The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-11
SEATTLE, THURSDAY, JULY IL.
CRAZEs DUE TO NERVOUS EN-
ERGY.


The wave which sweeps over the United
States at periodic intervals In one OF the
consequences OF the American character.
When the wheat is high a wind pass
Ing over 1t viii bend Il, but as the press
ure Is relieved the rich grain lifts its
head once more. and there is no sign of
the agitation which shook It but mo-
ment before.
The American people Is never passive
under adversely. SEINE European races
have for centuries submitted 10 adyers-
NY ~ part OF an inevitable destiny. When
IT comes the men cast themselves down
sullenly and doggedly and the women
plod along in mute patience. Not SO the
American. His nervous energy Is only
dntenone1 by necessity for action. When
prosperity. as IL has done at intervals
since the world began. passes on the ebb
tide and carries away the fish from the
fishermens nets. the American digs for
CLANS.
Idieness is no. In him: his active mind,
nike a darling bee. seeks new honey spots.
But there are degrees of industry as there
are degrees or intelligence. While some
men sea readily and clearly enough that
the et,binS tide will flow again. there are
Others VIII, find in every time OF stringen-
cy suggestion for a new and shorter cut
10 prosperity.
AL the popular movements outside of
abe lines which have prevailed because
they were the true lines. have been con-
ceived in poverty. and withered as pros
perity returned. The free silver craze
comes from just such a characteristic
manifesto ton OF nervous energy. II is
a misdirecled energy. and VIII spend
itself; the bending wheat VIII lift its
head again after the storm dies down.
About the year 1884 the country suffered
most severely. business was depressed
and distress was very general There
had been no specie IN the country for
shlrty years, but in that year an agita-
ton. which had long been growing. came
no a head. and. uInn the demand OF the
people. a measure was passed erea ding a
metallic currency. The good effects were
FELT Immediately, business revived and
gold began 20 flow for the first time
through the country. But this Was the
sensible outcome OF n number Of wildcat
schemes attached 10 the Locofoco movs-
ment. whose platform declared unqualI-
nea hostility to any Kind OF paper money
as a medium.
In 49, the Democrats at their conven-
ton IA Baltimore Endorsed the platform OF
the Mberal Republicans adopted at Gin
clnnad. in which "a speedy return to
speels payment Is demanded. The
o:reeleyites had other and then mere i'm
por,ant issues. or rather issues OF more
Immediate interest. and they were beaten.
The hard times OF the few years follow
sng started the Greeuosekers out on their
craze. and directly contrary TO tbs wish
expressed IN Is72. the Greenbaek plat
form IN 1873 was as smphatic against sill
yer as the free silveritss now are IN IA
vor OF Il. Tho platform protested against
the sale 81 government bonds for the par-
pose Of purchasing silver TO he used as s
stshst2suts FOR our more convenient ans
less iiuctustinS fractional currency.
which. although wen calculated % en-
ssch owners OF silver uIsnes ye; IN oper-
alton It via further Cypress. In taxa
ton. en- already overAnrdcne3 people. "
The (which" refers OF courS. 20 The silver
and not 20 the currency.
The interest IN this lies IN the fact
that the Grssneackers cannot bs aecuse,
81 being In league with Wall street. yet
they were much exposed to a change
whsch would only tend ito enrich silver
mine owners" Specie payments were
eventually reSuaed. and there vas great
rejoicing and prosperity. In ISIS thu
Americans issued platform. n 1875 Pro-
hso3tionlsts. Gxeenhackexs. Repuhlicaas
and Democrats adopted Platforms N
each ef whlah reference was made 20 the
money question. hut without the vaguss;
allHsAon 20 the crime of iS-S."
The hrst aliusion 70 & even as a SIDE
issue WAS IN ISIS. when the Nauonslsts
declared several thiaSs to os crimes, tn
Guiding sss prssesst resumption 9: speois