The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-09-18

them. the mentally derangeo" indi
yidual who raises his voice in favor o
free trade" or free silver" is con
sidered an object of pity: yes, evei
worse, lunatic not worthy of consid
Grafton. one who should be fired
out of all positions of responsibifit.
and trust. so that their "heresies" cal
no longer poison" the minds of thu
body polite. 1t ia no doubt some com
fort for such editorial writers to hue
themselves in vaiDglorious way ant
say 1--WE are the people who know j
all, the other fellows are fools whose
mouths should forever be shut" Bu
few of them have yet seen fit to show
any material benefit that has accrued
to the masses of the people through
the workings of their two pet theories
projection and the gold standard :
nor dothey 1ilate upon even a single
one of the shortcomings of their hob
bies.
True. the country is in prosperous
condition. but only the very most hide
hand demagogue will attempt to attri'
butte this prosperity either to protec-
tiou or the gold standard. Neverthe-
less there are some who claim the
rains that gave us abundant. crops and
the drought that cut short the crops
of other parts of the world are direct
results of the gold standard and pro-
lection, or in effect. that our present
prosperity is the result of these two
agents.
This class of writer's. have singled
out President Andrews, of Brown un-
iversity, whose resignation has been
demanded because he saw fit to ad-
vance his ideas upon the money ques-
tion and undertook to teach the the.
cries of bimetalism from the stand.
point of unlimited coinage of silver
and President Eliot, of Harvard, who
teaches free trade as q fundamental
principle of nations, as being men who
are unfit to be heard, because their
teachings are fallacious. Possibly
such men as Professors Andrews and
Eliot are not entitled to consideration;
possibly they may be- mistaken in their
conclusions, but both are men of mas
ter minds, who have devoted a life
time to the study of economic princi.
pl, 9, and 1t can hardly be established
that their life work has been failure,
and that they have arrived at wrong
conclusions in every instance.
Until our gold-standard, protection
ist friends have demonstrated by
actual practice that their theories pro-
du.e the greatest good to the q eatest
number they should at least be charit-
able enough to grant those who differ
with them a hearing. When they
shall haye demonstrated that the en-
actmept of a nigh protective tariff,
such as is now In force, and the smain.
tainance OF the gold standard are bene.
fetal to all alike, they may choke off
other theorists; but until they shall
have shown this. the free silverite and
the free trader, Or the one who be-
lieves In tariff for revenue and incl
dental protection, is entitled to bis day
in court.
This government has had experience
both with the gold standard and pro-
lection, sufficient to enable all 10 judge
OF the benefits they have been or the
damage they are responsible for. Since
1873 it has virtually been ON q gold
standard basis. but its full effects were
not fully realized until after the special
session Of congress in 1893. From that
time to the present the only standard
of money has becn gold. and that 1t
will be maintained for arotber four
years was emphasized by tie result of
the election last fall. During these
past four years of an absolute gold
standard we have had sufficient oppor-
tanity to enjoy whatever blessings
there are in it. We have seen one of
the greatest industries of the nation
silver mining-killcdi the products of
our mines reduced 25 per cent, and
hundreds of thousands of miners
thrown out of employment. Other
beneficial" effects might be enumer-
ated, but these are sufficient to EN-.
phasize the argument Of our gold
friends that the voices of the sIfverites
should bo hushed.
For two months past we have en-
joyed the workings of the highest pro-
tective tariff ever enacted, and from
this we can learn to some extent if it
Is just the thing for the people,. Since
Ibis law has gone into effect the price
Of nearly every article of general con-
has advanced. Those who
buy are compelled to pay more for
what they consume than they. did six
months ago. and the earning power of
only limited number has increased.
Wages in only very few isolated
cases have been advanced. so the gen, /
eral public finds little comfort In the |
beauties of increased protection. Aside |
rom increased prices. we find this !
protective measure is running the
nation In debt, the receipts of revenue
Turing the month of August having
been 81, ,564, ,433 less than the expendi- |
lures, which is at the rate of $175,773,- |
1876 year. and If this Keeps up will
lecessitate the burdening of the pro-
Die with close to $500, ,OOO, 900 more of
interest bearing debt by the end of the
iscal year.
Until better showing can be made
or the gold standard and protection
han experience has shown. there is
'ause for the agitation of doctrines
aught by silverites and free traders,
md those who teach these theories
hould be heard.
DECIDEDLY ANARCHLSTIC.
Meeting, were held In Chicago sun
ay night of what Is termed the social
emocracy, at which most dangerous
tterences were INDUCED in. One