The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-08
SILVER ACROBATS.
Feats Of j. W. btyan and F. E.
White as Free Trade Democrats.

White as Free Trade Democrats.
There are no greater economic aero
bats than the silver Democrats now Civ
ing exhibitions in this country. They
turn somersaults and fiiphaps backward
and forward so fast that it makes us
dizzy TO watch them. In one year or one
campaign they are lauding cheapness
and the inventive genius which caused
it, and In the next they are cursing
cheapness and the cause of cheapness.
All of the free trade silver Democrats
have done this act. They have had TO
do it and still have to do it whenever
they let loose on these two subjects, as
most of them are wont TO do. 1t is i'm
possible TO be free trader and not be-
lieve in low prices. Ii is impossible 10
believe in the "crime Of 1878" as tho
cause Of the great and ''ruinous" fall
of prices which has since occurred and
not believe that low prices are curse.
Because be saw the inconsistency of
it. or for political reasons, w. j. Bry.
an, in his canvass last year, practi-
cally refused to talk tariff and spent his
time discussing the lack of money and
the evils of low prices. If he had talked
tariff, he would have been in danger of
repeating bis speech of March l6, 1892.
in which he said, "You must at
tribute il to the inventive gen
ius. That is what has
brought down prices i'm this
country and everywhere"
But Bryan is not candidate for
Office this year. We will devote our at
tention TO one who has been oonspicu-
Gus since 1892 as free trade Democrat,
and who Is now. because of his nomina-
tion for governor Of Iowa, conspicuous
as a silver Democrat. OF course the
Hon. Frederick L. White is now saying
that "the people need more money"
and that ian abundance of money will
stimulate MI kinds Of industries" and
"tnat will increase the price of every
thing and benefit everybody" He also
says "the dollar CT today buys altogcth-
er too much, and the rest Of the whole
rigmarolc of free silver and cheap money
wisdom. What, now, did this same Mr..
White say in his great speech of June
10, 1892?
Under the subheads "Cheapness" and
"The Real Cause Of Cheapness" he
made some statements so wholly incon-
sistent with his present position and
statements that be will have great diff
Guilty i'll explaining away this incoBsist-
ency. His remarks at that time being "a
fair sample Of these of scores Of ether
silver Democrats made then and s'nce,
we quote them below at some length:
THE stubborn fact. the historic truth,
stares every intelligent man i'll the face,
that everything made by human hands
or that is in any sense the result OF hu-
man skill has been getting const0ntly
cheaper not only since the Republican
party has been in power. but for the
last thousand years and more, and has
been getting cheaper not only iii this
country, but in every other-in coun-
tries where high tariffs are maintained,
and in others whero free trade prevails,
and notably so in England, where the
protective principle is entirely repudi
atCd.
"What is then the true, active cause
Of this constantly lowering price list Of
manufactures: Why, sir, it is con
stantly improving industrial condition
caused primarily by mechanical inven-
tons, scientific discoveries and the pro-
motion of general knowledge. 1t is a
higher order of human ingenuity ard
industry, a moro practical industrial
education. all resulting in superior
methods CT manufacture. The slow,
clumsy vay3 of orr forefathers have
given way TO the improved methods of
o more mechanical age.
I'VE are constantly discovering and
harnessing - Cur Cse new forces Of ma
turc, arc continually utilizing new
ideas anG Better methods, and
the ircvi'r' rIt is, The civilized