Milford chronicle., 1932-08-19
IN PERmOUS TInIES-CAUTION

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It is rather strange that it should
be so, and yet all our history DEM
ohstrates that in periods of deep ad-
versity, when public and private
debts harass the people, when bus
mess is dull, when unemployment is
widespread, it is the party and the
program of conservatism that ap-
peals most strongly to the voters.
1t would seem as if the natural
trend under such circumstances
would be toward radicalism. 1t
would seem as if the more revolu-
tionary the program presented by a
political party, the greater its pop
ular appeal would be. 1--WE have
tried the old system" the people
might be regarded as saying, land
it has brought us nothing but dis
tress. Now let us face squarely
about and go in the other direction.
Things certainly can't get any
worse and there is a chance they
may get better" That would seem to
be the natural line of argument in
times of economic stress and strain.
But our history does not bear out
this assumption.
Times were terribly hard in the
seventies, following the initiation
period of the Civil War. Money was
scarce, unemployment was wide
spread, business was at standstill.
1t seemed to the superficial obserV-
er as if the situation were made to
order for the radical. And so a po-
litieal party arose which offered an
unlimited issue of greenbacks, "easy
money" which, the people. were told,
would advance prices, restore en-
ployment, stimulate business. The
people listened to the alluring
promises, they heard the specious
arguments, and when election day
came they voted for the Republican
party which had painted no enticing
pictures, had offered no magic for
mula, which had told them only that
if kept in power it would resume
specie payments, maintain the gold
standard, stand by the principles of
sound government laid down in the
Constitution.
Times were hard again in the
Nineties, terribly hard, and again
the radical thought he saw his op-
portunity. Not greenbacks this time, |
but Free Silver" was the battle
cry, "easy money" bringing better
prices, affording everybody employ |
ment. Again the people listened and |
weighed, and again they voted for
the Republican party on the most
conservative platform it had ever .
written. The sure instinct of the
people warned them against enter
ing upon unknown paths, against
setting sail upon an uncharted sea.
And so in the present period of
economic distress the trend of pub
lie sentiment is obviously away
from radicalism. That was demon
Strated in the primaries that preced-
ed the national conventions. 1t was
demonstrated notably in Wisconsin
and Iowa and Pennsylvania. For the
first time in twenty-eight years
there was not radical delegation
in the Republican convention from
any state. The people turned grimly
away from the "sure cure" doctors,
VII LllS III Z oAol III VI dIOIS u6luduu-
ng that they abOut-face and march
N the other direction, from the rev.
who shouted that every
hing that is, is wrong.
And that is what they are going to
10 at the coming election. They will
scan the measures that were intro
luced in the last session of Con-
gress and that were approved by the
nen who will control the govern
nent if the Democratic party is
placed in power measures that ,
would fasten the dole upon Ameri-
"a, that would debase our currency,
hat would add enormously to our
debt, that would
Inevitably increase taxes with no
benefit-and they
will tur nagain to the party that al
Ways keeps it's feet on the ground,
hat does not promise more than it
an perform, that steers q steady
Ourse whether the weather be foul
II fair.