The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-13
PRAIRIE COMMON SENSE.

Congressman Dolliver, of Iowa, perhaps
the most eloquent political speaker in the
United States. maze a mastery speech at
Des Nioines, Wednesday, i'll presenting 10
the Iowa Republican convention the presl-
DENTAL candidacy of Senator Allison. Be
low are some Of its happy points: For
months the maintenance of specie pay
mentS has been made difficult, not by
any fear of our own people that our pa
per money Is not good, that is to say,
will not be paid on demand, out by Il lOag-
standing shortage in the treasury. cGu-
pied with Industrial conditions that have
induced a steady drainage of gold OUT
of the country, in addition to its usual
chaViise bought abroad and no longer
fully paid for by the sum total of cur
rent exports
at is not novel situation. and it is
not one that can be relieved by hurried
experiments in finance. 1t looks to me
like Il fac-simile OF the state of trade
in 1888, and the Interesting years that
followed. when Horace Greeley. in the
old Tribune of the common people. lifted
his voice in behalf Of the wrecked and
PROSTATE industries OF his country. in
words, every one of them, applicable to
our present affairs lie pointed out the
iilcness of the worlimen and the signs
Of the paralysis that had fallen UPON
every pursuit in the country. He was
entitled to give his opinion, because in
1916. he had warned his countrymen Of
the disasters that were before them.
There was a condition of things that not
only swamped the treasury and kept
President Buchanan busy sending gem
une Cleveland messages TO congress. but
left in the pockets of our people innum-
cradle little greasy bank notes. many of
which remain unto this day and are used
at old settlers reunions for the purpose
of reminding one generation OF the trou-
bles of another. II is not likely that any
nf hD
could have stood M against a state of
foreign trade like that. and my solemn
conviction now IL that the way out of
our misfortunos lies in giving back to the
workinemen Of the United state; the o,-
portUnity TO do the work Of the American
people.
"The Democratic remedy entirely ig.
nores the sources of the trouble. Ii pro-
poses to keep on borrowing money. ex-
posing the treasury on the one hand TO
the approach of those who seek the profits
of taking gold out. and leaving it help
less on the other hand against the thrift
of those who seek the profits of putting
gold in. The Popuist remedy. Il remedy
in which an influential group of other
paitie unite, is to close matters up by
abandoning the present basis of American
business. on which all existing contracts
stand. and taking refuge from public and
private creditors alike in the unlimited
issue of silver dollars gratutously man
u1attuEe LOT tne owner OUT Oh material
worth in the neighborhood of 80 cents.
The Republican party, without concealng
It's desire TO continue the largest piacti-
cable use of silver short of introducing
dangerous elements of disturbance and
fiuctuation into our coinage. refuses to
follow the counsel of either. The true
remedy lies in the prompt provision of an
adequate national revenue. That is the
first step. and 1t cannot be taken too soon.
-.Il:-
at is pitiful and wicked thing to leave
as good man as Uncle Sam. who has
always done "A middling good business IN
his own name. standing in front of an
empty safe. talking in a whisper with
q group of gentlemen with an appetite
for fresh bonds. But the increase of
revenue. in order to be useful, must he
brought into the treasury In such a way
as will protect the occupations of our
own people. 1t is an interesting fact that
this country never had a revenue tariff
that produced sufficient revenue, and
never had protective tar.T that did
not produce sufficient revenue. 1t IA
not an accident that two Democratic pres
idents, forty years apart, have spent the