Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-05-11


Old issues are dead. Who now
talks about the tariff? One might
think it question buried beyond
hope Of resurrection if one did not
know that Hon VIM. l.. Wilson still
lives, moves, and has his being in
blissful Utopianism. and that Jeffer-
son County still believes that the light
of his countenance will-Providence
permitting - sooner or later shine
upon a repentant House of Represen-
tatives and Senate in sackcloth and
ashes. But the tariff was compare
lively a harmless question. We
might call it the. professional politi-
clan S football without which the an
nual Congressional game at Washing
ton could not have gone on. The
intimate relation this question bore
to all matters concerning the material
development of the country made it
indeed of the utmost importance dur
ing the progressive stages of that de-
velopInent; but being in all its sue
cessive forms and adaptations only
series OF temporary eXpedients for fur
thering the accumulation of wealth
and advancing commercial indepen-
dence, legislation upon it was for the
most part experimental, and neces-
sarily remained so until experience
could thoroughly test its relative adj
vantages and disadvantages under
any given circumstances. All things
considered, we may say in country
like ours the results of even the most
reckless legislation in this direction
could not have proved permanently
disastrous.
Now, however, the situation is very
different We have become an ex-
ceedingly rich and prosperous people.
The question presented to us now is
not so much how we shall best avail
ourselves of unused opportunities as
how we shall preserve and regulate
the boundless wealth already ours. 1t
was a natural progression from
search for methods of easy acquisition
to questions of economic saving.
Hence naturally arose the present ag-
ltations respecting a sound system of
national finance. The sudden meta
morphosis Of the mercantile counting
room into the palatial banking house
has precipitated monetary revolu-
ton. Among older and less progress
sive nations such changes of condition
take place more gradually and with
far less hazardous rotation; slow and
regular steps mark each successive
movement; but young America, scorn-
/ ing bit and curb, must needs achieve
such feats at single bound. And
here the great danger presents itself.
The conditions are anomalous and as
such are only the more calculated to
inspire distrust concerning our ability
to meet and control the new order of
things thrust upon us. The rapid
progress of national prosperity I'M
paralleled. in the worlds history not
only outstrips the utmost resources of
our own practical experience, but pre-
sents problems yet unsolved by the
highest science of political economy.
We are in a situation somewhat like
that of young and inexperienced
heir left the sole management of an
immense estate. We all know how
soon such youth is exposed to the
tricks of knaves and charlatans. Let
any man ask himself how far this is true
Of the American people. What will
the answer be? Were ever a people
more completely at the mercy of polit-
ical sharpers and Shylock money
mongers2 That there is enough hon
est manhood and unselfsh patriotism
in the country to save it from the i'm
pending danger can hardly be doubt
ed; but what the cost will be of edu-
eating the passes to a proper realiza-
ton of their duty as patriots, not as
partisans, who can tell2
Perhaps nothing could better illus
trate the ancient saying that Times
change and we change with them, "
than comparison of the position
President Jackson occupied when he
crushed the usurers of his day-a vic
tory long the glory of the Democratic
party-and the avowed position of his
present successor, President Cleveland.
bankruptcies were then an abom1-
nation and a Kissing in the land; now
the money-changers are honored
jewellers in the temple from which
they were driven-nay more, they are
today the power of powers behind the
throne itself But we will not despair
OF the Republic. President Cleve-
land, subservient retainer as he is of
the holy order of the Golden Calf, can
not make the nation bow at his bid
ding before the idol he worships. He
may be great leader, he may have
exceptional capacity as a ruler of
men, but there is one thing he cannot
do, he cannot either force or beguile
the instructive patriotism of the
American people blindly to work his
will Under wrong guidance or the
strong impulse of party spirit they
may at times go too far in this direc-
ton or in that; but there is not on
earth people who can so quickly
and effectually retrieve their false
steps, or who are more firm in main
tanning the right when once they
clearly see it.
Let us hope, then, that beset as the
country is with the obscurities and