The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-01
THE REMEDY FOR HARD TIMES.

Under ordinary conditions and cir
cumstances, the charge so fippantly
made against national administrations
that the policy of a single administra-
ton is the primary source of depres-
sion in busiess is untenable and I'M
warrantable. But when the policy Oh
national administration is such as 10
make one country a dependency OF an
other, the case is different. With US
in America a national fiscal policy can
have a bearing so direct and so i'm
portant as to be the chief and primary
cause of commercial depression and IL
nancial stringency.
1t may be assumed with proprlety
that that individual is rich who pro-
duces all he consumes, and at the
same time produces a small surplus
TO be self-sustaining is the basis OF
individual wealth. 1t is from that
platform that fortunes rise. Likewise
to be self-sustaining is the basis OF
tuuUSIIldl pIOSpCI4Ny III q
wealth, and in the case of individuals
it is the platform or base from which
national wealth and national prosper
Atty rises.
The people of the United States can
be self-sustaining. We have the nat
ural resources from which to supply all
our physical wants. We have the raw
material from which we can make all
manufactured forms. Every pound OF
raw material shipped out Of the country
is the abandonment of an opportunity
to create wealth, for the greatest pos
sible wealth of a country is created by
the application of skill to the raw ma
terial Between the value of the raw
material and the manufactured forms
there is vast disparity, and it is the
opportunity of adding this value to
the raw material which gives men and
nations the opportunity for the crea-
ton of wealth. In times of universal
prosperity, when the price Of manufac-
tured wares is advancing, there is very
little-and according to the theory OF
many no-necessity whatever for the
protection of home industry; but IN
times of universal stringency nation
must resort to the same wise precau-
ton which is adopted by individuals.
It must begin to live within itself, as
an individual begins to live within the
compass of his own effort.
The financial stringency abroad has
so far cheapened articles as to cause
an almost complete arrest of skilled in
dustry in this country. With the de-
cline of that industry, there has come to
us a decline of all kinds of prosperity.
Men can live in times of depression up
on from one-quarter to one-half of what
they would naturally consume in times
of prosperity Consumption declines
with the purchasing power of the con-
sumner. The purchasing power of the
American consumer has constantly de-
clined, and the remedy lies in the aban-
donment of the existing policy of de-
pending upon foreign industry, and the
adoption of a policy of American pro-
lection, which is the one sole hope of
the restoration of prosperity in Amer
lea
We present these things as the sober
conclusion of judgment, the materials
of which are gathered from careful OBJ
servation of existing conditions, and
declare now that it will be the duty OF
the American people to change parties
in the coming Presidential election.
There can be no temporizing with this
result. Every lover of his country must
now choose for himself between the ifs
cal policies which are depressing the in
dustries and commerce of this country,
and the broader and higher statesman
ship which would protect them from the
clighting influence of foreign competi-
ton.
This is the issue to be made in the
coming Presidential campaign, and the
battle which is to terminate in Novem-
Der, 1896, and upon the issue Of which
so much is depending, will begin in this
city at the municipal election. A ma
tional exigency confronts us, scarcely
less important than the issue made by
the secession of the Southern States in
1861 The present is not a time there
fore for dissensions in the ranks of the
Republican party. Political suprem-
acy begins with political success at its
lowest unit The municipality, the
county, the State and the nation are
steps in this progress, every one Of
which should be fought with that ten
acity of purpose which is appropriate to
great national exigencies.
The alignment begins in this city
next week as to whether the people OF
Sacramento are for the perpetuation OF
the present ruinous national policy, OF
for the restoration of that higher and
better national policy to which we owe
our greatness. Every vantage ground
should be taken and every situation on
the field should be contested In the
presence of such an exigency, to vote
for an officer because he is a Republi-
can is a patriotic duty.
The discipline of a great army begins
in the drilling of squads. and likewise