Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-01-18


The country for years has not known
as quiet time In national politics as
now, says the Sioux City Journal. And
yet we have already entered upon the
year of national campaigR. The Re-
publican national convention has al
ready been called. 1t will meet In Phil
adelphia on the 10Th Of June. The ma
tional Democratic committee has been
called to meet in the city of Washing
ton on the 22d OF February to agree
upon the time and place for the con-
vention Of that party. We have reach
ed the period Of the year for State legis-
latures. Congress is in session. And
yet not for many years has the field of
national politics appeared so quiet 1t
must be that the business interests or
the country and the masses Of the peo-
pie are reasonably well satisfied with
the way things are. The Democratic
national convention, 1t may be taken
for granted, will not be held until after
the Republican convention. The man.
ayers of the Democratic party are not
ready to launch their campaign. Their
issues are not yet defined. They want
time to turn things over in their minds.
They are hopeful that something will
happen to relieve them from the en-
barrassment they sensibly feel now.
Whatever Mr.. Bryan or anyone else
may say, in a perfunctory sort of way,
they know that the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver at the ratio of 10 to 1,
or at any other ratio, Is not now pop
ular issue. 1t has been put in the back
ground by the restoration of good
times. The war issue Is turning to
ashes in their hands, for there is not
sufficient backbone in the rebellion
against the authority of the United
States remaining to afford stiffening to
their own spinal columns. They are
not nearly as cheerful as Micawber, but
otherwise much in his situation. Ii
nothing can come of the Philippines,
they will hope that something may
come Of the Congress. They will be
devoted students of the resolutions that
will be adopted at Philadelphia, and
they will use no small amount of sta
tionery in the preparation Of their ex-
pressions in denunciation. They will
do the best they can to alarm the coun-
try, and they will loll their tongues a
good deal in effort to put together Ian
guage Of the most exciting nature.
Their most hopeful opportunity Is in
Congress, and the country is so conf
dent Of this that pleasure would be af-
forded If Congress would do its routine
work and dispense. Congress should
learn wisdom of the country, and not
initiate itself with the notion that 1t ex-
lists for the purpose Of supplying the
country with common sense.
The country is ready for gold stand
ard bill, of which fact the Congress
has had sufficient notice. But there is
probably no other new legislation of a
general character that the country
feels the need Of. Even the isthmian
canal does not appear to be ripe. In
the last Congress a ship subsidy bill
was started. The purpose of it, as de-
clared, was to revive our dropping
merchant marine. The measure got
it's impetus In the hard times, when Ia
Dor was in distress for employment.
The situation is different now. Other
agencies, growing out of the expan-
sion Of our territory and out of the
growing need for profitable employ
ment of capital, have lately been busy
in opening up a brighter prospect to
our merchant marine. At any rate,
the country is not ready for ship sub
sidy bill, and 1t would be inexpedient
for Republicans to force through such
n measure at this session of Congress.
The fact that the Democrats would
make a hullabaloo about 1t Is not a
matter of chief consequence; the point
is that the country does not ask 1t, and
in present conditions is not likely to
believe, whatever may be urged in its
behalf, that the public welfare is the
prime motive back Of it.
A good many things can be done in
time of war, or in time of calamity,
that will not be accepted passively in
time of peace or in time of plenty.
Why, in time of calamity the Demo
cratic party scared the country out of
its boots with its proposition to go to
n silver standard for remedy; but 1T
cannot do that now. The best indorse-
ment the Republican majority in Con-
gress can have is that no strong de-
mands are coming in upon 1t to right
this and to right that. The country
has no grievance, and it is not petition
ing Congress to supply one. The Dem
ocratic party is; but it Is assumed that
the obligation Of the present Congress
does not lie in that direction.
The necessary and important things
the country will excuse Congress for
attending to with such wisdom as 1t
can bring to bear; but the country will
be impatient with Congress IL at this
time 1t goes into the field Of specula-
| ton. The demand of business just now
is for peace; for hands off Of conditions
as they are; for non-interference with
opportunity as 1t exists. The dis
auieting years from which business
| has Just escaped are freshly In mind,
and the scars of those years have not
vet been outgrown. Business Is asking
| for a chance, without any particular
| demand upon Congress except to be let
alone. If Congress wants the approval
Of the country, and prefers than other
wise to disappoint the Democratic
party managers, its opportunity is not
hidden under a bushel.
The country stubbornly refuses to