The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-08-16

NeeAlA IN NAAS SAaAe Va OANeNHs hts9f NeNe
to the Portland oresOnian, the largest
weekly circulation In the state,
Jno. f. Handley & Co. are our Port
land agents, and copies OF The Astorian
can be had every morning at their stand.
ia Third street.
Four years ago the argument used
by Bryan and other Democratic lead
ers to induce votes for their ticket was
the demand for cheaper prices. They
told the people that free trade would
reduce the cost Of everything the poor
man had TO buy. They rested their
whole case on the proposition that
American consumers by being allowed
TO purchase in the markets Of the
world. untrammeled by an iniQuitous
protective tariff. could set a great deal
more for their money than American
producers were willing to let them
have. They had much TO say, too, about
the moral principle involved in trade
restrictions and the spirit evinced by
those who wanted American markets
reserved for American people was de-
nounced as wicked, unchristian, i'm
practicable, narrow and selfish. The
answer 10 these specious pleadinss
was. OF course. that, wages considered,
our people could afford to pay more
for their goods than the people Of
European nations, and that to throw
open our markets to the unrestricted
Importation Of foreign products would
be TO reduce our wage earners TO the
level Of European laborers. But all
efforts Of the Republicans proved uu-
ayailing. The cry Of cheaper prices
tickled and caught the people. They
were told and believed that there would
be just as much work in this country
and at as good wages under free trade
as under protection They thought the
operation of free trade would simply
force American employers to surren-
der a portion Of their profits. and that
it would thus tend to make the rich
a little poorer, but the poor would be
made a great deal richer. 1t is not
necessary TO dwell on the result of the
experiment. That is not the object Of
this article: besides. TO point out the
contrast between the present condition
Of the average American citizen and
his condition at the time Of Mr.. Bryan's
last triumph is calculated TO excite
bad passion. and might lead to still
greater desperation. What we wish TO
call attention to is the remarkable /
change in Mr.. Bryan's convictions on
economic subjects. as shown by the
position he assumes before the public
today. At the last election he per-
suaded the people 10 vote for cheaper
prices He was then unsparing in his
ridicule OF the notion that America
could or should be kept for Americans
only He thought the idea Of main
tanning our independence OF Europe a.
silly. mawkish. and in many respects
a dishonest sentiment. He protested,
even against the witness OF the physi-I
cal senses Of many Of his countrymen,
that the people of Great Britain and
other foreign lands were quite as well
of as corresponding classes in America. |
There can be no doubt that Mr. Bryan
said all this. and that he pretended tol
think exactly that way. There can be
no doubt that it was upon this method 4
that the Democrats conducted the last
campaign There is no
need TO cite instances or specifically !
recall examples of iir. Bryan's public .
to pro,e a history 50 fr.sh .
in the recollection Of very .,roen per-
son in this country. It must be conced-
ed at once that the Democrats carried
the last election on just such false pre-
lenses and no other. But what is Mr..
Bryan saying now? What remedy does
he now propose for the infinitely great
ar disparity between the condition Of
the rich and poor which has been pro-
iuced by the trial of his last exper-
ment? What does he now recommend
as a means to restore the prosperity
existing on all sides at the time he
began his last campaign, and which he
hen promised should be increased, but
which he and his associates have in
stead utterly broken down and destroy
ID? He wanted 10 make goods cheap
hen; now he wants to make them
lear. He says what the people need to
.ure their present distresses is to pay
louble prices for all they have to buy.
lie says that this thing Of claiming
hat the worlds markets have any
hing to do with fixing the prices Of
american commodities is false: that it
8 unpatriotic; that il is a delusion;I
hat it is a scheme TO oppress American
abor and to put crown Of thorns on
he bleeding brow Of honest toilers.
Ie declares most positively that every ;
nan and every newspaper venturing
0 suggest that the London or Euro {
ean markets have anything to do
nth regulating the price Of wheat or
liver is a traitor and in the pay Of the
money lenders Of Europe. This is a
air contrast Of Mr.. Bryans opinions
] the campaign Of four years ago with
be arguments by which he hopes to be
lected president in this one. Could
lortal man be- guilty Of greater incon-
stency? And isn't it enough to con-
emn him with every honest and intel
gent vnfer in the cnI1nfrv2