Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1900 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

GOVERNMENT RANKING. It has been an expressed desire on the part of the Republican party to “take the government out of the banking business,” but what would Wall street do without the aid of the Secretary of the Treasury to “ease” things? Not long ago the Secretary advanced $25,000,000 of interest to help the Wall street gamblers over a bad piece of road and now it is alleged that he will come to the aid of the street with a bond purchase of $25,000,000 and deposits of government money in national banks to the amount of $50,000,000. If this government were out of the banking business what would poor Wall street do? In viewing this phase of government financiering, the New York Journal says: “The Treasury Department believes that by increasing government deposits in the banks, and permitting the banks to use the money as they may see fit, much of the present trouble will be obviated. In other words, it is the idea of Secretary Gage (himself an experienced banker and financially interested in a bank which has business relations with the Rockefellers) that by giving the banks control of enough money to ease the market the financial ‘situation’ will be all that can be asked. But if the banks may use government money to ease the market, may they not handle the same money to tighten it at pleasure? Will not the rule work both ways, or are we to trust the bankers for its honestoperation? Under the financial scheme carried out by the government will not a banking trust l>e able to take the people by the throat on the ‘stand and deliver’ principle? Secretary Gage is the conservator of the people's financial interests. To him we look for a legitimate and equitable circulation of legal tender. His scheme may lie a fine one. We hope it may be. But the gradual and constant drift of government finances into the hands of the bankers is not a pleasant tiling to contemplate. Again we call attention to the similarity between this policy and that of pouring water down a rathole.”

Perhaps the everyday, honest, industrious. conservative business men may be prompted to inquire why the government should aid Wall street gamblers. aud yet find no way to aid men engaged in legitimate enterprises. It is easy enough to find an answer to this question. Panics are made on Wall street. A great panic would defeat McKinley's ambition to be re-elected President, therefore a panic must be prevented at any cost and Wall street must be "eased.”

Tariffs and New Possession*. The New York Press resumes the tariff discussion under the most disheartening circumstances. Everybody had forgotten about the tariff. Our manufacturers having demonstrated to their own satisfaction and profit that they can ship their goods across the ocean and undersell European manufacturers in their own markets, it was thought that nothing else was necessary to convince them that a tariff Is not necessary to protect them from competition. But the Republican press is angry at the Republican President because he recommended the adoption of free trade with Porto Rico, which is a part of our possessions, and reduced schedules with Cuba; and its editor declares that “if a debate is started in Congress embodying the Porto Rican free trade or Cuban tariff reduction recommendations, it can be made the most dangerous issue the party has had to face In a decade.’’ What nonsense! The Cuban tariff reduction is a thing apart, but it is itpt necessary for any bill to be introduced to bring about free trade with Porto Rico. All that is necessary to produce that result Is for Congress, by legislation, to recognise the fact that Porto Rico is a part of the United States. This recognition need not be of a declaratory character. The moment Congress legislates a form of government for Porto Rico, that moment the tariff now existing ceases to affect that island. Under the constitution there can be no tariff or trade discriminations between the States, Territories and possessions of this government. No tariff or antitariff legislation is necessary to carry out this policy of government, which is fundamental, being provided for in the organic law. As the Washington Post remarks, we are bound, now that we have deprived Porto Rico of her trade with Spain, to give the island a fair chance to thrive and prosper as the result of its connection with this republic. We cannot exercise dominion over the island and at the same time treat its people as foreigners. A Belated Zeal. = We are told in the dispatches from Washington that the President, aided by his ever-faithful Grosvenor, has determined to make an example of the Republican officeholders in Utah who are charged with practicing polygamy. This is right. , But why were these officials appointed? Is their polygamy only reprehensible now because it has been brought into public view by the developments In the Roberts case? Mr. McKinley should have inquired into the moral turpitude of these appointees a . good while ago. He should not have waited until American public opinion aroused the sacredness of the Amerlcan home and the Christianity of the institution of marriage, implied in places of public trust and honor. His

