The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1898-09-29
Democrats and the Bonds.

The Democratic party Is the ont
political organization in America his
tory which never learns ANYTHING
from its blunders. Congressman
Bailey, of Texas, in speech which
he has just made, outlines the policy
which the Democracy is to persue in
Congress next winter, and that is to
attack the Republicans for issuing
bonds. Bailey's position on this and
all other issues, uDhappily for the
Democratic party. is of considerab bic
political Importance. For the same
inscrutable reason which always for
ces the Democracy to do the thing
which its partisaL opponent wants it
| to do, and to do it at time which
would be particularly disasterous,
that party chose Bailey for a leader,
and consequently has to suffer the re-
sponsibilitv for that individuals mar
rowness and fcliy. Bailey opposes
the annexation of Cuba and Porto
Rico, as he did that of Hawaii, and
the party which acknowledges his
leadership will, on that as on other
accounts, be hit hard in the coming
congressional elections. Bailey and
almost all his associates fought the
war revenue bill when it was before
Congress, and thus laid themselves
open to the imruta:ion of copper
headism, which will cost the party
thousands of votes in the approa ching
canvass.
But his promised crusade against
the Republicans on the bond policy
will be a more serious blunder still,
because its effects will provoke a
contrast between Republican and
Democratic practice. The people
will see that willie the Republicans
issued 100000. 900 Of bonds to meet
the demands of war which nobody
supposed or had a right TO suppose
would end so soon, the Democrats, in
the second administration of Presi-
dent Cleveland, issued $262,OOO,OOO
bonds in a period of profound peace
Bailey and the rest OF the men who
are now running the Democratic
party may pretend that Cleveland
was not all orthodox Democrat, but
this dodge will not deceive ANYBODY.
Cleveland received the votes of all
the Democrats, including those who,
like Eailey, have been most bitter in
their denunciations of him since, and
the Democratic party can not shirk
its responsibility for him. lie is the
only man the Democrats have elected
President since 1856, and his party
friends are uncopsiOusly but skilllui-
ly working to make the election of
another Democrat very remote.
The Republicans, of course, will be
overjoyed by the springing of this
Democratic bond issue on the cOun-
try. The issue will not come until
Congress meets in December, and
thus can not be used by the Repub-
licans in the congressional CANVASS
this ear, but it will be of great ser
vice to them in the presidential can-
vass two years hence. 1t will force
Il comparison between Democratic
and Republican financial methods
" hich discreet Democrats always de-
sire 10 shnn THUS the people will
not only be reminded that the De-
mocracy un0er Cleveland sold more
bonds in time of peace than the
Republicans have do::e i'm foreign
war, but they will learn that the con-
dition of the treasury is simmeasurably
better now than it was even after
Cleveland's immense gold borrowing
had taken place. Moreover, the peo-
pie will also learn that this financial
and incapacity is not an
isolated piece OF Democratic stupi-
dity, but that under Buchanan, the
nearest Democratic President to
Cleveland in time, the treasury of the
government, also in a period Of peace,
was permitted to be emptled, and the
credit of-the nation was allowed to
sink SO low that when borrowing be-
came necessary only small part of
the money which was wanted could
the interest equivalent to ~ per cent.
These are a few of the comparisons
to the Democrats which
Bailey's bond folly will provoke
CD.