The times., 1897-03-20
Fight the Devil with Fire.

Fight the Devil with Fire.
In two or three instances we find that
provincial democratic papers, or journals
which so announce themselves, are suggest
ing the policy OF "complacency' to the rep
resentatives of their districts in Congress
in relation to the Republican tariff measure,
Such advice could only be the result of
ignorance: of an utter absence of the knowl
edge common to all intelligent Democrats,
that the Dineley bill, if enacted into law,
will bc found almost as destructive to the
interests of the people. and nearly as ef-
fective as an instrument in the hands of
the oppreSsDr for their enslavement, as was
the demonstration of silver.
Already there has been too much Repub-
lican confidcnce-th that conscientious Demo
Gratis. silver Republicans. and Populists,
especially in the Senate, might be induced
TO he down and lick the feet that crush
them. to bc altogether pleasant in CON
temptation we fully believe that this con-
fidcnce has been without just basis; but the
fact tfati has existed, and still exists, car
ries lesson and a warning to every oppo-
ncnt of the gold, trust and monopoly ALI
snc,., i'm either house of the Congress.
But for this confidence, which. if it
has ans ground. must rest upon a hypothesis
OF Democratic and other opposition in
sanity or treaohery, We do not believe that
the trusts and monopolies would have ap-
peared as na grantly and impudently in
the provisions OF the hill as originally
framed Evidently, that confidence has
not ahajed, for Republican trust repre-
sentatives are having it amended right
and left in the direction OF more tariff
robbery.
A halt must be called, and Democratic
opposition, at least, orga nized and armed
for struggle to the death. IL will not do
to assume that the passage OF the pro-
posed lill 5 matter to he regarded with
equaniniity; upon the theory that it must
antagomze the country, and that relief and
Democratic House of Representatives
would naturally and inevitably follow in
1S9s. No such thing is certain, or even
probable. if the trusts and monopolies now
gat all they want.
In the latter event we are much more
likely t. see another House full of the
representatives OF heneficiaries under this
measure We are told by Republicans that
this is a revenue hill They tell the truth:
1t is "A scheme to produce combines and
Corporate and party revenue sufficient
10 huy the next and all future elections.
no matter what the cost may he. or how
much popular opposition may have to he
pyercome.
The DingIey bill would force every man,
woman and child in the United States
10 contribute to that definite anu con-
scious purpose of the influences active in
this tariff conspiracy. The millions that
would rdl into the Golfers OF the petted
syndicates and organizations would be
divided literally with the power that as
sured theirs. Mills, shops, mines, facto-
ries and public works would be shut down
Just before election day and operatives in
formed. as they were last November, that
after that time there would be work for
them, but only in case Of a Republican vic
tory. A hundred thousand railway en-
ployes could be coerced as well in 1898
as they were in 1896. Another hundred
thousand. OF five times that number, of
debtors could be bullied by banks, trust
companies, or the like, holding mortgages
or other papers over their heads: and
million, two million. or any necessary num-
ber of foreign voters could be educated
Just as they were last year.
No matter what may he the result of
such tariff legislation upon the interests or
opinions Of the native citizenship of Amer
lea, this Ilingley bill would place it In the
power of the gold syndicate, allied with
the great robber trusts, TO spend twenty
five or thirty millions to carry national
election. if the necessity demandedit With
such management and methods the Re
publican party displayed in the late Presi
nential campaign, it could and would be
carried The only thing that could prevent
Il would be a miracle.
We are not looking for miracles. We are
looking for faithful, fearless Democrats and
sthers who will fight, even against fearful
odds, and die fighting, before they will see
the toiling people bound hand and foot and
doomed to the horrors OF q perpetual eco
homie and political slavery.
Opposed to the British Treaty.
The fact that there is some intelligent
and fairly organized opinion among the
people opposed to ratification of the
British arbitration treaty finds occasional