The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-07-12
A SIGN FOR THE PEOPLE.
Democratic Defeat Ushers In Business
Prosperity.

Democratic Defeat Ushers In Business
Prosperity.
President Depew is a close observer,
and his tidings from the west and
southwest indicate a steady change
in public opinion. One remark, cou-
trasting the passionate intensity of
feeling on the silver question in south
ern states with the comparative indif-
ference elsewhere, may possibly create
somewhat mistaken impression
There is no excitement now in COM
mercial and financial centers, because
il is thoroughly understood that the
existing situation cannot be disturbed
by new legislation favoring silver
coinage until after the next presiden-
| tial election. In the financial and
commercial world Strengthening would
be shown at once if there were any dan
ger, but it is believed that the people
are gradually moving and will move
toward a better knowledge of the
question, and it is perceived that the
deafening discussion within the demo-
cratic party is intended for political
effect exclusively. Each democratic
faction wants to get the upper hand
within the party, and both fancy that
republicans can be drawn into the con-
test and weakened thereby.
Practical men know that there is
not the least occasion to desire more
money in circulation than there is
already, for so much of it is lying idle
now, and gravitates to monetary CEN
tiers in search of employment at rates
as low as one and one-half per cent.
per annum, that the accumulation Is
actually embarrassing. The general
advance in prices, ranging from thirty
to one hundred per cent. in many i'm
portant products, has occurred without
any influence one way or the other
from the silver market, and the price
of bullion has scarcely changed for
two months or more, while cotton,
wheat, hides and other products have
made their sensational rise. There is
nobody anxious to disturb the existing
monetary situation except the theorists,
whose fanaticism or ignorance blinds
them to every experience. If this
strange craze is passing away at the
west and south, as Mr.. Depew and
others believe, it may happen that
there will not be enough left of the
money question to fight about when
the presidential election comes, unless
the struggles of democratic factions
for the mastery carry them into open
antagonism to each other.
The primary intention of those who
stirred up this excitement was to divert
public thought from the effects OF tariff
agitation. This was so clearly per-
ceiFed by the republicans of the league
convention at Cleveland that many
were disposed to adopt strong resolu-
tions on the tariff question alone, until
1t was found that the organic law of
the body forbade attempts to make
platforms for the party. But the feel
ing in the convention vas none the less
clearly manifested. That body was
practically unanimous in desiring an
uncompromising fight against demo-
cratic free-trade theories and demo-
cratic laundering and dishonesty in
tariff-making. The work of the last
democratic congress, the industrial
consequences of democratic success in
1882, and of republican success in 1894,
will beyond question be brought before
voters as the main issue in the cam
paign of 1896, no matter who may be
the candidate.
The general improvement in bust
ness, as soon as a beaten democratic
congress ceased to have power TO do
evil, is one of the most instructive
events of this era. Its meaning will
not be overlooked by republican jour
nails and speakers, all may be sure, nor
will the voters be slow to appreciate
it. Indeed, it comes in such a shape
as to impress, not merely the more in
telligent, who are able to trace the eff
feet of democratic defeat in reviving
confidence, but the more ignorant also,
who may only see that democratic VIC
tory in 1892 brought twenty per cent.
lower wages and republican victory in
1894 brought ten per cent. higher
wages. Whether the connection be-
tween the fscts is fully understood or
not, men remember their experience,
and as a burned child breads the fire,
they will have a wholesome fear of
votes for democratic free trade. The
greater the improvement in business
may prove, the more impressive will |
be the contrast, and the stronger will |
be popular confidence in that party |
whose defeats are calamities and whose |
victories are blessings to the people
n V Trib,,no