The herald., 1893-08-11
A GREAT PERIL AND ITS AvoIDANcE.

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ment that was made by Mayor Harrison
in his speech before the silver conven.
tion to the effect that there were two
hundred Thousand unemployed men in
Chicago. That this should be 30 while
the great Columbian worlds fair is in
progress is calculated to surprise any
one. 1t has generally been supposed
that that city at least was in state OF
unprecedented prosperity. According
to Chauncey M. Depsw, that great ex-
position wsa to have benefited Chicago
to the extent of $500. 900, 900. The ben
etts, positive and incidental, flowing
from it are really almost incompatible.
And yet here is q great, ominous fact,
pregnant with warnings of disaster.
Many years ago gentleman named
Randall wrote book upon Thomas JET
ferson. 1t was an admirable book and
devoted to detailing the incidents Of the
career OF the greatest Democrat that
ever lived. He sent copy Of It to the
brilliant essayist, Mscsulay, who, in &C
knowledging its receipt, complimented
both the eubject of the book and its
author. But he was careful to indicate
his opinion very plainly that when the
masses in the city of New York needed
bread and could not get it except by
blood, the republic would be at an end.
This remark of the great writer was
penned about two years before the war
of the rebellion. and the work of Jeffer-
son and his compeers stood the shock OF
battle to the admiration of the world.
Still there is something decidedly alarm.
ing in the countless multitudes of peo-
pie who are being reduced to absolute
want. 1t is perhaps even more dis
migrating process than a war OF Sec
tions has proved to be. Chicago is the
home OF anarchy, and great outbreak
there could not fail to unloose elements
of marked destructiveness, and the con-
tagion could easily spread to the popu-
lous cities of the east. The difficulty
would certsinly be greatly complicated
by the practical annihilation of such
great commonwealths as Colorado, Mon
tana, Idaho and Wyoming, and such ter
ritories as New Mexico, Utah and Ari.
zona. Universal distress ramifying
through such regions, could not fail to
result in trsgicAl scenes of great poign-
ancy.
The government of the United States
will in the end be obliged to do one Of
several things. 1t must either prevent
the crisis, by providing an abundant
currency, it must open sort OF universal
souphouse or it must be prepared to
shoot down the men whom its own mer.
ciless policy has rendered miserable.
The two last propositions are repugnant
to the sense of fair play of the American
people. 1t is perfectly safe to assume
that nobody could be found to do the
shooting.
The amount of money in circulation
should be incrsased at least five hun
dred millions of dollars, with a provision
for it's increase as business should de-
mand. Some automatic device could be
found for this very readily but it would
not be necessary. The beneficial effects
of the first five hundred million issue
would be found to be so great that an
additional five hundred million wotld
be demanded. The people, released from
the financial straight jacket in which
they have hitherto been confined, would
breathe freely, expand their lungs and
show the world surprising example of
American energy and enterprise. The
sooner this is done the better.