Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-12
WHAT COL ONEL WARD SAYS.

At the close of Mr. Cleveland's admin
istration, March 4, 1889, the country was
prosperous and money was easy and fair
ly abundant. The Bland-Allison act had
been in successful operation for ten years,
and none complained of imitation or the
dishonest silver dollar. The treasury
groaned under an accumulated surplus,
and the problem for solution was how
to get rid of the surplus, and how to pre-
vent its accumulation in the future. Ev-
cry surplus dollar in the treasury was a
dollor withdrawn from circulation.
Mr.. Cleveland advised diminished taxa
tion-tariff reform. Mr.. Harrison, when
nominated, advocated that the surplus be
expended in pensions and public improve
ments, and that diminished taxation
must not be allowed.
Mr.. Cleveland was Overwhelmingly de-
feated, The republican party had no
difficulty in expanding the surplus and
in preventing its recurrence. At the
close of Mr.. Harrison's administration
there was no surplus, and the country
was on the ragged edge of panic. Not
withstanding the financial plank in the
democratic platform of 1892, 1t was we'll
known that a majority of southern and
western democrats were in favor OF the
free and unlimited coinage of silver, and
that the peoples party not only demand
ed free silver but fiat money.
Inc country UNDERSTOOD MI. SleNtldllu .
views when he was nominated, and, II
there was any doubt as to his position,
that was dissipated by his inaugural.
The currency he proposed for the peo-
pie should be stable and not fiuctuating
in value. Shortly after his inauguration,
the metropolitan press led by the New
York Herald, always strong supporters
of Mr.. Cleveland, demanded called ses-
sion of congress, and the repeal of Sec
ton of the Sherman act, called the sill
yer purchasing clause" and threatened
the country with bankruptcy If this was
not done, and a return of prosperity If
this was done.
Already the banks had partially sus-
pended payment, and in the large cities
clearing house certificates took the place
of money. There was called session
of congress- the obnoxious silver pur-
chasing law was repealed, and Mr.. Cleve-
land was applauded but the senate CEN
sured for delay. The panic, however,
spread, values declined and the tide of
prosperity did not return. Some excuse
must be found for this failure of the
prophecy, and it was everywhere said the
country had faith in Mr. Cleveland, but
not in the business sense of the demo-
cratic party. 1t developed sharply that
there was a wide split in the democratic
party upon the question of silver. Mr.
Cleveland was soon without party TO
support him.
He and his party had absolute control
of all the machinery of the government
except the federal courts, and yet the
country fell away from the democratic
nartv and Mr.. Cleveland. The few re-
publicans In the congress elected with
Mr.. Cleveland sat still and laughed at
what they called democratic lncapaclty,
and II was true. The business men or
the country reached the conclusion that
the democratic party could not be en-
trusted with the business and financial
management of the country. AS result,
the country in 1894 went republican by
an immense majority.
1t developed in 1896 that the country
must decide between the single gold
standard and bimetallism, including the
free and unlimited coinage of silver. AT
the ST. Louis convention the republican
party declared for the single gold stand
ard and so preempted the sound money
views of many democrats, there was left
for that party either an unconditional
surrender to the republican party. or to
declare Internationally for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver.
This EVIL" If evil 1t be, might have
been endured, but to this was added other
clauses which furnished the enemy with
al club TO crush us into defeat. 1t was no
doubt thought that these clauses would
harmonic and mould into democratic
harmony all the discordant elements OPP
posed to republican rule, and win to Mr..
Rryan's support the "downtrodden farm
er'' and the Oppressed laborer. We
have seen the result. 1.-THE down-trod-
den farmer" and the oppressed laborer'
and the "tariff-ridden'' merchant OF the
north and west voted Tor business anu
NAL Mckinley
Here are the lessons:
4 The theory of the republican party is
TO create and centralize wealth. to build
up manufacturing ans commercial cen
ters and have a strong central govern
ment. Its practice is to gather the
weaIth-it matters not by whom created.
2. The democratic party has for half
century wasted it's strength in sentiment
and constitutional discussions.
2. Behind and under the republican
Marty are the national banks and all the
banks of the country. The business In
tnrests of the country demand and will
support that system of banking when
furnishes the country with the sa1est
means of exchange and guarantees the
note holders as near absolute safety as
human Institution can.
A. The democratic party from tr~ ion
opposed the national banks anf all "ther
banks as dangerous to the liberties or
the people. This antagonizes the monied
and commercial institutions Of the coun-
try Manufactures and commerce cam
not exist without banks. No party can
anita gonize the business interests of the
country and expect to be maintained In
power.
iff advocated by the republican party will
certainly bring about the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver since 1t will de-
stroy foreign commerce; and cotton.
grain and meat will be our only resorces
for foreign exchanges.
Z. There can be nc such thing as over
production, If our financial system is
such as to allow foreign trade. If the
incoming administration establishes such
a tariff as makes foreign commerce i'm
possible, or so INSTRUCTED as not to be prof
table to foreign trade. we will have over