The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-04-27
POLITICAL CHESS.

If Democrats can succeed in attract
ing the attention of the public from
the tariff to the silver question they
will change the issue between the two
parties in 1896, and cause dissension in
the ranks of Republicans. There is
little doubt this is the object of the
articles advocating unlimited coinage
in Democratic organs, and was un-
doubtedly the actuating cause of the
support the boilers received from
Democrats during the recent session
of the legislature. They have studied
politics for years, and campaigns to
them are simply game OF chess in
which the more skillful checkmates
his antagonist. Every move has to be
carefully considered, ,and as the objects
to be placed and replaced to secure
victory are not inanimate bits of wood
or bone, but acting, thinking beings,
every mood and caprice which govern
and impel their actions must be under
stood and brought under control.
With the tariff question uppermost
the voters would be under control OF
the Republicans, and they would all
be attracted to that side of the chess
board. Democracy would be irretriev-
ably checkmated in the next presiden-
tial canvass, and be so badly demor-
allied that it would be almost impossi-
BILE to consolidate its forces again. If
possible, this must not happen. and
Democrats have begun in time in
sounding their little tinkling silver
bells.
There are worshippers of the white
metal in the Republican party, and
these are becoming attracted by the
sound. They have already begun to be
charmed by the song of the siren, and,
apparently, have suddenly changed
their opinions of causes and results.
When the Cleveland administration
was first inaugurated, and hard times
began to be felt in all parts of the
nation, there was not a Republican
paper in the country that did not state
unequivocally that the change from
protection to free-trade had caused the
distressful disasters to business and in
dustry. Within the last few months
the silver organs have changed their
tunes, and now say the business stag
nation and financial stringency are the
result of the demonitizatiOn of silver.
This is strange doctrine; but some of
the silverites have said it so often that
they are beginging to believe it true.
Such sentiment among Republicans
will undoubtedly be to the advantage
of Democrats, and they are hopeful
that when the campaign opens next
year the contest will be between silver
champions and supporters of the single
standard.
How it is within the limits of reason
for any one to assign an act passed in
1873 the cause of universal distress and
national bankruptcy in 1894 and 1895,
we do not know, nor do we believe any
one does. Since the act was passed
the country has enjoyed unexampled
prosperity, factories have increased,
products have sold at the highest
prices, money has been plentiful,
wages have increased and the develop
ment of the resources of the country
has been phenomenal. There are facts
and figures to prove these statements,
and for over twenty years there never
was experienced any widespread busi-
ness depression. This subterfuge of
the demonstration of silver causing
business stagnation and financial
stringency has not a single fact in the
history of finance upon which it can
rest for support, and is unquestionably
of Democratic birth, ushered into life
to restore the prestige of badly de-
feated party, and to attract the atten-
tion of the victors from the vital, liv-
ing issue that should be decided by the
ballot-box in 1895.