The record-union., 1896-09-28

situation for the last quarter OF GEN.
tury, showing that the Republican
party had always redeemed it's pledges
and had never failed to meet the de-
mands of a rapidly developing country.
The party had never been called upon
by the country in time Of distress with
out its responding with timely relief
Democrats and Populists alike were
averse to discuss the past. Not man
Of them wanted to talk Of their past
record or what their party had done.
With them 1t was always something
good just ahead. They were the will
of-the-wisps in the political world.
In 1892 the United States was a
prosperous country. It's people were
engaged in the various industries, and
those who desired could and did ac-
cumulate wealth. 1t was then that the
Democrats set UP a great cry against
capital. They proceeded to array class
against class. They promised that If
given the management of governmental
affairs they would work a great won
der or miracle, in fact, with a free trade
bill. They said we will stop the ac-
cumulation Of wealth and bring a new
and untasted prosperity to the laborer.
The farmer and consumer would buy
IN the cheapest and sell in the dearest
market.
In sleepy disregard of their own
power and interests the people allowed
themselves to drift into this dreamed
Utopia. They said let us try this new
thing which will bring to our homes SO
much ease, luxury and happiness. Like
Naman OF old they went down into the
river, but lol they were baptized not
IN Esculapean waters, but in a poo
OF fire, which has brought nothing but
trouble and misery. Factories ceased
to operate. Wool vanished from the
land, wheat went so low that it took q
microscope to discover the price. wages
decreased 40 per cent, employment
dwindled 30 per cent, and industries
generally became paralyzed One item
of the result of this free trade policy as
carried out by the Wilson-Bryan free
trade and tariff bill served to illustrate
one little city, Bradford England, i'm
ported to the United States in one veal
woolen goods valued at $6,175,OOO owe,
that of the year prior to the adoption
of the Wilson bill.
During eighteen years of Republican
administration the public debt was de-
creased $1,000, TAI, ,OOO and during three
years of Democratic administration the
debt was increased $262, 100000. The
cause of this disastrous result was
traceable direct to the Wilson and
Bryan bill.
Notwithstanding this stupendous
failure and violation Of the public t1-us,
the Democrats and Populists were ir
the field again with brand new rem
edy. From the brains of their politica
leaders they had distilled a cure-al
which they proposed to try on Uncle
Sam, and if 1t failed to kill him the
country was safe. This famous rem
edy was the free and unlimited coinage
of silver
MI Johnson wished it understood
that he was friend of silver. He had
voted for 1T In Congress and would, Il
the opportunity afforded. champion II
again, but not as now proposed by the
Democratic party. He stood squarely
upon the Republican platform, and was
now and always had been a bimetallist
Silver should circulate as the equal Of
gold, but not to the utter exclusion OF
the latter, as was the policy Of the
Democrats This party was makins
promises 1t mover could fulfill; In fact
II was never known to fulfill one.
The people who were implicitly trust
ing party promises without informing
themselves should arouse themselves
from their lethargy. 1t was not gen.
orally known that the per capita mort
gage In California was 5000. Over the
mead OF every man, woman and child
in the State there was a mortgage OF
S2Oo hanging. 1t was time to act with
more deliberation and to consider more
closely than was four years ago the
issues Of the campaign.
Speaking Of his record In Congress
Mr.. Johnson said he was proud Of what
he had accomplished. He was not
ashamed Of single act, for every eff
fort put forth for California was un-
der an impulse for the peoples good
He was accused by designing persons
Of being a railroad man; a railroad
hfreling" was favorite stereotyped
expression Of certain newspaper mud
singers. He desired that every vote,
read his reply to a letter Of inquiry
asking for his position on the funding
bill. That reply would convince any
fair-minded man that funding meant
full payment to the people of the
whole Indebtedness; foreclosure mean,
the total loss of the amount due the
Government. Briefly, and in a nut
shell. foreclosure meant an attempt tc
realize from a second mortgage or
property covered by a first mortgage
greater than the cash value Of the
property by many thousands Of dollars
The funding bill was plain business
proposition which even q child could
understand. He who characterized
him an employe Of the railroad COM
pany asserted a base falsehood, and
those who asserted that he was spend
ing one dollar Of the company's money
were falsifiers Of the deepest dye
Mr.. Johnson closed with a strong ap-
peal to the voters of whatever party tc
go to the polls and vote a straight Re
publican ticket
RIFLEMEN.