The times., 1898-01-01

1897
Tie yesr just passed into history began
with q newly-elected, but not yet seated
Administration, which its friends declared
would Immediately herald the return of
that prosperity which the American people
had been without, and which they rdently
had longed for during a sa period of
financial, industrial and general economic
disasters. Mr.. Mckinley, whose election
had been brought a bout through The great
lfberality Of the gold and bond syndicates,
trusts and monopolies, re enforced by the
solemn statement that the Republican n party
was not opposed t. silver. but proposed TO
restore il through international agreement,
was believed by his friends aud announced
by his adj erents to be the ..aova nee i GER
of prosperity, the beginning of which
would he seen as soon as he should be
e fnaugurated.
The purchased decision OF the american
people once mare to trust tie Republican
purity with power had been registered in
November. 1886 Already there were grave
rea sons to doubt that the good things prom
ised for the country. in case of Republican
Success would matcrialize. and the history
OF the year proves that these Doubts We're
well grounded.
At the beginning of the ye3r Cley Ella ndisIn.
with all of its abuses. oppressions and cor
ruptions. was stin in fun control OF Ire
country II was engaged in desperate ef-
-, "a,
ish lion through the discraceful scheme OF
ges eral arbitration with Great Britain.
which if it had been adopted in its original
fo,ni, would have destroyed the Monroe
doctrine rendered impos sible the cCnsir..c-
tiou and exclusive American control Of an
iuteroceamc ca nal. revived the Cla yton :ul-
we: treat and settled our liability TO Jay
our foreign tiebt in gold coin, notwit hist NJ
ing the face of the contract to the contrary.
This agitation. and the ioicus Clev land
foreign policy with relation to Spain and
Cuba. were amons the heritages which tho
Mckinley Administration succeeded 10
o. the 4th Of March. 1t is mcrtifying to
stetc that as to 10th Of these great ques-
=
clEin~c of policy.
The 81 Louis platform, upon which Mr
Mckinley was elected, pledged him and
his AdplniS ration 10 the independence of
Cuba; L, the struggle for International bi-
metalli>m. and to the policy of preserv-
ing the interest-bearmg debt OF the people
In its iftccrity. The new President, in his
inaugural address, reafiirmed all Of these
pledges. ard committed himself 20 them
nalterahly The election such as il was,
had been secured ostensihly upon the
financial issue, the parties having divided
upon tho question OF independent American
action il restoring the coinage OF silver
The tariff had not been an issue in the
campaign. A large number OF Mr.. Ne
kinley's gold adherents Were utterly oI-
posed Il the principle of a protective |
tariff, hut unCer foreign Influence had |
support ed isim, in the belief that none |
tsry anc not a fiscal policy would dominate |
his rule But Immediately upon his acccs- |
sion L. office, he called an extraordinary |
session &c Congress TO meet on March ;. |
FOR the specified purpose OF reopening tie /
tariff agitation. The history of that |
movement is notorious. After n hard |
fight what is known as the Dingley tariff |
measure was enacted III August. 1t was |
not pretended by its propon ,nts to he a |
revenue measure. Its chief sections and |
its detail were dictated 10y the trusts and |
monopolies who had contributed to Mr.. |
Mckinley election, and Tie measure at /
large was intended singly to settle some |
OF the Campaign debts incurred by Mr. /
Hanna, and TO put untold millions into the /
Golfers OF the favored syndieates and /
corporations, To reimburse them for their 4
in a position to make still more liberal |
donations to future Republican campaigns |
Ear, IN the session the vicious, treason
able British arbitration treaty was killed
in the Sel.ate notwithstanding it's strong |
indorSt nient and al OF the influence and /
patronage that the Mckinley administra
tion c, ole h.ing to bear to secure its
ratification That extraordinary ses
sion wiz live in American history as
..eX,raoIdinary'' in more senses sain
one. II witnessed the first successful
attempt on the part Of the executive
brarch Of the government 10 suppress tn
House OF Representatives., which was ae-
complished through the power lodged liz |
the speakcr. Y ho, 10y plain defiance of tho
rnles Of the body. in refusing to appoint
committees as provided in Rule X, and
10y fagrant violation of the Constitu-