The herald., 1893-09-26
WHITTIER ARE WE DRIFTING ?

\
We cannot shut our eyes to the fact
that this country is now undergoing an
experience which is giving cause for
great anxiety to many OF our people.
| We find that in a year OF great plenty,
OF abundant crops and apparently OF
hourishing business, panic springs up
which causes alarm every where, and
suddenly stops the wheels OF progress as
if an irresistible and whitening cyclone
had swept over the land from ocean to
ocean. Mills are shut down, great in
dustrial projects are nipped in the bud,
mines are closed. and over million of
hard-working men, without the slight
est notice, find themselves thrust out
upon the cold world to starve.
This horrible state of affairs comes
down upon us like thunder-clap from
clear sky. In the midst Of plenty we at
once find ourselves struggling in tu-
multuous sea of distress. The money
changers of Wall and Lombard streets
have at length brought about the very
condition they have 30 long worked for.
They have hammered the value OF silver
down as compared with gold to notch
which leaves dead loss in mining for
the white metal. The gold in circula-
ton ia drained to Europe in such guam
titles as to produce business panic,
and the government, under the auspices
OF man who acts as if he were o Great
ure OF the wreckers, adds fuel to the
flame by pursuing a policy which, if
successful, must bring the country to a
one-metal basis. Instead of taking steps
to uphold the metal 90 much needed, it
joins with the Shylocks in trying to give
it the coup.de-grace, and place the coun-
try in the hands OF the very power that
is trying to rend it. As if man
struggling in the water with an oar un-
der each arm could be helped by taking
one OF them away from him.
We have the utmost faith in the
recuperative powers OF the country, and
we believe that the good sense and
patriotism of our people will pull us
bravely through this crisis. But we
cannot but feel that there is a just
retribution awaiting the treacherous
men who have tried to wreck US.
There is day OF reckoning close at
hand, and the people will send to the
next congress- representatives who will
not fail to pillory the authors Of this
great crime. We know that it is inex-
piable, but to let it go unpuniehed
would be a reflection upon the immu.
table law of Justice, and a sign of en-
couragement to future betrayers of great
public trusts.
In the meantime the country is con-
fronted with a most difficult problem.
The winter is coming on apace, and the
great hordes of unemployed are vainly
going from place to place seeking for
work. What developments the rigors of
the inclemsnt season will bring about,
we are afraid to contemplate. Great
masses of hungry men will not starve in
the midst of plenty. The danger is that
the most desperate Of them will organize
into formidable parties all over the coun-
try and take by force what they want.
L hO VI ioAsitiOA ilOul tllo CUuultlOu Oi row
ing tramps to criminal banditti is easy,
and we shall be very fortunate if next
winter does not see a season of lawless-
ness all over the country which will be
beyond the ordinary control of the mu-
nicipal authorities. If this forecast
should prove true, she excuse for. the
creation of a standing army of formida-
bic proportions will be ready at hand,
and what the plutocfats have so long
desired, strong government backed by
a strong regular army, will be very near
it's accomplishment.
If there ever was a time when wise
counsels and patriotic impulses should
prevail, it is the present. If the policy
of the men who have brought our coun-
try to this crisis should be successful in
Washington, it will require the utmost
prudence and determination on the part
OF the people to keep US from entering
upon an epoch in our history more dis
NAL and turbulent than any in our
annals.