The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-10-31
NO EXCUSE THIS TIME.
The Past shows That Democratic Sue
cess and National Disaster Are In
sepsrabIe.

For those who voted into power q
Democratic low tarin administration
twenty years ago there was the excuse
that they had no lesson OF experience
TO warn them from their course. More
than thirty years had passed since the
enactment of protective tariff. indus
tries were tiourishing. wages rising aud
the treasury had a considerable sur.
plus. There was a feeling that Cleve
land had not been accorded a fair op.
portunlty to prove that "A tnriff for
revenue only" would benefit the coun
try. aud while the issue was still In
struggle. amounting to local war. to
lnfiame the public mind aud evoke a
demand for some action on the part
OF the national government TO curb the
power OF large corporations. The Sher-
man law. enacted by the Republican
congress and signed by President IIar
rlson July .. 1890. was In force. but
Its powers had not been invoked. and
Its scope had not been determined by
the highest judicial authority. Mr.
| Cleveland's supporters argued that rad
lcal reduction Of the tariff would re-
strain corporate greed and prove a cure.
all for economic evils. Mr.. Cleveland
himself took substantially this ground
In his inaugural address.
/ The facts OF history are that the
tariff was reduced to n revenue basis.
the Sherman law remained dormant.
capital shrank from Investment. facto-
ries were closed or ran on short time.
business iangulshed because very few
had money to buy. prices went down
for the same reason, the farmer could
not sell his produce. and hundreds OF
thousands OF unemployed workers had
TO live on the savings of former pros
perity or. II they had no savings. on
charity. large number OF the un'
employed. formed what was known as
"Coxeys army" and marched on
Washington to demand relief.
Such were the conditions under the
last Democratic administration. and
the people waited longlngly and re-
pentingly for that four years to pass.
Knowing that modified free trade had
proved a failure. the Democrats offer.
ed free silver as their next panacea.
but the people would have none OF Il.
and when 1896 came Republican rule
and Republican policies we're voted In
with a whoop.
Fifteen years have passed since
protective tariif was restored in 1897.
Cnder Pres dent Taft the nation has
achieved ut OF prosperity far ex.
ceeding an past. Every legiti-
mate indu active. wages are
higher tina before. and the saw.
lngs banks rm with thousands OF
millions of dollars OF the wage earn
ers' money The sherman act has been
and is being enforced against every
violator. and important legislation has
been enacted for the greater protection
OF employees Of public service corpora
tons within the jurisdiction Of federal
authority.
With the lesson OF the last Demo
cratic administration before the PEG.
pie step backward In the same d.
rection would have no sensible excuse
When disaster followed In the wake Of
second election the plea OF
ignorance could be offered for the false
step that had invited the lean four
years OF misfortune. A similar plea
could not be offered In the future.
should n majority decide to make the
rial OF another Democratic admins
ration In view of past experience
,uch a change would not be from n
to an uncertainty: II would
De from a certainty OF prosperity. In |
iustrial activity and good times gen. !
,rally to certainty Of depression. In. |
iustrial paralysis. general reaction and /
,rivation Il told you sou could point I
With accusing and nnerring finger TO 4
he costly and painful lesson OF 1893. I
Y whose moral had been set at naught
nd those who had brought about the
10 palliation for their folly.
Happily all signs point to contin.
lance Of the present fortunate condi-
ions under the guidance OF President
Taft. whose sound. sane and Impair
ial administration of affairs has made
hese conditions possible. The Amer
can people are not going TO make a
hange simply for the sake OF change.
rom every part Of the country comes
ssurance that the Republican party
, gaining In renewed strength every
ay and will go to the polls In No
ember TO roll mp a substantial ma.
ority for Taft prosperity and progress.
I'VE depoupce the profiipate waste