The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-05-07
TURN IT DOWN.
ELECTORS Are Dtsr listed with the Re-
publican Party.


~icfeatof the republican party. visited
fehemcntly aud almost universally AZ re,
cent local elections. was not caused
solely by a feeling on the part OF electors
that promises OF prosperity had not
been realized. The revulsion, signal
and general as IL was, sprang from more
reasonable motives. 1t is true that the
republican party made loud promises
81 prosperity. With the mere election
OF Mckinley confidence would be re-
stored. capital would seek Investment
AZ business activities, chimneys would
smoke and labor would be
lively employed. Nothing OF the kind
has come, but as intelligent electors
knew thatitdid not lie within the power
OF any president or party to make good
times, no great weight has been at
tached TO the failure of republican
prophecy. There is substantial and
reasonable ground for the electors dis
content. lie did not look to the repub-
i'can party for performance of the inn
possible, but he did imagine that it
might reduce the burdens of govern
Inent. and that in congress and in the
state legislatures it could at least be
clearly and honest.
What is found?
Instead or reduction of taxation il Is
found that the republican party brings
congress together in special session for
the purpose of increasing taxation, and
win allow no other business to be done
while ii discusses ways and means to
help manufacturers at the expense of
consumers. The importer is threatened
with retroactive legislation, the bust
ness of the country is thrown into dis
order, doubt and harrassment are WIS.,
tied upon merchants in the effort Of the
republican party, which promised to
restore prosperity. to get ut the pockets
of the people with the most drastic
tariff enactment ever attempted by an
American congress.
What is the performance Of the re-
stored republican party in such legisla-
lures as are in session. We Eiay take
Illinois, for example. Where the par
tvs o. is not merely partisan, as in
the attempt, despite the plain mandate
of the constitution, to perfect reappor-
tionment bills. it is downright brazen,
shamefaced dishonesty. Both houses
at Springfield are overwhelmingly re-
publican. They entertain Humphrey
bills, designed to diminish home rule
in the commercial metropolis of the
state, and to sell to greedy street ear
companies, not for the benefit of the
but for the benefit of themselves
and the r%avenous. bribe-giving tram
companies. grants of inestimable value
When not engaged in such rascality,
legislators are celebrat-
irg their return to power by fur
tLering such a reprehensible. socialistic
measure as the requirement thatschool
books shall be furnished at the common
And they refuse assent to a meas
ure whereby can be raised the funds
necessary for the completion of the
drainage ditch, which is to give pure
water supply to Chicago. because they
have the spending of the money.
Disguised with the dishonesty and
greed and incapacity of the republican
which signally triumphed last
electors all over the land are
taking the first opportunity to assert at !
The ballot boxes their discomfort and
of confidence. Return to democ- |
racy. now well under way, will continue.
here is nothing more certain in the
'uture than that democracy will tri-
imph in Ohio next November, as it has
in the spring elections in
Snioago and Cincinnati. and as in 1895
I Will triumph in the congressional
OF course the same old dishonest cry
democratic aid to a tariff-making
will come from the republican
amp. But the country knows, to its
ost, that there is more evil in republi-
an ascendancy than in any possible
'ntcome of the currency questionable
Chronicle.