The herald., 1897-06-07
MONDAY. JUNE ?. 1907.
EVILS OF POLITICAL AGITATION

1t is true that all POLITICAL campaigns
more or less interfere with the business
of the country, and hence there is>a hos
tile feeling to their frequency. Time is
spent in holding meetings and in doing
other political work which detracts from
the labor of those engaged in the vari-
Gus productive industries and in trade.
The evil is infinitesimal however. as
compared with the uncertainties which
are caused by the agitation of those
measures which relate to tariff and
finance. While on those subjects legis-
lation should be 50 wise and just as to
ASSURE long periods Of rest, yet there has
become a chronic disposition to either
deal with them by comprehensive re-
vision or by amendments in a small way
at every session of congress, or at least
when one party supersedes another in
power. This disposition results from a
clash Of interests. and constant strug-
giles by one class to secure advantages
over others. That clash is now, as 1t
ever has been, between the monopolists
and the mass of the people. 1t Is to be
regretted that there cannot be certain
ties as to policies for the future, and
absolute immunity from fear of disturb
ances of values and interruption of pro-
ductiop and commerce, but such con-
dition will not be realized so long as
there is favoritism in legislation. 1t Is
better that there should be uncertainty
and agitation than that any consider
able injustice should be done. The Amer
loan people will never rest under inc
qualities and injustice. and until our
politics respect the interests of the
masses instead Of those Of the classes
there will be continued agitation.
There has been no cessation of political
discussion since the late presidential
campaign closed, and the indications are
that it will be continuous from this time
to the end of the next presidential cam
paign Perhaps the battle of 1900 will
not so result as to give the country rest
thereafter. All depends upon what pol
icies the people will them endorse and
the means employed to- influence or bring
about the result. The masses would not
now be SO restive were it believed that
the result of the last elections was brought
about wholly by fair and honorable
means The impression extensively pre-
walls that there was corruption through
the use of vast sums of money contrib
uted by corporations and trusts in order
that favors might continue to be con-
ferred upon them, and that other and
non-American practices were indulged
in to coerce the dependent classes.
1t is hardly probable that the revenue
law passed upon at the present meeting
of congress will be SO satisfactory that
the country will be content to let it re-
main undistubed for any considerable
time. At any rate present indications
are not favorable to such a consumma-
ton But should it be otherwise, as is to
be hoped, there will not be exemption
from agitation, for there are other ques-
tions quite as important as that relat-
ing to tariff and internal taxation.
The money issue will not be settled
with any degree of permanency so long
as the country suffers from inadeuuacy
of the volume of the circulating medium,
and from the monopoly that the gold
standard gives to small percentage of
our population. 1t is to be desired, that
the tariff question shall be SO moved
from the arena Of discussion that the
money problem may be solved without
being involved with any other important
question.
There are depressions in business and
dull times generally, and there is some
cause for it, or it may be that there are
several causes. The people are inten,
en- finding out the cause or causes which
must antecede an intelligent discovery
and application of effectual remedies
The existing condition cannot have been
brought about by natural causes. The
soil 10 as fertile as it has ever been,