Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1897 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

HANNA’S HEAVY GUNS. For people who claim to have an easy victory iu sight, the Ohio Republicans are importing fighting men to an unprecedented extent. Mark Hanna announced that President McKinley would make speeches during the campaign, but this suggestion was met by such a storm of protests from the press of the United States that Hanna was forced to withdraw it. However, judging from the list of speakers now made public, the great statesman of Ohio is not going to lack advocates iu his Senatorial interests. If there is such a thing as being talked to death, the people of the Buckeye State have grave cause for apprehension, as up to date tile following spellbinders have agreed to talk for Hanna this fall: Senator Foraker, Senator Hoar. Senator Barrows, Senator Gear, Senator Carter, Senator Gnllinger, Senator Frye, Senator Allison, Senator Cullom, Senator Ixslge, Senator Fairbanks, Senator Hawley, Senator Nelson, Senator Wolcott, Senator Wilson, Senator Thurston, Senator Spooner, Senator Wellington. Iu addition to the heavy artillery, composed of Senators, there will be a flying squadron of Representatives and all around orators, as follows: Reed. Maine, Sherman, N. Y., Brom well. Ohio, Dingley. Maine, Bingham, Pa., Babcock, Wis., Mahauy, New York, Belknap. Illinois, Cousins. lowa, Boutelle, Maine. Republicans are not going to spare expense in the Oldo campaign. Such an array of talent will cost more than a grand opera company, but Mark Hanna and the trusts know where the money is coining from. Monopoly has much at stake in the outcome of the Ohio contest, and never before in the history of the United States will have been presented such a carnival of corruption, bribery and intimidation as that which will disgrace Ohio in Mark Hanna’s Senatorial campaign.—Chicago Dispatch.

Advocates of Robbery. Will the advocates of a gold monometallic currency ever become honest enough to admit facts, or will they always persist in prevarication? . As facts are fatal to the arguments of those who demand gold and gold only, the hope that they will admit facts is not to be entertained. Any policy which forces up the value of money’ Is nothing less than stealing. When silver was demonetized and the volume of the circulating medium cut in two the people were robbed of half of all they owned, and the gold uipnometalllsts were the robbers. Since the purchasing clause of the Sherman law was repealed prices have fallen 11 per cent, and it has taken only four years to bring about this disastrous result. What does this fall in prices mean? It means that gold has increased in purchasing power and that every debt made four years ago has grown 11 per cent through the unearned increment of an appreciating currency. This is the boldest and most unblushing robbery. The “honest” money that is so loudly clamored for is dishonest money. It is just as dishonest as a short weight pound or a decreased bushel measure. There is fraud in every gold dollar; there is fraud in the demand for a “stable currency” when it is made by a gold monometallist, because gold is not a stflble measure of value; it is constantly increasing, and by this increment robs the debtor and impoverishes the hard-working and honest toilers of tlie nation. Democrats Win in Indiana. Of course, the “silver sentiment is dying out.’’ Indiana has proved that favorite Republican claim by making big Democratic gains and paralyzing all opposition in electing the late William 8. Holman’s successor. Francis Marion Griffith has been chosen to represent the Democracy of Indiana in the House of Representatives, and his selection by a largely increased Democratic vote is a great victory for the cause of silver. The Holman district was a close one, and the great personal popularity of the “great objector” gave him, on the occasion of his last election, a plurality of 300 votes. Griffith has a plurality of 1,800 votes. Republicans are astounded at the result, and can find no reasonable excuse to urge for their defeat. The “free silver sentiment has died out” iu the Holman district to the extent of multiplying the Democratic plurality six times; it is “dying out” In Ohio, lowa and Kentucky at the same rate. It will continue to “die out” until Democracy wins the conflict in 1898 and elects a Democratic President on the free silver issue in 1900.

Growth in Tension Outlays. The growth of the expenses of pensions is attracting wide attention. Onethird of the revenues of the Government now goes to pay pensions, and the number of names on the list is growing so rapidly that It is estimated that there will be a big deficit in the pension appropriation at the close of the fiscal year. It is now disclosed that jist prior to the commencement of the new fiscal year all allowances for new pensions were held up until the new year began, because there was no money to meet them.-Utica Observer. Fightin" t pirit Has Returned. Democrats need not look beyond the Fourth Indiana District for renewed courage and fresh hope. The unmistakable evidence is there of Democrat ic buoyancy and harmony which augur party unity and victory. The Democrats of the Fourth Indiana District have demonstrated that the party’s oldtime fighting spirit has returned. Now let Democrats everywhere catch step and march resolutely ou to the glories of victory that await them this year, next year and in 1960.—5 t. Louis Republic. The Price of Hanna’* Tojja. Mr. Sherman is unfit for any office of trust and responsibility whatever. Partlculn he disqualified for one which prestipposM. the possession of

unusual qualities of discretion and txt in its incumbent. The forgetfulness and the garrulity of old age have become Mr. Sherman’s dominant characteristics. More than once he has brought the nation to the verge of a diplomatic crisis by his unguarded and irresponsible prattle upon subjects of grave international importance. This is a heavy price to pay for the presence of Mark Hanna in the United States Senate.—New York Journal.

