The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-09
THE DEMOCRATIC BLUNlEH OF
fEHg

The Louisville Courcr-Journals Wash
ineton correspondent. in q recent letter
/ 10 that paper. remarked that Cleveland $
second administration might have been
a brilliant success but Tor his aversion
I to the presence ia Washington OF Con-
cress. His famous remark about having
! Congress on his hands" is well remem-
hered. The correspondent then goes on to
say that bad Mr. Cleveland convened an
extra session of Congress Immediately
upon his Inauguration in March, 1898, and
sent in q ringing message ON the taria'
and stood firm for sure-enoush Demo
cratic tan0-for-revenue-only, then he
would have got what he demanded.
Moreover that hc could have forced the
repeal OF the purchase clause Of the
sherman law and the silver crusade
would have died then and there.
DE could have done more than that.
lie could have secured the repeal Of the
Do per cent. tax on The currency of state
banks of issue, which the platform Of
1872 called for Ii was undoubtedly a
great Omndcr on Mr. Cleyeland's part
not TO have convened Congress in extra
session at the time indicated il win be
recalled that during that memorable cam
paign every Democrat in the State OF
Virginia who could make any sort Of
political talk was called upon TO go out
among his people and preach tariff re-
form. The people We're told that they
were being robbed every day of their
lives by the Mckinley tariff, and there
never was. perhaps such a campaign
OF edcuatiou. The whole tariff scheme
and IT'S schedules were merciessly ex-
posed and all sorts of object lessons !
Were brought 70 bear 20 show the peo-
pie what enormous taxes they were pay |
ins under that tann law. The resul, |
was that the voters in Virginia were |
aroused as they never had been before |
on any economic question, and Mr.. |
Cleveland received a splendid majority
But after he was inaugurated after |
the Democrats got into power then they |
began to sing a very different tune. The
people had been told. We repeat. that they !
were being robbed every day of their /
lives and that the longer this tariff con-
tinued the poorer they would get, yet /
when the people had put the party nomi-
nees In a position 20 catch the robbers !
and hold them I'm check. they we're told. |
by the acts of the administration, II not !
In 80 many words. that it was time
enough to stop the robbery when Con-
gress should convene in regular session.
The people could not but conclude either
that they had been deceived. that the
robbery was not so bad as it had been
represented to be or that the man whom
they had put IN power was most indif-
ierent TO their best interests.
Again u great deal was said. in some
parts OF Virginia At least about this
TO per cent tax on State bank issues. and
It was promised that with the repeal OF
that tax. as promised in the platform.
there would be an abundance OF cur
rency. and no longer any ground for com
plant against scarcity Of money through
out he rural districts Many Democrats
pinned ,helr faith to that plank in the
platform. and II was a most potent agency
in the election OF the Democratic ticket.
Yet when the Democratic party came into
power that plank in the platform was
ignored and never an attempt
made to pass a repeal bin
Il Was these two plumbers, the failure
3f Mr. Cleveland on The one hand TO
yrasp the situation and deal with tina
arm ana other urgent questions as
promptly as they deserved. and tho sub