The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-20

we are apt to Judge and measure the
work OF this administration chiefly by
the occurrences since the outbreak Of tho
Spanish war. II is worth while for us
to recall earlier days.
Recalling the Past.
when Mr.. Mckinley became president
he took the reins OF government after
four years Of Democratic administration.
for the first time Ia more than a gen.
GRAFTON Democracy had fun sway. with
both houses of congress in party ac-
cord with the executive. No summary
OF the unmercifuI disasters Of those four
years can convey an idea OF n 1.-THE OF
the ruin they wrought.
In the four years preceding Mr CIeve-
lands administration We had paid s9G1.-
oM@0 OF the ational debt: he added
s@3a.Gno.odo 70 lts burdens. He found a
tariff act bearing the name az his sue
cessor and our president fitted 10 meet
the requirements of our necessary ex-
penditures, 20 furnish the needed pro-
lection TO our farmers and manufaC-
turers, and 10 insure The steady and re-
muDerative employment Of those who
labor Instead % permitting manufacture
ana commerce that repOse and stability
Of law which are essential for working
out economic conditions, he at once rec
commended violent and radical changes
mendations which his party in congress
proceeded partially and disaetroualy to
execute. Ths appalling result Of his pol
lions who suffered from e. In four Years
tho country witnessed Some 60 90 com
merclal failures. with liabilities aEgre-
Gating more than 500 o9a Gl1 One hun
drcd and scyenty-seven railroads. with
a mileage ~ 1900 miles. or twice the cir
Gle q The globe. and with securities
amounting 80 nearly 81 a0 00o b11 were
unable 20 meet their interest charge ri
passed iuto the hands o. receivers. More
then - national banks closed their doors
with liabilities reaching s1A0n1 ng0. wool
and ali farm products which t&rins coud
udoct loat gl9ga@a IN value. farm
mort Cages were fofeciosci hY thousands
throughout the great West. orr hrricpi-
aure u trade which haa been IN our favor
turned ruinously against "a. the ne tfGnu1
, ,r-,.. vas DEPICTED % T. sold re;
20 sFudicates 81 Tar below their market
value Before ~ since and our steadily
deciiriaE revenues we're Insufficient 20
meet Tho necessary eNuenass % conduct.
Ing the government. II capital alone haa
tuGrreta the less would have btga great
bar not irrerne9iahle Frfrrtpr1 tely those
who rely upon their dairy labor fer their
sGstcuaaca. and their families dependent
upon fhgm. constituting the great mass
= enc American people. were rade 20
Nearly r~e-tbiri - the laboTiug rsor,.ia-
f,ot. - The United States were tifrsgsf,
ogt * employment and men o. -haea-
ne highway Of the land ciamorlGg FOR
work ~ food
-Four years Of commercial misfor'u,e
measure. these changed and depfeeaed
conditions but when President NeElriNg,
was irauEurated The country was in a
stale more deplorabss tnaa lad existed
FOR a generation.
Facing these diflcuiiies the president
Immediately upon his inauguration COM
veued enngrsss r. Extra session. and in
o. message 90 force and lueldlty mmraar-
ireA the legislation essential 10 or ra-
uonei Prosperity. The Industrial alsi1ry
Of the United States for the pas, four
years is the tribpte tn The wisdom Of his
Judgment. u IS quickly epltomIEed
TIE tariff measure under which we are
now conducting business was preceded by
an unusual volume % importatiOns based
upon common knowledge that certain du-
ties were 20 he raised. the bill met the
popular demand that duties on many os
the necessaries Of life should Be lowered