic grew in magnitude and be-
came more WIDESPREAD in its disas-
trous effects.
But Mr.. Cleveland had succeeded
for nearly year in concealing the
real trouble. In the meantime his
free trade tariff policy was being
secretly put into the form of bill
to "reyise the revenues and reduce
taxation among the people, That
measure was finally adopted by con-
gress. But the people at the polls
Repudiated Mr.. Cleveiand's tar
if policy and his tariff law, and
six months later the supreme court
repudiated the income tax feature of
that law. In the meantime a huge
deficiency arose in the public treas
ry, which encroached upon the
standard gold reserve and necessi-
tated the issuance of government
The real issue before the country
now became one of deficiency and
debt, the natural consequence of the
democratic tariff policy and the
ruinous effect it had upon the bust
ness of the country.
To now divert public attention
once more from the real causes of
augmented disaster, Mr.. Cleveland
began stirring up the currency ques-
ton. He worked this racket for far
more than ii was worth. Before, ii !
was the sherman law; now it was
the currency; and mt no time was it
democracy and public distrust of
the administration. On the tariff
issue or any other old issue he
would be lost i'm the shuttle. He
must inaugurate new storm to
make necessary the retention of the
old pilot. He now says the country
is suffering from the threat of free
coinage legislation. He shrewdly
refrains from calling attention to
the fact that he can prevent such II
disaster by his veto, over which it'll
would be impossible to pass any
such measure, He hopes by this
new apparition to frighten his party
and the country into once more
Hooking to his standard for deliver
anee, rs the great and only. 1t is |
i shrewd move, a sharp political
game. And it looks as though it
was destined to work.