The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-18
A NATION AL SPECTACLE.

Just for moment contemplate stu
alton that possesses the magnitude of a
national spectacle. With the ascend
ant interests of sixty millions of people
threatened, and with all their conse-
quent tenures hanging trembling in the
balance. while disaster and ruin, in
thousand shapes have been menacing
the entire country, that with smothered
breath and under an intense strain has
been warding off the final fatal blow,
there sits the congress of the United
States, the only power that could afford
sure relief, dilly-dallying away, from
day to day, the hours that are blowing
deep burrows in the faces and whitening
the heads of the men of affairs of this
entire country Boards of trade, bust
ness associations, bankers, capitalists,
companies and corporations, from the At
lantic to the Pacific, have petitioned, have
written and have telegraphed all in
vain. The greatest journals of the land
have repeated the cry of the people, and
faithfully reflected the universal demand
for relief, yet senators lounge about the
cloak rooms telling stale st ries, and
cracking unseemly jokes to kill the time
which is otherwise employed on the
floor wholly in pumping up buncombe
to drown and to resuscitate, by turns,
sectional election bill As for the mob
at the other end Of the capitol it seems
to be employing its abundant leisure in
endeavoring to convince its own daZed
membership and their distressed conStit-
uencies, that the Mckinley bill was
never really passed, after. all, or only in
such very imperfect shape as to call
for numberless amendments, qualitica-
tions and numerous extens ons of time |
when its provisions shall take effect.
Is it any wonder that whole classes of |
the American people should assemble by |
night to plight their faith and resolve |
with secret bound oaths to down the
powers that be? Would it be any wonder
if other classes, including the business
men and manufacturers, should, every
where, get together in like alliances, and
swear that these things shall cease to be?
There are but few days, very few
days, left in which it will be possible to !
take such action as would certainly
avert all present chances Of financial
disaster to the country. Such disaster
may not come at all, and all business
and financial interests may be left TO
drag along, to die of inanition or disap-
pear in feebleness in the absence of any
great, sudden shock, but the result
would be the same. However, il is the
opinion of the ablest tactical financiers
Of the country that a single important
failure occurring now in any
Of the centers of the United States would
carry down such number of other inter
ests as would at once precipitate
general crash, in which untold millions
would be wiped out, and all remaining
values be depressed and deprecated to
-he level of stagnation. The committee
Of New York bankers who went over to
last week, to urge speedy
legislation, declared that in their judg-
nent a postponement of such action
is would insure return of confidence
or the period of two weeks might be
90 long to avert general panic. Yet
lote the character of the proceedings of
he two houses, as they are telegraphed
o the country, from day to day, and
hat the dispatches of yesterday
containing a resolu-
ion for a holiday adjournment
o take place next Monday, and to con- ;
inue for two weeks. In the face of
Universal demand for free coinage from
he west; in the face of a despairing cry {
rom the money centers Of the east, for
,reater volume of currency; with titles
o homes everywhere slipping away:
With overdue interest everywhere re- ;
naming unpaid; with mortgages, notes
nd accounts calling for liquidation, the
loarders of gold are demanding the ]
'ound of flesh, and congress, with dull
,nife and unconcerned air, is obeying !
he command of their owner and master,
" cutting it out, piece-meal, from near
st the heart of the American people. !