Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-10-30
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
PROPHECIES.

Mi. Bryan's advent and anticipa-
tion in the political discussion of the
campaign is giving as much aid to the
Republicans as was the case in 1896
and 1900, He says, for instance, that
while he retracts nothing on the silver
issue, vet he is willing to lay it aside,
as for The time being the question is
not living one-but, as he puts it. is
sleeping. He tells US that our great
prosperity, that our increase in money,
due to the increased production of
gold, is an accident He has not the
courage he is credited with; if he had,
he would acknowledge his errors and
admit that his predictions of ten years
ago were wrong. At that time there
was cry all over the land for a res
toration of good times. Mr.. Bryan and
MS followers said free silver would
bring it; Mr.. Mckinley and his fol
lowers said a gold standard and pro
lection would bring it. Let us quote
what Mr.. Bailey, the then Democratic
leader of the house of representa-
tives, said:
Mr.. Speaker, there is just one ques-
ton in the minds Of hte American peo-
pie and that one question is prosperity.
The party that brings prosperity can
have vote of confidence. The party
that fails to bring prosperity is GER
tain to encounter a vote of want of
confidence. That is the supreme issue
prosperity. If you bring it, the coun-
try will credit you for your good SER
wee. III you fail to bring it the coun.
try will dismiss you from its service.
Ii you demonstrate, as demonstrate you
VIII, that high protective tariff I'M
der the gold standard will not bring
prosperity, ! will stake my political
fortune on the proposition that the
American people will then vote to re-
store blmetallism as the only means
OF restoring prosperity to this coun-
try.
That was just before the Dingley
law was passed. Well did Congressman
Lands bring out this important point
IN his speech. of May 23 last.
Said he: Il call the attention of gen
uemen on the other side of the house
TO those words of their leader, Mr.
Bailey, and to the issue, prosperity
Your leader challenged us on the is-
sue of prosperity. We accept the chai
lenge, and now we come back to you
with the signs displayed in the sky all
I over this broad land, all kinds of work
for all kinds Of men," applause on
ct oA
forget, Mr.. Chairman, the day the
Dingley law was passed. That was a
dramatic occasion. On that day two
men matched prophecies-your leader
and ours. Your leader was Mr. Bailey,
of Texas; our leader was Mr.. Dingley,
of Maine. This is what Mr.. Bailey
said:
You must put your principles to a
practical test. If you are right your
task is an easy one; if you are wrong,
it is an impossible one. AS for my
part, l was never more confident of
any event in the future than am that
your bill will disappoint its promot-
ers and the people. You promised to
make the times better for all the
people, and you must redeem that
promise or be driven from the high
places which you occupy. Four years
OF the taxation proposed in this bill
will prove severe strain upon the
energies Of our people and the re
resources of our country; but If they
demonstrate, as l believe they will,
the vicious error of the protective
system, the lesson, though costly, viii
be worth its price.
That was the prophecy Of Mr.. Bail
ey, your leader. When he made that
prophecy he was magnificiently au-
dacious; when he made that proph-
ecy he was bold; when he made that
prophecy he was dramatic. He was
always splendid in his presence on
this floor. applause on the Demo.
cratlc side.) Modestly Mr.. Dingley
made his prophecy. This is what he
said:
There is not, from one end of this
Dill 10 the other. any duty which, so
far as shown by the evidence before
the committee, exceeds the difference
in the cost of production and the dis.
tributiOn in this country and abroad
arising mainly from our higher wages