The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-12
Democrats Are Responsible.


Several Democratic newspapers are
attempting to break the force of the
many illusions to the condition Of
things which existed during the Cleve-
land administration by repudiating Mr..
Cleveland. They seem to think 1t suffi-
cient to absolve the Democratic party
from responsibility II they constantly
assert that Cleveland is not Demo-
crat. He did not support Bryan"
Even II the Democrats are thus per-
mitted to slough of cooily all RESPONSE
bility for the actions OF an administra-
ton nominated and elected to Office by
Democratic votes. 1t in no sense abb
solves the party from responsibility for
having created the conditions which
prevailed during the administration OF
Cleveland. As matter OF fact, little
real responsibility for those conditions
rests directly upon the shoulders of
Mr.. Cleveland or his advisers. II was
congressional action which he de-
nounced. and congressional policies
which he repudiated, that brought
about the so-cailed cleveland panic"
with its long train OF disaster and dis
tress. In repudiating Cleveland. the
Democrats OF today simply repudiate
the one man In their party who at
tempted to stem the torrent OF disaster
which he clearly perceived was threat
ening the country as result of the
legislation and the attitude OF the
Democratic party. His weakness was
that he believed the disaster was
due solely TO single Democratic poll
Icy. while in fact II was precipitated by
tangible Democratic legislation as much
as by the Democratic legislation which
was simply threatened The Wilson
tariff law was as much responsible for
the hard times as the Democratic threat
OF free silver. Yet for neither was
Cleveland directly responsible.
The Democratic party as a party. and
largely under the same leadership as
today, is solely responsible for the ire
mendous business reverses which swept
over the country as a direct result of
| Democratic policies. The Wilson bill
was heartily supported by Mfr. Bryan.
The provisions for free wool. free ium-
Der and free coal. which brought dis
aster TO the state OF Washington and
resulted In thousands Of cur citizens
falling into absolute destitution. we're
the particular provisions which received
his heartiest and most unqualified In
| dorsement In his speeches In congress
on the tariff question, and ne has re-
Gently announced that he has seen no
reason 10 change his views on these
! particular matters
| The Wilson bill closed the factories IN
this country and opened those IN Eng
! land Its passage was the occasion OF
pabio rejoicing in the English factory
towns. The threat 81 frye silver de-
4 stroyed confidence and sent money into
hiding. The failure ef the Wilson bnl
/ 20 provide sufficient revenue Tor the ex-
/ penses u the government. in connection
with the endless chain" resulted In
the addition Of $500. 0oo. 600 to the bonded
Indebtedness Of the government In n
( time of profound peace. The Wilson
I bin and the threat u free silver to-
gether caused the most widespread suf-
ferlng and distress whSh the American
| people ever witnessed MI Cleveland
was Responsible fer neither. Mr.. Bryan
was hearty supporter % both.
No reputation Of Mr.. Cleveland can
/ remove from the Democratic party the
| reproach Of having been directly re-
sponsible for the hard times. II the
American people believe otherwise, they
cap elect Mr.. Bryan, have the object