The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-19

The lesson of these figures is very plain.
The Reed billion-dollar Congress had dis
gusied the country. The Republican
oarty lost its confidence, and the second
election of Mr.. Cleveland and the one
hundred ana seventeen Democratic
members of Congress in the Fifty-thrd
Congress was the result.
But what happened then? The bad joint
work OF Republicans and Democrats, the
Sherman silver law. soon afterwards be-
gan to demonstrate its prodigious powers
OF evil. The country ran upon the shoals
caused by the panic OF June. 1893. Had
the Democratic majority in Congress
promptly voted 10 repeal this law as
soon as its destructive work became evil
dent. the party would have retained the
countrys confidence But great body
Of the members of Congress ANNOUNCED
their adherence to the law. When the
President called them in extra session
they wrangled and disputed over its re-
peal from week to week while the coun-
try's distress and agony grew greater and
greater each day. and this state Of things
was kept up until it is not too much TO
say that the great body OF conservative
10 think the Democratic party the party
OF communism, anarchy. and general dis
order Nor is further action taken by
that same Congress 10 be kept out of the
account The Democratic members OF 1t
were almost unanimous Ca few notable
exceptions in taking sides for an income
tax law that imposed taxes on all men
MaO had incomes above 5000. while il OK
oinnted from taxation all whose incomes
were below S4.OoV and they thereby in
creased tho belief started by their course
towards the sherman law that the party
was the foe TO accumulated property aDd
wanted 10 forcbly deprive men Of their
savings because ana only because they
had been successful I'm life. The course
OF the Democratic members of Congress
towards these two subjects gave the
party fearfully black eye before the
country al large. and we consequently see
that at the congressional election IN No
vembcr. 1894. the States above mentioned.
which had sent III Democratic members
10 the Ffty-third Congress. sent only
twenty-five 10 the Fifty-fourth. There
is record which ought TO teach the
Democratic party that it Will never again
COntrOl the ucStillieS OF TINS country while
it seeks TO do so by reliance on dema-
gogic expectancy rather than sound prin-
ciples and equal justice TO all men. and
that its only hope of ever again coming
into power must rest upon satisfying the
moral and conservative elements OF the
country that II is the friend of cstab-
lished order. of progress. and OF sacred
regard for property once fairly acquired.
The party seems TO learning this lesson.
as the recent vote upon the question uf
the free coinage OF silver shows The
States of the South and the Southwest
gave the following votes upon that test.
Missouri. the State where Mr. Bland was
defeated for election TO this Congress,
gave 10 against free COZ Kentucky
gave S: Tennessee. S; Mississippi. 2. Ala
bama. 2. Louisiana. 3; Florida, /; West
Virginia. 3: South Carolina. l. Georgia. s.
Texas. l. North Carolina. /: Virginia 2
Ito the great honor OF Messrs. Tucker and
~. or the whole 2l5 votes
against free coinage, Ill votes came from
the South and West the home Of tree