The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-24

has never had his share, is on the wane IN
spite of the usual and unnatural stimula-
ton which it has received during the last
three years. He knows that each month
of 1900 shows a larger number of failures
tl1an the corresponding month of 1899. and
that there is also a marked tendency to-
ward a decrease in the output of the fac
tories He knows also that discoveries OF
gold, famines abroad and war on three con-
tinents have not been able TO raise price
ofsfaym products as rapidly as trusts ana
combinations have raised the price Of
things which the farmer buys.
NO INCONSISTENCY.
.Our opponents have tried to make it
appear that we are inconsistent when we
desire q cneral rise in prices ana We: op-
pose an arbitrary rise IN protected manu-
facturics or trust-made goods. mere is no
conflict whatever between these two prop
ositions. If a general rise in prices occurs
because of a permanent increase in the
volume Of money, all things adjust them
selves to the new level. and II the volume
of money then increases in proportion to
the demand for money, the price level re-
mains the same and business can be done
with fairness to all. IT, however. the rise
is arbitrary and only affects part Of the
nrnducts of labor. those whose products
do not participate in tie rise suffer PC
canse the nurcha sing power OF their income
ie decreased. If a bad monetary system
draps down the price of the farmers pro-
ducts while monopolies raise the pfice OF
what he buvs. he burns the candle at pom
ends and must expect to suffer in com
harrison with those who belong 10 uie
classes more favored by legislation.
at is sometimes Urged rE pa 'iS'.'i
Populists that four years more OF isepHo-
1ican misrule would SO agsraVe economic
to make reforms easier
No one can afford to aid in making mat
+ers worse in the hope of being able
to make them better afterwards Tor IN
50 doing he assumes responsibilities
which he may not be able to remedy
No Populist however sangulne, peheVes
il possible to elect a President at TINS
time. but the Popuist party may be aole
to determine whether DeLhocra' Oh
Republican will be elected
MUST NOT BE NEUTRAL
"Mr. Chairman, the Populist Conven-
ton which your committee represents
thought it better to share With the Demo-
Gratis in the honor of securing some OF
the reforms desired by your party, than
to bear the odium Of remaining neutral
in this great crisis, or of giving open
or secret aid TO The Republican party,
which opposes all the reforms for which
the Populists contend.
.:Those who labor to improve the condi-
lions which surround their fellow-rnen
are apt to become impatient, but they
must remember that it takes time to
work out great reforms Let me illus
trate. by calling your attention to the
slow growth of public opinion in support
of a proposition to which there has been
practically no open opposition. Presi-
cent johnson, in 1868, recommended a
constitutional amendment providing for
the election of United States. Senators
by a direct vote of the people, but his
recommendation met with no response.
About twelve years later General
Weaver, then a member of Congress,
tried to secure the passage of a resolu-
ton submitting such an amendment,
but his efforts We're futile In 1892 the
resolution recommended by President
Johnson, and urged by Congressman
Weaver. finally passed the House of
Representatives, but it has rot vet reach
ed a vote in the Senate, and now, after
eight years more of public discussion,
the proposition for the first time, receiv-
ed the endorsement Of the National Con-
vention of one of the great parties.
eff the fusion forces wilma victory this
fall, we shall see this reform accomplished
before the next presidential election, and
with its accomplishment, the people will
find it easier to secure any remedial
legislation which they may desire. But
how hating has been the progress. Hol-
land has said:
. Heaven is not gained by single
bound,
We build the ladder by which we
From the lowly earth to the vaulted
.And we mount to its summit round by
round.
"And so it is with great social and
political movements
Great problems are solved slowly.
but struggling humanity marches on step
by step. co1tent that each r;ghtfall
it can pitch its tent on little higher
ground.
NEW ISSUES.
II have called attention to the issues
which brought the Democrats and Popu-
lists together and hich justifes their CO.
operation during the last four years Let
me now invite your attention to a ques-
ton which would Justify cooperation at
this time even thought we differed upon
economic questions. 1t is not our fault
that these new questions have been thrusC
into the arena of politics; it is not our
fault that the people have been called
upon to consider questions of ever-increns-
ing magnitude In 1890 the tariff oues-
ton was the principal subject of dis
cussion, and the Democratic party con-
tended that the masses were carrying
burden of unjust and unnecessary taxes.
IN 1892 the thrift question was still the
principal issue between the Democratic
and Republican parties although in the
West and South the money question was
assuming greater and greater proportions
and the Populists were contending that
our monetary system was more respon-
sble than the tariff laws for the de-
preston in agriculture and the distress
existing among the wage earners. IN 1886
the whole question of taxation became of
secondary Importance because of the in
creased boldness of those VINO opposed the
gold and silver coinage Of the Constitu-
ton. When the Republicans declared at
st. Louis that the restoration of b:metnl-
ism in this country, although desirable
was impossible without the aid of the
leading commercial nations of the old
world the Populists and Silver Republicans
joined with the Democrats IL asserting
I RI md .i,fv of 10 A ,,oo-