The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-21
Why the Democrats Should be Sue
cessful in 1896,
Position of the Two Parties Before
the People. Present Tariff Law
Justiies Itself. The Recovery
of TRADE. Downfall of Pro-
te ctionist Predictions.
The revival Of courage and confidence

made and the defeats that resulted,
partly rs Il consequence OF that failure,
but more because of tho elimination Of
Republican misrulc in the panic, has
passed away, and those Democrats who
had abandoned ali hope of success next
year are becoming confident of it. a
view of present conditions warrants this
confidence.
What will be tho issues of 1896, and
what are the relations of the parties to
them? Foremost is the currency Qucs-
ton, not alone tho silver phase Of il,
but the whole field. Next and hardly
SECOND will he the tariff question. What
Is the attitude Of the two parties on
these? Today OH the Republican side ali
is uncertainty. The latest expression,
the declaration Of the Iowans, i'll plank
tina derives greater significance because
drafted or approved by Senator Allison,
is but n reafnrmation of the meaning
less declaration Of 1892. The New York
Tribune recently assured its readers that
Republicans did not know what their
opinions were. The Cleveland conven-
ton locked it's lips with n subterfuge.
No leading candidate of that party for
the presidential nomination has spoken
clearly and unambiguouslv.
On The Democratic side no such con-
dition prevails. Then on the larger ques-
ton of the currency, embracing all is
sues, the Democrats occupy n position of
immense strength. 1t is conceded that
the present crazy quilt system must be
displaced by q better one. On this the
Democrats stand with Il policy commend
ed by the president md the secretary of
the treasury that is sound and Demo-
ratio. 1t involves the enforcement of the
government from banking aud the ro-
initial TO tho people of tho issues Of pa-
pen representatives under strict federal
supervision to insure solvency. On tho
Republican side there is only the propo-
sltlon of John Sherman to maintain the
present h%otchpot. Any view of the
field reveals the Democrats ~occupving
solid ground with the Republicans tloun-
dering i'll the Quugmire.
On the tariff question what position
does the enemy occupy? One faction de-
mands a restoration of ultra protection
ism another says that it is n good
thing to LET alone. Mr.. Reed represents
the latter and Mr.. Mckinley tho former.
Either is fatal. a majority of the voters
of the country will never return to Nc
kinleyism. One dose was enough for a
generation. To submit without protest
10 the present law will be taken AS ap-
prevail.
On tho Democratic side there is gen
eral agreement that the present act is
not n tinality; that ultimately the full
pledge must be redeemed, and that tho
present law J~ustitieS the claims made for
the policy of a revenue tariff. No single
prediction of our opponents made during
It's tendency or after its passage has been
verified. On the contrary, every one of
them has been falsitied. Industries that
were to he palsicd are vigorous, wages
that were to be reduced are rising, and
labor that was to 90 idle is employed.
The effects of high and low tariffs on
industry are shown by II comparison Of
the recovery of trade from depression.
The panic of 1873 projected its effects
into the succeeding six years. We have
been i'll u condition Of partial panic,
getting acute in 1854 and 1880 and cul.
minating in 1893. We did not fully re-
cover from the panic of 1873 until we
We're struck by another. Under the
Malker tariff tho country recovered
from the panic of 1857 in n couple Of
years. We are rivalipg now the speed Of
that recovery. Fortified with this itua-
ton, Democrats can point TO the bene-
ficiai effects on industry Of the reduction
made by the senate bill, and confidently
ask their fellow voters if the result does
not vindicate the wisdom OF the policy
and warrant further steps toward a full
redemption of the pledges made.
On the two leading questions, then.
that will be before the voters for deci.
sion next year, the currency and the
tariff, the position of the Democrats to.
day is far the stronger and is growing
better. 1t will be next year largely a
matter Of confidence on the part OF the
voters. Which Of these two parties has
shown itself the most Trustworthy? Tho
great, controlling business interest of the
country cares less for parties than for So
curity. The currency is with it the
prime factor. On the one hand it secs a
party that frankly avows its want of a
policy. and, OF the other, one that pre.
sents u that commands its approval.
The floating, impressionable vote will
reason more logically then than it did
In 1894. 1t aided in the overthrow Of
the Democrats because it held Thorn re-
sponsible for its misfortunes. 1t will
now more accurately attribute the i'm.