failure to make inquiry into the morality of Federal appointees in Utah earlier is culpable. The culpability of his condu it Is not removed hjf his present efforts to oust the polygamous officials. His zeal under the circumstances has more the appearance of playing politics than of responding to a quickened conscience.—Kansas City Times. Gold Standard. There is much rejoicing in Republican circles over the passing of the currency bill by the House, but the measure must now go to the Senate and will suffer many changes. The bill as it now stands cannot pass the Senate and when it is amended may be rejected by the House. William J. Bryan in a letter to the New York Journal sets forth his opposition to the House bill in plain and logical words. He points to the fact that in 1896 the Republican party declared for international bimetallism, but now the mask is torn off and brazenly adopt the Wall street gold policy without qualification.

As a matter of fact, in 1896 ninetenths of the Republican party favored bimetallism. The Democratic party stood on the same ground. There was no difference in the object sought and” the only contention was as to the method of securing it. Accdrding to the .Republican platform, the followers of McKinley wished to secure the double standard through international action, while the Democrats favored independent action.

But the House bill set!les the question regardless of future contingencies and fastens the yoke of gold on the necks of the people. Already a gold parfc has swept over Wall street. The Senate should go slow with the gold bill. The supply of gold from South Africa has been cut off. The war in the Transvaal has caused England to become a purchaser of gold and before long there will tie a currency famine which will end in tremendous panic if the single gold standard is adopted.

Five Men Control Grain I‘riceH.

Testimony taken for the Congres--sinoal Industrial commission in Chicago clearly establishes the fact that five men have been meeting and still meet in Chicago every morning and decide what the farmer shall lie paid for his grain; that their purpose is to maintain the profits of transporters and dealers In grain, no matter how low market prices may go: that as these men represent and control all of the means by which grain it sent from the farm to the market their decision has been and is final. And still Mark Hanna says “there are no trusts in the country.”—Los Angeles Herald.

Rockefeller's Method.

It is said that the Standard Oil trust with the sacrosanct Rockefeller as chief conspirator, crippled and came near wrecking the Globe National Bank of Boston in order to buy at a sacrifice the copper shares which it held. This is Rockefeller’s method. He acts on the theory that all his robberies will be justified if he only contributes a part of the loot to some church or college.—Louisville CourierJournal.

A Distinctive Difference.

Temporarily pausing in his work of mixing lyddite and molding dumdum bullets, John Bull makes a few remarks about the horrors of ambushing. John Bull insists on having his definitions accepted the world over. When he is led into a trap it Is “ambushing.” When he leads the enemy into a trap it is “strategy.” We hope our exchanges will bear these definitions in mind.— Omaha World-Herald.

Vital Questions.

No one disputes the fact that President McKinley made a good selection of a military governor of Cuba, but the question will obtrude itself—why any governor there by appointment of McKinley? Why not redeem the pledge of this nation that Cuba should be free and independent and elect her own governor? These are vital questions that must soon be answered.—Toledo Commercial.

Mark Knows His Business.

There Is little wonder Mr. Hanna didn’t favor the Payne resolution. A man whose idea of good government and honorable politics is expressed in the appointment of a disreputable negro roustabout to a fat Federal office In New Orleans in return for delegates delivered, Is not apt to sympathize with a reform that would abolish such profitable trades.— Journal. OtU’ War Editorials. Cable communications with Manila have cost the Federal government over $325,000 during the past twelve months, the monthly outlay for thia purpose having averaged more than $27,000—0r at the rate of nearly SI,OOO a day.—Chattanooga News. Fact that Can't Be Concealed. Our Filipino war news now reports that “20 per cent.” of So-and-So’s command was lost. This is the proper commercial language of “expansion,” but it does not hide the fact that a lot of brave boys are never comiqg home.— New York World. Apparently Deaf in One Ear. Mr. McKinley seems too busy listening to the hum of industry and the eulogies of the national committeemen to hear thoae pointed questions ad*

dressed to him by the civil service reformers.—Louisville Courier Journal.