Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1897 — ADDRESS TO DIMOCRA.S! [ARTICLE]

ADDRESS TO DIMOCRA.S!

Issued by Chairman Martin. A little more than a year ago. the most remarks ole presiden tial campaign in history of the United States terminated in the success of the republican candidaies This was the first presidential campaign in a great many years in whic h the issu es were squarely join d between the consolidated money power of the country and of the people. On the one hand were the enormous and practically inexhaustible resources of the moneyed interests of the United States and Europe,embracing the nation - al banks, whose power had been built up by federal legis lation, the great manufactur era, who had become strong and rich under more than three decades of extreme protection, the railway and other corporations, the various monopolies, trusts and combines of capital which had been built upby a long course of govern* mental favoritism and class legislation, the bondholders and moneylenders of two continents, the army of spec* ulators, jobbers and schemers of high and low degree who are interested in restoring a policy of lavish appropriation, and reckless expenditures,and all those who had reaped pro* tits or hoped to do so through the prostitution of the func* tions of government to their service. From these sources a corruption fund was gathered of such magnitude that, altho' a golden stream was poured into every debatable state and congressional district in the United States during the cam* paign,an enormous unexpend* ed balance remained in the hands of the republican na* tional committee after the election. Venal Newspapers. This gigantic combination of wealth and power was able to enlist m its service pvery venal newspaper in the Unit* ed States, whatever its past political professions; every orator who was willing to sell his eloquence to monopoly for a price; ev iry huckstering politician: every expert in election fraud; every traiued manipulator of boodle throughout the republic. Against this sinis*, ter combination the historic democratic party went to the country with a candidate for the presidency whose purity of character, breadth of patri* otisDL power of eloquence and devotion to the interests of the people marked him as their natu al leader in a contest with the hosts of monopoly, ami with a decjaratipn of the

The democratic party relied solely upon the merit ot their standaranbearer and the justice of its cause. It fought the campaign through with an empty treasury and a crippled press and with many of its state and local organizations honeycombed with treachery, A more heroic political battle against overwhelming odds has never been waged in this or any other country and the six million and a half of the popular votes, an th 176 elect* oral votes expressed a great moral victory, the magnitude of whieh is becoming more apparent every dav. The principles for which the democratic party contended in were then strong enougti to have carried the countrj overwhelmingly if the agencies of coercion and corruption could have been fliminated from.the con test These principles have been gro’ing stronger day by day and there is no question that they are accepted nowjby a great majority of the American people. Th republican party returned to power last March under pledges to re-establish the equilib* rium between national revenu and expenditure, to devise a safe and stable monetary system, and to restore prosperity to the masses of the people. Neither of these pledges lias been kept. The Tariff Measure. The first important official act of McKinley was to convene con ress in extraordinary session foi the purpose of enacting a tariff law, the ostensible objects of [which were to produce a revival of business th roughout tne country and to provide sufficient revenue to carry on the government, but whose real purpose was to enable the trusts to reimburse themsdvi s for their contributions to the corruption fund of by legalized spoliation of tlm people. T his iniquitous law is accomplishing its real purpose. The sugar trust, the beef trust, and all the other great combinations which were allowed to dictate its terms are already realizing enormous profits from its operation In ordfir to swell the ill-gotten gains oi these predatory combinations. 1 he public revenues have been sacrificed and the cost of living has been increased to the people. The public debt statement issued Dec. 1 shows that the excess of expenditures over receipts during the fiist five months of the present fiscal yes r was $46,101,494,an average of over $9,000,000 per month or at the rate of about •s>lJ 0,000,000 per year. This appalling deficit measures the complete failure of the Dinglcy law as a revenue producer and will compel congress at an early date either to authorize another bond issue or to levy additional taxes or to reduce expenditures. Republican administrations never reduce expenditures. So that after nine months of republican rule the country finds itself face to face with new taxes or another issue oi bonds, or both. There lias been u o marked increase in the numbei of woridngmeii employed, and no general ,d----vance of wages to compensate for the augmented cost of living, and the Dingley bill already stands condemned before the country as the most flagrant and oppressive abuse of the taxing power of the government which has ever been perpetrated. Commission's Failure. The failure of the commission sent to Europe by President McKinley to secure an agreement with England, Germany ard Fiance for international bimetallism forces th republican party to grapple with the greatest problem which has eyer confronted it. One of three policies must be adopted: [l] The single gold standard must be definitely established, or [2] bimetallism at the old ratio must be restored by independent nationa action, or [3] the present illogical, chaotic, dangerous and utterly inadequate currency system must be perpetuated. The adoption of the first alternative involving the change ofall the outstanding int rest bearing securities of the government from coin to goldobligations, the virtual retirement of the greenbacks an d treasury notes and the concession of practically absolute control of the circulating medium to itye national bahks is urged upon congress by the administration. Th# .execution of this program would be a colo-sal prime against the Deople,and while it would rivet the chaiu of financial slavery upon them and enormously swell the tribute they art now compelled to pay to tin money power, it would caust such a wave of popular iudigQ (Concluded cn First Page.) * *