The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-13
THE CoUSrl,Y'S DISTRESS

Can Only bs Relieved by n Rsturu 4,
Sound Economic Principles.
To he Editor OF he inttliqsnesr.
sIR;-From reliable estimates. two
years OF Democracy huvo coat tho coun.
try twice as much as tho four yoars' war
OF the rebellion aud tho loss is still
accumulasing We are in n worse con.
dst'on to-day, financially. and have more
actual distress aud suffering, though
differing In form, within our border,
than in tho darkest day Of that momor.
able conflict. a great revival Of bust.
moss has boon predicted aud published
by u certain class OF newspapers and
cuckoo politicians throughout tho
length and breadth OF tho land for tho
last twelve months; but there Is no 70.
vlval OF business. aud can and will DO
mono under existing conditions. A
mandatory hero and there, upon an
accumulation OF orders for Immediate
consumption, will star. up and run of
those orders; but thoro Is 10 general
resumption OF business. no manuiactur.
ing in excess OF orders recoiycd-ot tho
consumer actually in sight.
The Examiner and National Baptist,
published in New York, in no sense a
political newspaper. but independent
and ably edited, says March y: "Tho
general business situation shows no
real improvement, although there arc
instances OF gain, notably that in the
Bessemer pig iron market ut Pitts.
burgh, and in the steel rail market, in a
small way, at tho west. Tho volume of
trade in staple lines throughout tho
country continues rs small as here.o.
fore, no better indication Of this being
at hand than the volume OF February
bank cleariugs, S3,3S+ 900 900, falling
of OF - per cent, from the total bank
clearings in January this wear, n do.
cline Of ono.third. Us compared with
tho bank clcarings in February, 1898.
and falling of OF IS per cont as com.
pared with the corresponding total in
February, 1892" This is u faithful
presentation OF our actual condition,
which is worse to-day than it was q
year ago; is worse to-day than il was
Yesterday, and will be worse tomorrow
than It is to-day.
Distress in tho country, low prices,
lack OF employment and scarcity OF
money in actual circulation furnish tho
food upon which political demasogucs
fatten the opportunity for presenting
and pressing upon the people the wild.
esttheories Of governmental pa.ernalism
in aid 0! imitation and fiat money. lie,
no ono be deceived BY these theorists:
but rather lot all stand fast by the sound
principles OF finance and political
economy under which the country was
so prosperous for thirty years prior to
the beginning OF the present admins.
tration. The distress OF to-day ia not
from lack OF money in the country, but
from lack OF legitimate business to call
it from its hiding places; and IL tho GOV.
ernmen. should issue 81 900 per capita,
not ono cent OF i. could get into circula.
ton except by regular appropriations
for services rendered or supplies iurn.
ished; and'we are complaining now o.
billion dollar Congresses. The true
theory is that the people must furnish
the money to support the government,
notthe government to support the PEG.
pie.
The vital question now is, not so
much which political party shall man
the ship OF state after 1896 THAT, bar.
ring miracles, is se,tled), as who shall
hold tho holm? The condition OF the
country demands. as possibly never
before, that the Office should seek tho
man, and not the man tho Office. II
John Sherman, OF Ohio, were placed Mt
tho head OF tho treasury department to.
day. or il it were known that, he would
be inaugurated President on tho 4,h
day OF March, 1897, this simple fact
would 40 restore confidence tha. bust.
mes, would revive in spite OF the adj.
verse legislation now on tie statute
books; and with his experience in tho
e1ac! line OF craftsmanship now needed,
and with his ability. patriotism and
sagacity recognized by all parties, ven
,ure the prediction that with prope.
and judicious presentation OF his claims
to tho country Tor rather OF tho claims
OF the country. upon him), there would
be practically no opposition either DO.
fore or after nomination. @. RI.
BuctiGnnon, ". Va. March II, 1895.