The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-01-06
"HARD TIMES"

"HARD TIMES"
When the next decade rolls around
possibly in but few years-those who
now for political reasons cry 'hard
times" with lungs and yehemence that
discount the worst calamity howlers"
will more than likely point to the great
prosperity of the country in the early
nineties.
The average politician las short
memory; the average political writer,
less principle
There was never time in the history
of this country when the centers OF pop
ulation did not contain thousands OF
unemployed, either from choice or from
necessity; from the foundation Of the
government poverty and wealth has
stalked side by side from the cradle to
the grave.
To some the times are always "hard."
There are those WHO cannot look back to
the time when it was not one constant
struggle to keep the wolf from the door,
while with others everything seemed to
turn to gold on touch. The writer can
not recall n period when it was not easy
to confront So and So who could not
afford this Or that because Of the "hard
times"
He has read the history of his country
to little purpose who cannot perceive
that dispite the various tariff and finan-
cial policies in vogue from time to time
this country has from its foundation
steadily prospered beyond the most san
gulne dreams Of man. Never in its
history has there been one step backward.
In spite of low tariff or a high tariff, a
deprecated or appreciated currency, the
foul blot OF slavery, and tho thr"cs of a
bloody rebellion, the Republic has gone
steadily on to wealth and greatness.
Men may differ as to which, Of the pol
icies of the existing political parties may
be the most advantageous to the country,
but the patriot will never for personal or
political aggrandizement magnify the
distress incidental to all humanity.
OF what vital moment is it to onr sixty
odd million Of people ii during few
months of the year few hundred tlous-
and are out OF employment?
Did it ever occur to these recent re-
cruits to the calamity how lers, because
forsooth they are opposed to but one
political party per Sc, that because of the
very high protective policy they advocate
manufacturing may be over stimulated
and more goods thrown upon the market
than the country can consume, and Of
the consequent suspension and increase
in the number of the unemployed? And
did it ever occur to these organs who for
political reasons only take up and iterate
the "hard times" cry are, unconsciously
perhaps, bringing about the very thing
they seem to deplore?
With many of this sort it would pos
sibly make no difference. So wrapt up
are they il personal or party gain that
they could smilingly see the country go
to the dogs and Famine itself stalk the
land if through it all their party emerged
victorious. But the thinking man, the
man who personally has nothing to lose
or gain directly in the ups and downs of
| any political party and he is in the
great majority-should sit himself down
and carefully a1alyze this lizard tines
cry whenever he hears it. II he is a
student Of his country's history he will
readily admit the foregoing deductions
are strictly true.
Ii he is business man he will not be
! slow to realize that the malnstay Of all
business is confidence and that once de-
stroyed there is only one road and that is
| a toboggan slide. The ''hard times" cry
| makes it smooth.
II he is mechanic he ought to know
that when everybody is yelling ''hard
times" few want to build houses, or bust
ness blocks or engage in any undertaking
whereby solid cash is converted into real
property.
Ii he is skilled in some manufacturing
art it should not take him long to see
that tho average manufacturer is slowte
add to his stock with howlers sitting on
| the roofs and ''hollering" "llard times
| Whom does it tbenefit-th his cry of "hart
] timess"
4 The business man? the banker? the
capitalist? the artisan? the mcdaniel
! the farnerp the laborer?
A thousand times no!
/ 1t benefits no one save the politica
fortunes of few. 1t spreads universa
| distrust thrughont all the land, ties W
capital, adds to the number of the un
employed and serves as nothing else car
to bring about a general business de
4 preston.
| The very ones who are iterating tEt
"hard times" bugaboo are doing more t.
bring about hard time than all the Dem
i ocratic congresses could do between nov
and Kingdom Come. The average vote
VIII see this, too, before another presi
Dental election rolls around, and thost
now seeking employment will charge VI
their lost wages where they rightly be
long. The mills Of the gods grind slow
i ly, but they grind exceedingly fine
1 Wait till the full head Of indignation il
| turned on; you'll see fine grinding then
and it will be the hard times yelpers he
tween the rolls.