New-York tribune., 1896-10-25
GOVERNUENT BY HOLD-UP.

The end of the latest attempt 10 hold up the
United states Government and the American
people for the benefit Of few persons interested
In silver mining draws near. 1t began with ex-
tremely loud talk from number of represent
atye persons-GovernOrs. Senators. Congress
men and such-who. having had more or less or
a hand in bringing about the Democratic VIC
tory of 1892 as a balance OF power which had
been courted by tie Old Democracy. deliberately
set out not only TO steal away the organization
and machinery of the Democratic party, Dut
through that organization and machinery 10 hold
I'D the whole country, and work their own
sweet will with it. 1t would be uncharitable
and perhaps unjust. TO say that this notion OF
government grew out Of the success which had
attended holdups in the mining regions where
two or three men Of threatening appearance. Win
guns in their hands and very loud language at
their command, had been able to go through
railroad trains and despoil OF their valuaDles
tranload Of passengers exceeding them in num-
Der in about the ratio Of twenty 10 one. But
all the same they undertook TO do business on
that plan.
The first threats Of the hold-up began shortly
after the inauguration of President Cleveland. IN
1S93. These budding highwaymen were not
long in putting in practice their own estimate
,non their importance as the balance Of power
IN which the Democratic party owed its success.
With full knowledge and deliberate purpose they
conceived and entered upon the plan of brow
beating the American people and compelling the
American Congress 10 hold up their hands and
submit to what can only be adequately described
as highway robbery. That they were in mi
norty not dissmar to the relation of two or
three bandits 10 a full passenger train Is EVIL
dent enough to any one who takes even cursory
look at the census of tie States which these
men represented and controlled, and compares
II with that OF the whole country besides IN point
of population. wealth, intelligence and prosper
ous conditions. They we:e unabashed by the
disparity Of their numbers. They started IN
upon their enterprise with the bold and dashing
assurance of the Jesse Jamescs and the Younger
brothers. The Colorado Waites. the Oregon
Pennoyers the Kansas Lewelngs. the Mis-
souri, Stones the Illinois Altgclds and the South
Carolina Tlmans broke out early and in full
cry They were to have their way or there
would be trouble-trorble of bloodshed, Of riot
and universal tumut.
Thanks 10 the firm hand of President Cleve-
land. all these were squelched at the beginning
OF their turbulence. Then came the less violent.
but no less determined. effort Of the Senators
and Congressman from States which are really
the minority in population, in wealth. n-and
we say this cautiously, With no purpose Of Civ
Ing offence--in intelligence and common moral
i,y They said in the last Congress that we
should have no change in financial or business
conditions except upon the condition they Of
fered which was the free coinage of silver
There were enough Of them in the Senate to hold
up legislation and hold up the Government To
hold up the Government by Withholding appro.
prlations has been several times threatened in
the course Of our history. 1t has never been
carried out so thoroughly as by the combination
Of silver Senators in the Inst Congress. And
It Is useless to mince words-eyery one OF that
Senatorial combine. from the fearful Teller to
the everlasting Stewart. Of Nevada. stands he
fore the country to-day as a plain and simple
shold.blooded and consclenceless highwayman.
Che Bryan campaign has been carried on upor