The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-03

A Democratic exchange declares that
Republicans arc now reslgning them
selves To realization that there must be
lower basis OF wages This is not a
Republican doctrine ana Republicans do
not favor lower basis. The iirst public
man who advised that lower basis
must be reached was Grover Cleveland,
who for some years past, and until re-
Gently. was regarded as the oracle and
the prophet OF Democracy,
No true American advocates low
wages. Low wages mean lessenlng
OF the powers Of consumption, Law
wages now are due largely to depressed
prices OF products. Manufacturers have
been selling without profit, Increased
activity and rise In prices sufficient TO
enable employers To make a fair profit
and pay good wages is what everybody
desires. The Republican party has al
ways advocated policy that would con-
tribute to this end.
T In 1892, after the last Republican tariff
policy had been in effect for two years,
the average OF wages was higher than at
any other period of our history and
labor was more generally employed
With the assault on that fiscal policy be-
gan the panic and depression which has
existed ever since and from which we
are now slowly recovering,
Whether the high standard of wages
that prevailed previous TO that period
of Democratic depression will be reached
again remains to be seen. Il is possible
that 1t will, but It will have to be grad
ual with the gradual restoration of the
other conditions then existing. There
can be no prosperity unless labor is pros
porous. That every one admits. The
policy of the Republican party Is to
bring about that prosperity II It is pos
slble to do 1t. The signs Of the times are
filled with hope, One way to bring about
the restoration is to abandon pessimism
and encourage confidence,
In all It's campaigns for free trade the
burden OF the song OF the Democracy
has been for cheaper things for the peo-
pie, cheaper clothing, cheaper food and
cheaper all things that are necessities
OF life. when 1t got the opportunity
that party applied Its theory and we are
now suffering from the effects of 1t. The
cheaper products naturally meant
cheaper labor, and In some instances the
wiping out of profits, Cheaper clothing
almost ruined great industry and mil
lions of dollars that had been going into
the pockets of American laborers have
been sent to foreign countries, They are
still going,
The lower basis OF living that Mr.
Cleveland hailed with exceeding great
Joy has not proven the beau
tlful thing he painted. Many
Democrats, after four years of
experience. have recovered from the
free trade spell and are hoping with Re
publlcans for a return to first principles.
They cannot return in a day or month.
or perhaps, even in n year This coun-
try Is stocked with foreign goods i'm
ported under the low tariff, They must
be consumed before the higher basis is
permanently re-estabiished. 1t will be
re-establlshed and the revival now being
experienced, the increasing volume of
business following the restoration of
confidence, is an indication that the con-
sumptlon Is going on. Good times are
bound to follow. and labor will profit by
them. II It doesn't repeat the foolish act
Of 1892. from which dates all the woes
from which 1t has since been suffering.