The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1910-11-19
Hs Democratic Landslide
Recalls 1894 Election
By Frederic J. Haskin

The Democratic party assumed com.
,,s,s mower in every branch Of the Fed.
.,.l Government on March 4. 1898. for
ina first time since the disruption Of the
Union by sectional war. For prac-
,;.allv 20 wears neither party had been
!, complete control, with the exception
a the first two years Of the Harrison
administration, and then that control
/ vss so used or abused as to provoke a
rstional revolt which turned the Re-
4 nublicans out and the Democrats in.
The paign Of 1892 had been fought
op the tariff issue, and the country be-
lieyed and the Democrats admitted that
they came into office pledged to effect
sweeping reductions in the prevailing
rates of duties imposed by the Mckinley
act. There was. as there always has
been and probably always will be,
protectionist element in the Democratic
marty which had resolved not to permit
any too radical revision Of the protec.
ZIONIST system. But, as yet, this element
had not made itself known to the public.
When Mr.. Cleveland took the oath of
office for the second time he found the
couutry In most serious condition. OF
the currency. gold was going out of
the country rapidly, aud the gold re-
serve Of the treasury was threatened by
Al. d.atu n.uaad he tho uaraaaifv
Of maintaiug the parity of silver. aud
because Of the legal requirement for the
immediate reissue of redeemed green
backs. The outgoing administration
had feared that it would be necessary TO
issue bonds to recoup the gold reserve
Of the treasury. Preparations had pro-
ceeded SO far that plates for printing
the bonds were made. The Harrison
administration managed by one way and
another to postpone the evil day. The
Cleveland administration had to face
the situation. Bonds were issued. The
credit Of the Government was main
tanned. Men differed then, and they do
now, as to the wisdom of Mr.. Cleve-
lands methods of selling these bonds,
bot every body admits the necessity for
their issuance.
Cleveland Elected on Lou Tariff
Mr.. Cleveland was elected as a low
tariff Democrat. lie knew his party
uaa d;vidad l., aanfipaut nm tha rnnuav
question. His party knew that he was
an advocate of the gold standard. yet
the free silver Democrats believed that
he would be bound by the compact OF
the party platform. that be would make
the revision Of the tariff the chief work
OF bis administration, that he would
permit the compromises on the money
question to be extended for another
four years, and that he would not OF
his own motion deliberately embroiI
the country and the party by tax.
ing positive position on the
money question in opposition to
the majority of his own party. 1t Is
probable that IL the condition OF the
country had not been so serious MIR.
Cleveland would not have taken such
such summary action. But when the
time came and he was convinced that
action was necessary, hc was faithful
to his own convictions and he utterly
disregarded every consideration oi
party unity aud interest.
He called an extraordinary session Of
Congress for the specific purpose OF re-
pealing the purchasing clause Of the
Sherman silver compromise. the last
effort made to patch up the differences
between the silver and gold advocates.
The great panic OF 1893 had burst upon
the country, banks were breaking.
factories were closing. mortgages were
being foreclosed, men were out OF work,
women and children were starving. and
all the people demanded that something
must be done. Everybo agreed that
the financial system needed revision.
approximately half of the people said
"coin more silver" The other half
were equally certain that the thing to
do was to stop coming even the silver
that was being coined. Mr.. Cleveland.
who came into Office in March, was
very. very slow indeed in the business
oil turning the rascals out" The
Democratic "patriots" were hungry
Tor pie. but the President was unwill-
Ing to part with his greatest power un-
I'll he had achieved the work he had
In mind. The special session of Con-
gress met ON August z.
Decided on Money Question
Both parties were divided on the
money question. The division was on
sectional rather than partisan lines
tne West for the most part supporting
the free silver propaganda. aud the Est
inclining to favor the gold standard.
The great majority of memb bers of Con-
sress from all sections of the country
l..