The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-30


a simple. and pointed statement of the
facts, dispassionately and fairly stated.
rather than eloquent eulogies of ones
friends or bitter vituperatiof1 of ones op-
ponents We make political history so
rapidly that it is necessary in order to
understand the present situation to state
a few of the leading incidents of the last
few years.
NUJUST TARIFF LAWS.
During the first administration of
Mr.. Cleveland the country was drawins
more revenue from tariff and internal
taxes than it could reasonably and hon
estly expend, and at the Same time the
then existing tariff laws were much high
er than was just. to- either producers or
consumers. To keep down the expenses
of government by removing the tempta-
ton of an overplus in the Treasury, and
at the same time to tighten the burdens
of labor and capital, the President bold
ly challenged the existing system. For
causes which are far other than dis
creditable to the Democratic party, and
not at all creditable to our opponents,
the country refused to re-elect candi-
dates of the Democratic party.
''The Republican party under Mr.. Har-
rison coming into power with full con-
troll of the legislative and executive
branches of the Government, handicap
ped by special pledges and promises to
the vast protected interests of the coun-
try, not only refused to reduce taxation,
but absolutely defied public opinion; but,
intoxicated by their success, put upon
the statutebooks tariff, which was al
most prohibitive in its nature, unjust and
discriminating in every feature against
the wisdom of man and the laws of ma
ture, which, added by most profligate
expenditures, very soon not only depict
ed the incomes of the people but did
away with the surplus in the treasury
OF the monstrous provisions of this law
it would be Unnecessary to speak were it
not that some of the most prominent and
influential of the Republican leaders
have within the last few weeks stated
their intention of restoring it to the
statute book if opportunity is given
them, by virtue of the votes of the peo-
pie, and as a citizen, regardless of any
partisan consideration, I should be agree
ably and pleasantly surprised If during
the coming session of Congress this spirit
is not further and more prominently de-
veleped among the reponsible leaders of
the Republican party.
Having, as I said, placed this law
upon the statute books to the grievous
burden. of the people and the emptying
of the Treasury, they proceeded SO far
as they could to make perpetual their
hold upon the Government by the at
tempt to enact a most drastic and far
reaching federal election law, which
threatened the very foundation of our
Government by the destruction of home
rule.
UBIQUITOUS SHERMAN LAW.
''That nothing might be wanting to
unite the Government in a partnership
with all cofederated interests. able by
virtue of their power and their money
to influence future elections, the whole
financial system was imperiiled by the
enactment of the law known as the
Sherman law, destined as it was to be
the parent of the grave and difficult
embarrassments which confronted the
Democratic party at it's entrance into
power. OF all the reckless and vicious
Legislation of that Congress which
marked the high water mark of Re-
publican ascendency. nothing is so in
dicative of the base of motives which
controlled than the reasons for the
enactment of this legislation.
when you consider for moment how
delicate a thing public confidence is,
how quickly any infringement of the
great and fundamental rules which un-
derlie all financial systems are resented
and punished, how soon the internation-
al commerce and business of nation is
injured by suspicion that it's currency is
being vitiated and its finances reckless
s. Stand ''i how how far reaching and injurious
the effects of this law was both home
and abroad. 1t was palpably enacted
scheme to meet the wants Of the people
or to arrange on some reasonable basis
our monetary system and dlsregarding
Treasury. recklessly blind to what ef-
feet it might have on our credit. 1t SIM
ply proposed. in order to propiittiate ppoiti the
ducing States, that we should buy all
of their product. at a fixed and unvary-
ing rate, to their great profit and our
s'Voting almost continuously as they
had from their entry into the Union for
restive to see vast interests other than
their own admitted into partnership
with the Government, TO their great
handed that they should share in this
benevolent paternalism which Mr.. Nc
Kinley had inaugurated, the. Sherman
law provided for their share of the pub
GOV &C piESRfsMSfEiiNTs pERMENTs DIFFICULT POSITION
1.-The Democratic party on ltS entrance
of Grover Cleveland. found itself face to
face with multitude of evils and woes
unnumbered, flowing from the direful
spring of this trinity of dangerous and
vicious laws The overflowing Treasury
had departed and the rich Government
was getting ready to hold out its hat
for contributions-the bonds being even
then printed and ready for issue :. The T,
had over-stepped itself, prohibited all
importations flooded its own market,
and was being encountered by the i'll
will of underpaid labor and sanguinary
strikes The whole peoule were groan-
ing under the awful burdens which COM
PEELED a nation to live upon its own
vitals. paralyzed competition, and robbed
the consumer in numerous ways, while
the laws for federal intervention in local
elections still stood as menace upon
the statute book.
Never was q. snip started upon, voy-
age under darker skias and upon more
tempestuous seas. Had the hand at
the helm been otherwise than firm, and
the heart strong and honest. 1t IS impos-
sible to conjecture what wrecks and
disasters might not have befallen rs.
Sherman law, and the last vestjge of
the election laws which infringed the free
and absolute control Of the State and
local governments in their own affairs,
was task herculean in Its. proportions
and most difficult of accomplishment To
radically disturb the system to- which
business had adjusted itself would under
companied by monetary depression and
uneasiness; but to relieve the patient of
this cancerous growth bit a time when
its constitution was enfeebled by per-