The Detroit times., 1910-11-09

I6NOll y w.
cans out and the Democrats In. Inc
campaign OF 1892 had been fought on
the tariff issue, and the country De-
lieved and the Democrats admitted
that they came into office pledged 10
effect sweeping reductions In the pre-
vailing rates OF duties imposed Dy
the Mckinley Act. There was, as
there always has been and probably
always will be, a protecuonlst ele-
ment in the Democratic party whlch
had resolved not TO permit any TOO
radical revision OF the protecuonlst
system But, as yet this element mad
not made itself known to the pubic.
When Mr.. Cleveland took the oatn
OF once for the second time he touno
the country in most serious conol'
ton. There was an unprecedented
stringency OF the currency. gold was
going out Of the country rapidly, ana
the gold reserve OF the treasury was
threatened by the daily drain caused
by the necessity OF maintaining the
parity OF silver, and because OF the
| legal requirement for the immeolate
reissue of redeemed greenbacks. Inc
outgoing administration had reared
that II would be necessary to issue
bonds to recoup the gold reserve Oh
the treasury. Preparations had pro
ceeded so far that plates Tor pruning
the bonds were made. The Harrison
administration managed by one way
and another TO postpone the evil uAy'
The Cleveland administrator hau W
face the situation. Bonds were rs
sued. The credit Of the government
was maintained. Men dinered tnen'
and they do now, as to the WISDOM
OF Mr.. Cleveland's methods OF seiilns
these bonds, but for their Issuance.
Mr.. Cleveland was elected as 10"
tariff Democrat. He knew MS party
was divided in sentiment on the
money question. His party knew tnat
he was an advocate OF the gold sian
dard. yet the free silver Democrats
believed that he would be bound Dy
the compact Of the party PLATFORM.
that he would make the revision OF
the tariff the chief work OF MS al
ministration, that he would permit
the compromises on the money cues
ton to be extended for another Tour
years, and that he would not OF MS
own motion deliberately emorol the
country and the party by taxing
position on the money question IN
opposition TO the majority OF MS own
party. Il IL probable that II the con-
dition OF the country had not oeen so
serious Mr.. Cleveland would not have
taken such summary action. But
when the time came and he was con
vInced that action was necessary, ne
was faithful to his own convictions
and he utterly disregarded every con-
sideration of party unity and interest
He called an extraordinar, session
Of congress for the specific purpose
OF repeating the purchasing clause OF
the sherman Silver compromise, the
last effort made to patch up the ali
ferences between the silver ana golu
advocates. The great panic or 1893
had burst upon the country, banks
were breaking, factories were clos
ing. mortgages were being foreclos-
ed. men were out OF work, women and
children were starving, and all the
people demanded that something
must be done. Everybody agreed
that the financial system needed re-
vision. 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 ONCE
I'm March, was very, very slow indeed
I'm the business OF turning the ras-
calls out" The Democratic patriots"
were hungry for pie, but the presi-
dent was unwilling to part with his
greatest power until he had achieved
the work he had in mind. The spe-
cial session of congress met on
Aug. 2.
Both parties were divided on the
money question. The division was
on sectional rather than partisan
lines-the West for the most part,
supporting the free silver pfopagan-
da, and the East inclining to favor
the gold standard. The great major
ity OF members OF congress from all
sections of the country were unwill-
ing to commit themselves further
than to avow a firm faith In a more
or less hazy doctrine Of bimetalllsm.
Chief among the gold standard men
were such Democrats as Speaker
Crisp and Representative Wilson Of
West Virginia. while prominent
among the silverites and bimetallists
were William Mckinley and Joseph
Cannon
| The presidents message was re-
ceived by congress with mixed feel
ings. The Democrats, even the gold
Democrats, were resentful OF this act
which threatened irreparable party
disruption. As soon as the clerk
of the senate completed reading the
special message, Senator Hale, the
Republican leader, supported by Sen
ator Lodge, rushed to the front as ad-
yocates OF the presidents policy. Sen
ator German, the Democratic and ad-
ministration leader, chided them for
their zeal, but It was apparent from
! the FIRST that the great victory which
| the Democrats had gained In 1890
and in 1892 was but dead sea fruit.
Mr.. Cleveland's special message OF
August, 1898, cut the Democratic par
~ in twain and II has not since been
reunited.
The bill for the repeal OF the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman Act
was passed by the house by vote
of GAO to 10. The Democrats gave
139 and the Republicans 101 OF the
| q flrmative votes. In the negative
there we're 76 Democrats, % Repub-
licans and IL Popullsts. The MAJOR
| ity OF the Democrats who voted for
the repeal did II against their Will.
They were under the compulsion of
] the Dig stick" In the white house and