People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1895 — RECORD OF A CHANCE. [ARTICLE]

RECORD OF A CHANCE.

WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PROMISED IF OIVEN POWER. And Jtut Look What They Did with It —They Revelled in Wild, SUotoaa Work —They Voted Themselvea Money and Put Debt on the People. When out of power the democrats denounced monopolies and trusts. They branded gold bugs and condemned the republican party for demonetizing silver in 1873. They declared they would not have permitted these things if they had been in power. They begged for a “chance” to undo these wrongs. The people decided to give them a "chance.” In 1892 they put the party in powerdemocratic president, a democratic senate, a democratic house. The party was in absolute control. . What did they do with that “chance?” When the vote came up in the house in Aug. 1893, it resulted as follows: For free coinage at the ratio of 16 to 1, yeas, 124; pays 227. For free coinage at the ratio of 17 to 1, yeas 100; nays 240. For free coinage at the ratio of 18 to 1, yeas 102; nay* 239. For free coinage at the ratio of 19 to 1, yeas 104; nays 238. For free coinage at the ratio of 20 to 1, yeas 121; nays 222. For re-enactment of the Bland-Alli-son bill, yeas 136; nays 213. For the repeal of the Sherman law, yeas 240; nays 110. The above is the vote. There is no dodging that question. The house was democratic by over 80 majority. The free silver democrats had the assistance of all the populists and about fifteen republicans. Yet a “majority of the democrats voted against silver.” Voted down the only silver law we had. Voted the thing in a shape where Cleveland’s veto would kill all future silver legislation during his administration. Voted to put this club in his hands and now abuse him for using it. It was a surrender to Wall street — not of Cleveland (for he had already surrendered) but of the democratic party that claimed to be the friend of the people. On every vote recorded above the majority that were cast against silver were democratic votes. Let the people of the south remember this. Let them point to their record. Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.

Cleveland has done just what any well informed person expected he would do. Just what he recommended in two of his former messages. But the democratic party did not. It violated its promises. It cannot escape the responsibility. Here are the facts. The democratic politicians said: “boys give us a ‘chance’ and we’ll do all these things you want us to do, and undo the things we have denounced the republican party for doing.” The “boys” gave them the chance. What is the record ? They demonetized silver. They increased their salaries. They favored the national banks. They issued bonds in time of peace. They have not demolished the trusts. They have not redeemed their promises. They have quarreled among themselves. They put raw materials made by the farmer and laborer on the free list, and gave the manufacturer greater protection than before. In the midst of the greatest distress this country has seen, they voted to increase their own salaries and refused to do anything for the people. They did not vote to increase the amount of money, but voted to decrease it. What patriot can endorse this record? v There is only one free silver party, and it is the people’s party. A vote for that party is a vote for free silver. A vote for either qf the old parties, or any one that acts with them, is a vote for Wall street, because Wall street controls both. Let patriots get together and do it quickly or this government is lort. — Caucasian, Raleigh, N. C.