Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-08-21
THURSDAY, AUGUST 81 1902.
ALWAYS FOR A CHANGE.


The Democratic party Is never satisfied
with existing business conditions. 1t is
the same whether we are in a state of
disaster as a result of unwise Democratic
legislation, or whether We are prospecting
from the operation of a judicious economic
policy inaugurated by the Republican
party Only ten years ago the Democracy
hoodwinked the people and made them
believe the country was going to the dogs,
though it was then enjoying period of
prosperity that was among the highest IN
our history as a nation. The supreme folly
of placing every department of our gov
eminent in the hands of the Democracy
was committed We all know what fol-
lowed. Will the terrible condition of de-
spair that prevailed in every section be
forgotten in the brief period of six years ?
We all remember how the Democracy
in 1896 tried to divert the attention of the
masses from the fact that the calamitous
condition had been brought upon the
country by Democratic tariff; and how
it sought to fasten the responsibility upon
the Republicans by attributing that condi'
ton to the fnanancial policy of the Repub-
lican party. They appealed to the farmer
and told him that the price for his pro
ducts had been reduced to less than the
cost of production, and that this had been
brought about by giving the gold dollar
too much value. There was a prolonged
Democratic wall over tile condition of the
"poor farmer" who could find no market
for the products of his toll or vas COM
PEELED to sell at ruinous price. He was
told that if the gold standard was firmly
established the situation would become
more serious, and that the only way to
cure the evil was to accept the Democratic
prescription for the free and unlimited
coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen
to one.
The Democrats in 1896 also expressed
great sympathy for the workiugman.
More than million strong men were I'M
able to secure jobs and were tramping
through the country begging for work.
They were in pitiful fix, and were told
that the Republican policy was the cause.
Although the farmers had bread and meat
going to waste the w0l A,ngmen could not
buy, even at the low prices that the Dem
ocrats were bowling about. The calamity
howlers appealed to both the farmer and
the workingman for support, but the suf-
fsrers had the good sense to not listen to
the appeals. The Republican party won,
the gold standard was fully established,
the Democracy has aband ned its position
on the money question, 1.-The farmers are
getting better prices and are more pros
porous than they have ever been, a Re-
publican protective tariff has again been
enacted and put in operation, and the
workingman has found constant and profit
able employment. The conditions Of 1896
have been completely wiped out and a
happy era usbered in But the Democratic |
calamity bowler is still alive. He has
changed the nature of his appeals, how
ever. We find him no longer trying to
work upon the prejudices of the farmer
by calling attention to his unhappy condi
ton. The bowler recognizes that such an
effort would make him too ridiculous. So
he turns to the workingman, the con-
sumers, and is trying to dissatisfy them
by claiming that bread and meat are too
high, that the good, living price the
farmers are receiving for their products is
an unjust burden on the laborer aud con-
sumner. Thus do we find the Democracy
occupying position toward the agrlcul'
tural interests that is thoroughly inconsist'
ent with that it held in 1896.
1t is strange that so many farmers will
continue to give their support to party
that shifts its position to suit the occasion
and that shows so little sincerity in its
treatment of the agricultural interests of
the country.
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