The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-07-04
THE OUTLOOK.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
President Depew Is a close observer,
and his tldlngs from the west and south
west indicate Il steady change In public
opinion. One remark, contrasting the
the passionate intensity of feeling on the
silver question In southern states with
the comparative Indifference elsewhere,
may possibly create q mistaken impress
sion. There Is no excitement now In COM
merclal and financial centres, because 1t
is thoroughly understood that the exist
ing situation cannot be disturbed by new
legislation favoring silver coinage until
after the next presidential election. In
the financial and commercial world
strong feeling would be shown at once
II there were any danger, but 1t is be-
lleved that the people are gradually NOV
ing and will move toward a better
knowledge Of the question and 1t Is per-
ceived that the deafening discussion with
in the Democratic party is Intended for
political effect exclusively. Each Demo-
cratic faction wants to get the upper
hand within the PARTY, and both fancy
that Republicans can be drawn into the
contest and weakened thereby.
Practical men know that there is not
the least occasion to desire more money
SO much Of It is lying idle now, and
gravitates to monetary centres in search
of employment at rates as low as ~ per
cent per annum, that the accumulation is
actually embarrassing. The general ad-
vance In prices, ranging from 80 to 100
per cent in many important products,
has occurred without any influence one
way or the other from the silver mar
kets, hnd the price Of bullion has scarce
ly changed for two months or more,
while cotton, wheat, hides and other
products have made their sensational
rise. There Is nobody anxious to disturb
the existing monetary situation except the
theorists, whose fanaticlsm or ignorance
blinds them to every experience. II this
strange craze is passing away at the
west and south, as Mr.. Depew and others
believe, II may happen that there will not
be left enough of the money question to
fight about when the presidential election
comes, unless the struggles OF the Demo-
cratic factions for the mastery carry
them into open antagonism to each other.
The primary intention of those who
stirred up this excitement was to divert
public Thought from the effects OF the
tariff agitation. This was so clearly per-
ceived by the Republicans OF the league
convention at Cleveland that many were
disposed to adopt strong resolutions on
the tariff question alone until 1t was
found that the organic law OF the body
forbade attempts to make platforms for
the party. But the feeling in the con-
vention was none the less clearly mani
tested That body was practically unani-
nous In desiring an uncompromising
fight against Democratic free-trade theor-
les and Democratic blundering and dis
honesty In tariff making The work OF
the last Democratic congress, the indus
trial consequence OF Democratic success
In 1892 and Of Republican success In 1894.
will beyond question be brought before
voters as the main issue in the cam
paign of 1896, no matter who may be the
candidate.
The general Improvement In business.
as soon as a beaten Democratic con-
gress ceased to hive power to do evil, |
is one OF the most instructive events OF
this era. It's meaning Will not be over
looked by the Republican journals and
speakers, all may be sure, nor win the !
voters be slow TO apprehend IL, Indeed, |
1t comes In such a shape as to impress
not merely the more intelligent, who are
able to trace the effect of Democratic de- |
feat In revivlny confidence, but the more
ignorant als), who may only see that
Democratic victory In 1899 brought 30,
per cent lower wages and Republican
Victory In 1891 brought 10 per cent higher
wages Whether the connection between
the facts Is fully understood or not, men
remember their experience, and as a
burned child breads the fire, they viii
have wholesome fear Of votes for
De nocratlc free trade. The greater the
Improvement In business may prove, the
more Impressive win be the contrast,
and the stronger win be popular conf
dsnce IN that party whose defeats are
calamities and whose victories are bless
ings 70 the people.