The herald., 1896-03-22

1t may be surmised by some that the
following defense is written on account of
favors bestowed. Let such as think SO
console themselves with the assurance
that never as yet has the writer received
the slightest benefit from either President
Cleveland or any member of his cabinet.
And this is not all. he does not expect any,
thing from anyone within the ranks of
the Democracy.
No, the only reward anticipated is that
of having done his duty; of having in.
formed the people. for their own benefit,
of the real cause of all our troubles, that
the responsibility therefore may be placed
where it properly belongs.
In these days Immediately preceding the
next presidential election-days pregnant
with vital interests to the people of these
United States-days fraught with intense
anxiety, (nay, days of coming contest and
strife for supremacy between the various
political organizations in the election of
their chosen standard bearers,) may it
not be well to call halt and take time to
consider our surroundings; to canvass we'll
the situation and learn, if possible, through
earnest investigation of past events, Just
who is entitled to blame and who should
merit the confidence of the voters and is
deserving of whatever praise may honestly
attach to those who have zealously per-
formed their duty and held at heart the
highest interests of the people (for after
all the people constitute the nation) re-
gardless of adverse criticism?
10 deny true democracy-th old-time
''demos kratos' of the ancient Greeks,
that government of the people. by and for
the people for which the men of Athens
fought and died-is to deny the inherent,
God-given rights and privileges of human
ity in the loftiest and most divine state of
civilization.
Lord BrouQham, when asked in the Eng.
hnlISp n "a hat
true politics, replied: "The greatest
good to the greatest number" and he was
right.
That President Cleveland has been made
the innocent victim of much unmerited
and unjust vituperation is undenable.
That the Democratic party, and through
it, tariff reform, has been falsely held re-
sponslb!e for the existing difficulties at the
treasury and the unsettled state of busi-
ness is equally true.
The fact is that delayed legislation,
through partisan Republican opposition in
the beginning of the present term, created
want of confidence throughout the na-
tion, to which account, more than to any
other one circumstance. must be charged
the terrible depression which has since
prevailed. And it is we'll known that this
opposition was prolonged for the accom-.
accomplish, and also for the destruction of
the Democratic party, which 1t did not de-
stroy.
The only astonishing feature about the
whole matter is that no attempt at defense
has been made. 1t is not only the truth,
but the whole truth, that is demanded and
must be produced. For the concealment Of
o part of the truth frequently places an en-
tirely false construction on very many
transactions. Republicans are ready enough
to exploit existing financial difficulties and
credit them-or rather falsely charge them,
to the lncompetency of the administration,
leaving an ignorant or Indifferent public to
be influenced thereby in whatever direc-
tion may be chosen, we'll knowing that un-