New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-27
NEW UHO LEARN NOTHING.

what talking politics yet? l finished voting
last November and have forgotten all ABOUT
'it" SO one shrewd business man jeered at
two others who were discussing National poll
cics But which was the more sensible? Within
a minute the practical man who had forgotten
all about it" was discussing the state OF busi-
moss and the extraordinary depression, for
which, quite i'm character. he could see no cause
EXCEPT a DISCRIMINATION of the currency.
II is exactly this sort OF thing which deprives
many practical business men Of all the influence
their energy and good seEsc should give them.
They are regarded with n mild species OF de-
rsion by the men who know anything about
political affairs. That man." such persons say,
actually does not know enough 10 see that his
''brcad and butter and his years profits depend
upon the voting which he treats with con-
tempt The poor man has never learned that
''ihe prosperity Of the whole country affects his
individual welfare far more powerfully than
"any effort he can make, and that his welfare
depends In the long run upon questions which
"can be settled only at the ballot box.
Should all the practical business men in the
United States set themselves deliberately 10
hoist or to lower the value Of property. they
would find it entirely impossible. even by con-
certod effort 10 bring about so great change
n has been caused within the last few years by
the change Of National policy Reasons were
recently given for believing that the aggregate
wealth Of the country had been diminished about
at least S600OOOOO0O within two years. and
this measures only part Of the loss, for in that
time there would naturally have been an increase
of about as much. Something has started the
train backward. and all the power OF all the
practical men in the country cannot reverse II
and start II forward again until the National
policy has been reversed. Yet there are found
in every State and In every village business men
who think It good sense 20 sheer M politics as
something with which they really have nothing
70 DO.
Il Is Just this sort of supcrcilious trea tmcnt
Of the graycst National questions which has
brought the country into the present fix. IT the
practical men had taken the trouble in 1892 10
consider In earnest what would be best for
them probably nnc-tcnths would have said,
we have unprecedented prosperity. and 4
change would be folly" A great proportion. be-
yond doubt would have decided prosperity of
all industries is necessary To the prosperity OF
any and protection is plainly necessary 10 the
'prospcrlty of some" Many socallcd practical
men thought ii wise TO indulge In fine theories
about election time; they were nice theories. and
II really made no difference whether party
or the other WAS in power. So they tried II, and
are now gnashing their teeth over the result.
This country will never be governed As il ought
10. with loyclhcadcl and ongheadcd good sense,
until the practical business men Of the country
rid themselves entirely OF the notion that their
political acts have nothing TO do with their sue
cess I'm trade or manufacture 1t seems 10 take
about thirty years TO educate generation OF
Americans 10 n realizing sense Of the Response
bili,y which goes with every vote cast For
nearly thirty years 10 come the generation now
az the front will remember the unparalleled dis
astor OF 1893 and 1894, and what caused 1t. But
there are always some who learn nothing, even
10y bitter experience. and in about thirty years
We shall have another generation whose lack
. Of experience makes them rs dull and as blind
IA the many who have seen and suffered. and
yet have learned nothing, during the last two
wears.