The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-28
FACTS AGAINST FICTION,

The Louisville Courier Journal says:
'The election of Harrison means hard
timess higher taxes, restricted trade.
corruption and extravagance, negro
postmasters in the South and the force
bill" 1t is probable that the class of
persons intended to be influenced by
such sweeping declarations as this would
attach more weight to the unsupported
they would to any amount of demon
strated facts, and yet it is we'll enough
to state the facts for the benefit of W HON
they may concern.
if the reelection of Harrison means
hard times, higher taxes, restricted trade
and corruption and extravaganza, then
his first term must have shown move
ment in this direction. As for "hard
times" it will be generally admitted that
times have been easier and business bet
ter during the last two or three years than
they were during the Cleveland admin
istration. The year 1891 was almost un-
precedented for good crops and prices.
We do not say that the Harrison admin
istration deserves the credit for the good
crops, but we are stating facts. As a
matter of fact last year was one of the
most prosperous in our history. 1t has
been called "a debt paying year" on ac-
count of the great reduction made in
farm mortgages. Probably the farmers
of this country never paid off as much
indebtedness in any other year as they
did last year. 1t was the same all over
the country. 1t was a year of wiping
out old balances.
Some people think the amount of
money in circulation is q criterion of
prosperity, and to some extent it is. Tho
amount of money in circulation in 1886.
two years after Mr.. Cleveland's election,
was 81. $50, 271. 900, while the amount in
circulation now is $1,74S. 1854, 1914. In 1886
we raised 457, 0O0 600 bushels of wheat
and 1865. OOO, 900 bushels of corn; in 1891
we raised Gil. $50, 900 bushels of wheat
and 1900, 154, 900 bushels of corn. In
1883. the last year of Cleveland's admin
istration, tho bank clearings of the
United States were $49, 097, 52S, sci; in
1891 they were $50. $3.50, 1886. a37. In 1888
our exports of merchandise amounted to
1901, 766, 462 and our imports of foreign
products to S725, 224. 153; in 1891 our i'm
ports were SS26, 312, GAG and our exports
1910, SOC, 2S2. During the greater part of
Cleveland's administration the balance
of foreign trade was against us;
during Harrison's term it has been
largely in our favor. II 1888 the gross
earnings of the railroads of the country
were 1886. sec. 292; in 1891 they were
$500, 09S, 962. In short, the statistics in
every branch of business, in every de-
partment of trade, and in every field
of enterprise and progress show an
enormous growth of business during
Harrison's administration.
Has there been en- increase of taxes
or a restriction of trade during Harri-
sons administration If so, it is fair to
assume that the tendency will continue
if he is reelected. There is not man
enough TO keep up with the current
news of the period who does not know
that our foreign trade has been enor-
mously extended during this admins
tration, while taxation has been re-
duced. We have not space to print the
statistics showing the great extension
of our foreign trade in all directions,
and especially with those countries with
which we have made reciprocity ar
rangements. These statistics would
fill columns of the Journal. As
for taxation, not only has there
been no increase, but there has been
a large reduction by the repeal
of the duty on sugar. For the
great boon of free sugar the people are
indebted to Republican Congress and
President, while the price of almost
every other article of daily consumption
has been materially cheapened. We
challenge any Democrat to name
single item of increased taxation made
during this administration or to name
one article of general consumption that
is not cheaper now than it was four
years ago.
The Courier Journals charges of "cor-
ruption and extravaganza" against this
administration and the allusiop to negro
postmasters in the South and the force
bill are evidently thrown in as make
weights. They are AS devoid of truth
as the rest of its statement, and even
less deserving of respectful considera-
ton.
GOVERNMENT DEPOSITS IN NATIONAL