The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-01-18
A TRICK or cLgvEtAnp.s.


Administration.
No Australian ever had boomerang
more deadly 20 those behind him thnn
the administration has proved to its
apologisfs. They have long since
ceased TO be supporters. and as to many
things apologize no longer. The un-
precedented indeccncy of Secretary
Carlisle's published attack on pend
ing bond bill. which was framed solely
because the president had besought
congress TO relieve the treasury. prob
ably no respectable democrat will at
tempt TO excuse. Possibly IL passed the
bond bill In the house. Certainly IL
gained many votes for the measure,
which the administration wanted TO
defeat. Men will wonder why the
president sought 20 defeat a measure
which would have enabled him to bor-
row money at lower interest and on bet
ter terms for the government. They
will find one of two answers each dis
honoring TO the president. II he want
ed TO show that his political opponents,
10 whom he had frantically appealed
for relief of the treasury, could not
agree among themselves and would not
do anything, his care for partisan
rather than public interest was dis
honoring. II he Lad private interests,
or interests of friends to serve by maxi
ing a bond contract with particular
persons, and for bonds which could DO
advanced far above the price paid to
the government, his anxiety to have
c<x,<xrn fofI g.. oufbc~t~o N l,ofta,~ l,>ot.
is explicable. but dishonoring.
Democrats can no longer deny that
their administration has engaged in n
partisan trick, at the sacrifice of pub
lie welfare, and at vast loss TO indf-
viduals. The presidents war message
produced financial excitement which
he would have been stupid IL he had not
expected. He was ready tn intensity
II TO the utmost by his hysterical mes
sage imploring congress TO mature
some measure of relief during the holt
days. If congress had refused or failed,
as he expected, he might have had
decent excuse for the bond negotia-
tions which, with almost incredible in
difference to public spirit. he has been
pushing through all the time, and prac-
tically completed before one house
could act. The surprising yigor and
promptness of the house, passing both
tariff bill and bond and temporary
loan bill between Thursday noon and
Saturday night, has left the president
10 carry out with decent excuse the
bond contract upon which his stock
jobbing friends have been betting.
IL is commonly remarked by demo-
Gratis who have some perception of pub
lie opinion that the president twill hardly
venture upon step so indecent as the
issue of four per cents under the old
law before the senate has time 20 act.
This. at least. is evident, that the SEN
ate would not take the trouble to con-
slider the bond bill, after the president
had borrowed Si00,o0n,000 more by the
Issue OF bonds expected this week.
Moreover, as his discourteous refusal
even to consider the measures OF re-
lief proposed by the house would apply
TO the revenue as well as the bond part,
IL Is possible that IL bonds are issued
by the president without waiting the
senate will feel that IL has time TO
place before him n tariff bill framed
rather for the purpose OF reviving in
dustry and business, and correcting the
Infamous bargains with monopolies
made by the last democratic congress-,
than 10 meet temporary emergency
which will not then exist.
The bond bill passed by the house,
after IL was so amended as 20 prevent
che retirement of greenbacks. is q
measure which the president, If in the
least degree honest In his appeal TO
congress, must recognize as perfectly
responsive to that appeal. II provides
for borrowing at lower rate. and for
borrowing from the people rather than
by contract with more or less foreign
syndicate. IL also provides for tenn
porary loans 10 tide over any tempo
rary deficiency. There are many re-
publicnns who have believed that no
more borrowing by bond issues ought
20 be authorized or permitted. Others
have believed that the present admin
istration had so far misconducted af-
fairs that IL should not be intrusfed
with any new power. But the majority
felt that II was right for congress 10
respond Loyalty TO the president. as IL
he were honest In his professions and
assurances. and patriotic rather than
partisan in his aims. They responded
as promptly and literally rs IL the APP
peal had come from the most honored
OF republican presidents. And then
they had to pass the bill against the
public opposition Of the secretary OF
the treasury and against the vote OF
every democrat but one in the house.
N. Y. Tribune.