The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-06

stilled into the mind of their audiences
of farmers and workingmen.
1.-The democratic party stands for
low tariff duties the campaign orator
has Numbered a countless number of
times from the stump. What is the
effect of the low tariff duties? Let us
see. We may examine the effect Of
the democratic Wilson bill for an ex-
ample. What was that effect? Why
Mr. Voter, it plunged the country into
one of the worst panics of all Ameri-
can history. You all remember 1.-THE
great panic of the nineties!"
This stock republican speech, al
though groundless and disproved, had
it's effect on the mind of the timid vot-
er. Thousands upon thousands of men,
according to campaign managers on
both sides voted for the party offering
high protection because they feared
another panic of the character of the
one following 1898.
While this argument made good when
delivered from the stump, it was not
played up in congress to any extent.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota,
however. thought he detected an open
ing for the old "bugaboo" in the course
of the days discussion of the tariff
bill lie reiterated the intimation of
the stump speaker that the panic of
Is years ago was caused by the Wilson
bill
The North Dakota senator reached
the point where he appeared to have
made good his logic when overhauled
by Senator Gore.
MANY times l nave heard that view
expounded from theistump," began the
blind senator, but / have heard little
of it in the senate.
Il hardly expected, however to hear
that argument from the usually candid
senator from North Dakota. Now, sir
he ascribes the distress and adversely
of the early ninetiea 70 the Wilson Cor
man bill, | have never been disposed
to deny that the republican party was
able to work miracles. l am willing to
admit that it can repeal the law of
supply and demand, nay, more, sir;
that it can reverse the fundamental
canons of logic and can make the eff
feet precede the cause. Now when did
the Wilson tariff bill become a law?
On the 2Sth of August 1894. When did
the panic occur? On the 18th of May,
1898.
THE panic of 1893 was not local to
the United States. 1t affected all the
commercial nations of the earth at
practically the same time and varying
degrees. 1t is not so strange that a
democratic measure passed in August.
1894, should nave precipitated a panic
in the United States May, 1898; but
it is passing strange that a democratic
measure passed in August, 1894, should
have precipitated a panic in Australia
in January, 1898. One year and eight
months before the enactment of the
law in this country the first climax
occurred in the distant commonwealth
of Australia. 1t mad been gathering
force and strength for two ~er~three
years preceding.
NH. President, we had a stringency
in 1890 under which many millions Of
house certificates were issued,
and during the presidency of President
Harrison.
1.-The coil was gradually tightening.
1t eXpla ms why, in 1890, the dominant
party returned only SO members to the
lower house in the congressional cleo
ton. The coil was gradually tighten
ing, which explains why in 1892, such
StalWart republican states as WiScOn-
sin and Illinois were swept into the
democratic column. Plates were pre-
pared for the issuance of bonds, about
which we have heard so much elo-
quence from. the other side of the
chamber during the pres: dency of Mr..
Harrison, he was prevailed upon by
his friends not to make the issue When
Harrison came into office, succeeding
Cleveland, ne found a surplus of some
thing like $100,000,000. When, four
years later, Harrison turned over the
administration to Cleveland, we had
an empty treasury.
THE crisis had already commenced.
The stringency was felt not only here,
but in all the commercial nations of
the earth. We shared in that depres-
sion, and it was in no measure attribut-
able to the Wilson bill, which was en-
acted some year and a half later.
Il had almost said that outside of the
stump speakers nobody except the SEN
ator from West Virginia (Mr. Scott)
and the senator from North Dakota
would ascribe the stringency to the
enactment of the Wilson
bill. That is the sophism with which
they have enlightened the people of
this country during the years gone by"