The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-04
History Repeats Itself.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journals:
History repeats itself. Witness the fol-
owing extract from the speech of Henry
Clay, delivered in the Senate Feb. 2, 1892:
Eight years ago it was my painful duty
to present to the other House OF Congress
an uneNaggerated picture of the general
distress pervading the whole land. We must
all remember some of its frightful features.
We all know that the people were then
oppressed and borne down by an enormous
load of debt, that the value of property
was at the lowest point of depression; that
ruinous sales and sacrifices were everywhere
made of real estate; that stop laws and re-
lief laws and paper money were adopted
to save the people from impending de-
struction; that a deficit in the public rev.
enue existed which compelled the govern
ment to seize upon and divert from it's
legitimate object the appropriations to the
sinking fund. to redeem the national debt:
that our commerce and navigation were
threatened with a complete paralysis. In
short. sir, If l were TO select any term
of seven years since the adoption of the
scene of the most widespread dismay and
desolation, it would be exactly that term
Of seven years which Immediately preceded
Il have now to perform the most pleasing
task of exhibiting an imperfect sketch Of
the existing state of the unparalleled pros
perity of The country. On a general sur
vey, we behold cultivation extended. fhe
arts hour1shing, the face Of the country
improved, our people fully and proftahly
employed and the public countenance ex-
hibiting tranquility, contentment and hap
we have the agreeable contemplation of a
people out of debt; land rising slowly in
gree; a ready. though not extravagant mar
ket for all surplus productions of our in
dustry; innunserabie fiocks and herds brovs-
ing and gambling on ten thousand hills
ana plains, covered with rich and N9rda1ft
grasses; our cities expanded and whole VIII
lagos springing up, as 1t were. by enchanf-
ment; our imports and exports increased
and increasing; our tonnage, foreign and
coastwise, swelling and fully occupied: the
petual thunder and lightning or countless
steamboats,; the currency sound and aIlTnd-
dant; the public debt of two wars nearly
redeemed, and. 10 crown all, the public
treasury o~verf1owing, embarrassing Con-
gress, not 10 find subjects of taxation. but
10 select the objects which shall be liber-
ated from the impcst. IT the term of seven
years were to be selected of greatest pros
perity which this people have enjoyed since
the establishment of their present Constitu-
tion it would be exactly that period OF seven
years which Immediately followed the pas
sage OF the tariff OF 1871"
Now compare the first description, with
the last two years of Cleveland's adminis-
t%ration; and note the resemblance. Conn
pare the description of the country. fol-
lowing the tariff Of 1924 and see how it tall
lies with the history of the United States
under Harrison's administration. Might not
the words of Henry Clay. spoken in 1899.
seem almost like a prophecy for the last
six years? Would IT. not be we'll for the
statesman and politicians OF to-day TO read
and reread the speeches OF that great states
man, Henry Clay? Can a finer course of study
be devised for the young men of Ken
lucky, who arc always proud Of their state.
now that the loved State OF Clay Is throw
ing off the incubus of modern Democracy
tinged with disunien to study the Wonder
fui words uttered by the sage of IAshlanie
In the speech from which the two extracts
above are taken there is a fuller elabora-
ton of the blessings that flowed from the
tariff of 1854 One is here quoted:
This transformation ef the condition OF