Protection and Pillage. A Chicago paper engaged in booming the Dingley tariff prosjierity idea, the monetary reform idea and all the other plutocratic and Republican party ideas, quotes the local market reports with.an accompanying flourish on its prosperity trumpet. It is not necessary to comment at length on this matter, because it speaks for itself. The gist of the article is contained in the following quotation: "A cursory examination of the market discovers that during the last week there have been advances in the following articles used in the ordinary household: Dried fruits of all sorts. Dried and salted meats. Dried and salted fish of every kind. Beans. Wheat flour. Rye flour. Hominy. Corn meal. Japan rice. All sorts of farinaceous foods. Canned tomatoes. ('aimed peas. Canned peaches. Cheese. » Pickles. Sugar. Syrups. Glucose. Jellies. Preserves Medium and low grades of tea. The declines are as follows: Lamp chimneys of certain undesirable sizes. Coffee. All that need be said is that necessities of life are advancing in price and that wages are either stationary or going down. This kind of benefit from Republican legislation will result in making the voters think seriously before they give their suffrages again to the party of protection and pillage.

Ohio Populists Bought. The hand Is that of Coxey, but the voice is that of Hanna. Ohio Populists have nominated Jacob S. Coxey for Governor with no hope of electing their candidate and with no object to be gained except that of embarrassing the Democracy and the cause of silver. Undoubtedly Mark Hanna is back of this demonstration, and positive proof of this fact was brought forth in the convention. The Rev. J. H. Taylor, a leading fusionist, claimed Major Dick, Republican State Chairman, agreed to pay the expenses of headquarters, literature, etc., for the anti-fusionist Populists at the State convention. In spite of the most direct charges of corruption and notwithstanding the fact that indisputable documentary evidence was produced, debate was choked off and the anti-fu-sionists nominated their ticket. The fight in Ohio is going to be most bitter, and the Republicans will spare no money to buy votes for the purpose of returning the king of the trusts (Mark Hanna) to the United States Senate. Forewarned is forearmed, and the Democracy will go into the contest fully aware of the kind of tactics they will have to meet.—Chicago Dispatch. Finally If Rests on the Consumer. “Prices are better,’’ which means that what cost the consumer a given figure under the Wilson tariff will cost him considerably more under the Dingley tariff. The manufacturer having competition removed by a prohibitive tariff law, will advance his prices to the broker, who in turn will advance them to the retailer. The retailer must advance prices to the consumer, who, after all, must bear the brunt of the battle.—Memphis Commercial-Appeal.

Claiming It Both Ways. One of the lowa Republican papers does not propose to be stumped on the prosperous times. The other week the cancellations of mortgages exceeded the number of new mortgages made, and it claimed that this was an evidence of prosperity. The next week the mortgages exceeded the cancellations. and the paper came out and claimed that it was positive proof of prosperity, because the farmers were Imrrowing money to make improvements.— Peoria Herald. The People and Injunction Tyranny. If federal courts can enjoin men from talking they can extend their powers and throttle the press. Then it will Im; only a step further to punish men for thinking. If this abuse of injunction continues the people—the real source of all power—will find a remedy for intolerable conditions. They respect the law, but they cannot be made to submit to tyranny, even though it is clothed in the judicial ermine.—Lafayette (Ind.) Journal. Indorsing and Condemning at Once. The Kentucky Republicans in their platform indorse the national administration and oppose the system of civil service which that administration upholds. In other words, they indorse the administration, but they oppose its administration.—Louisville CourierJournal. Coxey Wants His Share. The evidences point to the fact that “General" Coxey is trying to recoup by getting in his graft on the residue of that national Republican campaign fund which Mr. Hanna clings to with a tenacity that is characteristic.—Omaha World-Herald. Grand Duke Paul of Russia is so tall that no hotel bed is long enough for his comfort, and he has one built in sections, which he carries with his luggage everywhere. The bed is put up by a special mechanic, under the superintendeney of the royal valet, wherever the Grand Duke goes.