New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-13
THE GLAD RECCTERI.


The people begin to enjoy the fruit OF two
overwhelming Democratic defeats. Hearty con-
sratulatons are in order for the substantial I'M
provement in business which has already ap-
reared for the measure OF success when some
industries have thus far attained in command
ing the home market and rcOpening their works
for American workers. for the partial restoration
Of wages which has been possible. and for the
restraint of foreign imporations within such
limits that the gold reserve has not been cx-
hausted again before now crops could be as
sured At the same time it Is in order 10 see just
how the pcople. by wise voting. have helped TO
lift themselves from the gulf Of disaster into
which the folly of 1892 plunged the country.
This is the land in which drafts on the future
are honorcd. Our people anticipate everything.
good or bad, and discount II as closely as they
can When the voting in 1882 went In favor OF
a frce-trade and softmoney party, gold began
to 90 abroad and mills to close within a month,
although 1t was perfectly well known that
months would capSe before the threatened
changes of National policy could be effected
The panic came when Il new Administration had
set free-irade officials TO enforce existing laws,
had called together free-trade theorists to frame
a new tariff and had threatened to pay silver
only for Treasury notes. That panic was in sub
stance an attempt 10 anticipate and discount the
conditions which must control business and IN
dustry if the Democratic policy should be car
ried out. The assertion that II was caused ny
the silverpurchasng clause, and would be re-
moved by its repeal, was exposed as an I'M
pudent falsehood when that rcpeal failed 10 bring
recovery.
Then the people took a hand in the game
Their crushing defeat Of Democrats In Noyen
bcr 1893 though not Immediately effective In
changing the control Of Government, unlucs
tionably altered materially the bills afterwarl
reported as Democratic measures, and the voi
ing in Congress. and especially in the Senate
upon those bills The tariff threatened In Au
gust had half the mischief knocked ont Of 1t by
the fear Of Democratic leaders 10 report any
such bill after the defeat in November. The
bill which was finally reported had half its power
for evil knocked out of il by votes in the Senate
which were dictated by the tremendous Demo
cratic defeat in manufacturing and mining
States The spring elections of 1894 did their
mart hv showing that the revolution against
Democracy had not abatcd. Thus II came 10
pass that the people saved themselves. by wise
and prompt overthrow Of the party In power.
from great share Of the disaster which Demo
cratic purpose and policy would have brought
about if there had been no such restraining in
fuence
Even then business recovery was narrow. slow.
and altogether inadequate. 1t was threatened
that the tariff enacted was only first step.
and that the work would be renewed in Dcccm-
Der At the same time the silver and the state
bank scheiners threatened 10 upset the monetary
a.. 10
by votes in November. 1894, said what they
thought Of the acts which had been passed, and
of the policy which it was still proposed to pur-
sue The worst defeat since a large share of the
Democrats were in rebel uniforms brought TO
bear upon the party in power pressure which
was irresistible II became utterly powcrless. in
the face Of that verdict. to make any further
change Of tariff as was threatened. or 10 pass "A
wildcat State banking bill or in any other way
to break down the monetary system. When IN"
dsgraced and defeated Congress vanished from
sight and It became certainty that there would
be no more changes affecting business until Il
Republican Congress assembled. then and not
till then business began TO recover in a sure and
steady way.
This recovery is an anticipation. II Is dis
counting the Improvement which men have a
right 10 expect when the coming Congress brings
Republican experience and patriotism and com
mon sense TO bear upon the difficulties OF the
country Possibly the hopes entertained may be
in some things premature, for there will not be
Il distinctly Republican Senate, and President
Cleveland will still have power to block much
necdful legislation But the people know one
thing that they can finish in 1896 what they be-
gan in 1893 and 1894, and that meanwhile they
are not to have any more Democratic law
making.