Evening journal., 1896-03-02
Ths Resplt of ral.ehnna-

Anc RNhDtt OF Ehlhcnu0O.
It is pretty generally acknowledged
that it is possible for anyone to tell a
falsehood SO many times that at last he
becomes TO look upon It Is the trutk
himself This appears to have been the
trouble OF the Republican party in regard
to the tariff. Mr.. Cleveland had hardly
been elected when TRADE OF falsehood
was inaugurated throughout the country
against the free trade policy which It WIS
declared II was the intention Of his party
to pursue. Those who thus undertook to
prejudcs the minds Of the people against
the policy Of tariff reform, upon which
the Democratic party came into power,
well knew that there was no more
probability OF our having free trade then
In this country, through the medium OF q
Democratic administration, than there
would have been II Republican Presi-
dent hAd been elected.
It is as easy to forssee that period OF
business depression was about to fall
upon the country after Mr.. Clevelande
election, and before his Inauguration, as
a natural result of the enormous silver
purchases and four years Of Republican
extrAvsgAnce The Republican party
leaders. knowing the situation acted upon
the well known principle Of 'getting
mad FIRST" and abusing their polit-
ioal opponents in hope by 30
doing to hide their own SINS. This was
the state Of things whom the Democracy
came into power and It's opponents In
augursted policy of falsehood which
they have continued SO long that they
appear to have taught themselves TO
believe Otherwise there is no logical
means Of accounting for the recent ac-
tIons Of Congress-
There is an old truiam to the effect that
"those whom the gods wish to destroy
they FIRST make mad, which appears to
US especially applicable TO the present
Republican members OF Congress. II
they had been wise they would have left
the tariff question alone and they would
have supported without quibble the
Presidents outspoken financial policy and
have retired the greenbacks II they
had done this, they would ntand In far
better position before the country to-
day. But. they had told this old lie
about the tariff policy Of the Democrats
until they had come to believe
Il themselves, forgetting that this
very policy Of tariff reform had bsen en-
dorsed by an immense majority Of the
people. that It never had been carried
into effect as the people had demanded
owing to Republican opposition and to
that Of SONS diegruntled Democrats. As
far as this tariff reform policy has been
allowed to become lawful, it has met
with unbounded success Il has raised
the burdens from the poor; It has
Increased tho revenue to an unexpected
extent and It has shown that It's adoption,
as originally enuneiated by President
Cleveland, would have produced unpsr-
alleled prosperity throughout the entire
length and breath o. the land.
The people believed Ia tariff reform
aud voted for II SO far as It has bssn
tried. 1t has proved = success This fact
is being more aud more exempliaed. Aud
is becoming better and better known to
the intelligent voters Of the country.
What will be the result? II the platform
Of the Republican National Convention
follows the Congressional lead and fsyors
high tariff of the Mckinley order, the
people will again vote for tariff reform
and "don't you forget It,