The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-07
A WORD OF

-
The first quarter OF i%s presents the
largest list OF actual commercial and IN
dustrial failures in business in the United
states. and those in which liabilities eN-
coed assets, ever reported for "A like
period. The total uncluding financial in
stitutionsl is gls. or 100 more than in a
like portion Of 1895: SIS more than in 1894
and i4Ss more than IT, the first quarter
Of iN2 increases Of ISL ana a. per cent
respectively. The largest preceding like
total. 4EA, was reported In i&A. liabilities
Of those failures this year amount 10
s6sElAeoo, an Increase OF 30 per cent us
compared with a year ago; 2 per cent Ss
compared with the first quarter OF 1874
and 80 per cent as contrasted with three
years age.
In the light OF the above startling ex-
tract from last Fridays Bradstreets, it
Is to b earnestly hoped that every dele
gate from Clatsop county will go TO the
convention at Portland with a realizing
sense Of his individual responsibility in
the vote he shall be there called upon
10 give in naming the leadership and
fixing the future policies OF the Rcpub-
Kcan party.
Do these delegates know what Is re-
4onsible for this appalling retrogression
IN the affairs Of this country? Do they
know what has recalled or threatens to
recall with all its mischievous n de-
structive power that old distrusG and I'M
e~asiness in the business world which
awhile back kept every poor man, and
even those OF moderate means. in con-
slant terror for the possible fate OF The
loved ones whose hungry mouths de-
pended upon his exertions for their daily
bread? Do these delegates understand
that the return OF these distressing condi-
lions at this time will be due to nothing
else but the attitude assumed by sixteen
United States senators in Washington.
representing less than one-tenth OF the
people of the United States, who rave
banded themselves together in an in
fernal conspiracy to produce that very
state OF misery and apprehension. with
the object Of forcing congress or the peo-
pie as they gather in their periodical
political assemblages to make some com
promise or concession TO heir views on
finance?
Do these delegates know that even
Grover Cleveland, with his strong and
obstinate convictions on economic ques-
tons. and all his rugged will and deter
mination TO adhere to what he considers
a principle. seeing the waning days OF
the present congress and knowing the
ADsolnte necessity for sone immediate
form Of financial relief which would
saYe the government from utter impov-
eTishment. restore confidence, and revive
INDUSTRIAL prosperity, deliberately sent
wont 20 these recalcltrant senator's that
II they would unite with their Rep1b-
lican colleagues and pass the pending
tariff bill as sent over from The house
IF representatives, he, rs president OF
the United States, would deem it his Of
fetal duty to approve It? And do Clat-
sop county's delegates to the Portland
convention know hat these sixteen SEN
atorial traitors, gloating over the tenn
porary power which the folly OF the
trainers of our constitution and the
heedlessness Of their own constituents
had lodged in their hands, laughed
this patriotic and magnanimous PROPOSE
tion Of Grover Cleveland to scorn, and
derijed him as the ostensible head OF
the tariff reform party for having made
such a proposition.
Do these delegates know that the facts
detailed here are recorded history, and,
although they may be yehementIy denied
now, they will become so well known as
TO appear in future school text books
and be read by coming generations with
the same amazement and detestation felt
FOR the exploits Of Benedict Arnold?
And do these delegates know that every
scheme known to political ~chicanery and
every device which selfish and unscrupu-
lous human ambition can invent, will be
eSerted to secure the direct or Indirect
Endorsement Of the Republican conven-
ton Of the state Of Oregon FOR the perfdy
and r~ecreancy Of these Same so-calIed
silver champions?
Do these delegates understand that,
brushing aside all the sophistry, techni-
eality N complication of the money is
sue, the simplest and most comprehensive
Illustration Of the fearful and ruinous
effects OF free silver coinage, is found
in the literal fact that every dollar Of
the hundreds of millions the Cleveland
administration has had TO borrow, repre-
SCENTS the coming home Of this country's
free silver chickens TO roost; that this
vast debt is nothing more nor less than
the premiums which the country has
unconsciously paid since the resumption
Of specie payments to the silver pro-
ducers, and that this money, with the
millions that have yet TO be paid in one
form or another, is now in the pockets
aad composes the fortunes Of the silver
miners of this and other countries?
These may seem like astounding and
unreasonable statements, but every man
Of ordinary intelligence, who will do a
little sober and serious thinking for him
self. can readily understand that in spite
Of al OF It's intricacies and ramiications.
the whole question of free silver can be
thus reduced down TO the simplest ele-
ments. Let the Clatsop county delegates