The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-22

ple TO debase our money with n cheap
silver dollar: the population has been lv-
ing from hand TO mouth, ds II best could.
everv one has been economizng and saw
ing. and consumption has fallen far be-
low its normal and hoalthful state. Inc
railroads want supplies Of everything
which they have been compelled to post
pone buying. and every business needs
equipment which II could not provide Tor
I'm the past three years Of panic that we
have TO thank the free-silyor agitation for.
But in spite Of all these distractions, bust
ness has by the very necessities Of
growing population, been kept alive. But
everything IS now ready for that change
from panic TO confidence that the over
whelming defeat Of William j. Bryan IS
going to bring to the country when NO
vember arrives. During the eight months
ending September /, 1898. our foreign
trade showed a balance IN favor OF this
country Of 100000. During the eight
months ending September !, 1896, our for
eign trade shows a balance in favor OF
this country Of Sl55OOO,ooO. During the
eight months, ending with September J.
1895. our imports amounted to S55J,'SI,Sls.
During the eight months. ending with
September ]. 1876. our imports were only
81, 222. 43L Our people spent, therefore In
the last eight months Soi,5l5.3o5 less than
they spent in the preceding correspond
Ing eight months. The saving was In
luxuries-such as silks and things that
minister to a refined taste. IN other
words, the people have been economzIns'
and the country is filling up with and
soon will be full Of gold. when with con-
ndence restored, everything will boom.
We repeat. then. that We are in the most
favorable possible position for an era OF
extraordinary prosperity All that we
need hive is a cessation Of agitation aud
q restoration Of confidence. Let that come
and thousands Of wheels now idle viii be
put TO turning, and hundreds Of thou
sands II workmon. who can now get noth-
Ing to do. Will have steady employment
N good WAGES. We have bad season
Of dreadful trial, but IL is nearly over
and we have endured it. Thank God, the
the indications grow every day that
the arch-acitator Will be buried under mill
lions OF The votes Of his feilow-counuy-
men whom he is seeking 20 lure on to
their destruction. The most significant
one Of all that we have seen is The bids
az the large srip-buuding concerns for the
new battle ships Six weeks ago # looked
as though no bids would be put in for
them. But within the past two weeks
the ship-buildors have bid for them and
they have been awarded as follows To
Cramp & Sons. Of Philadelphia, one az
s2CO.o0o. TO the Newport News Ship
builaine and Dry Dock Company, one at
s25e5.o00. and TO the Union Iron Works.
Of San Francisco. one at S2C7i95o Here
are bids for work aggrosatins nearly S.
0oW0 II we have free silver, Of course
q tremonduous loss would be thrown upon
trcse concerns. Everything necessary for
the construction Of these ships would rise
in price as the dollars deprecated to-
wards the silver value and they would
have. therefore, to pay from 80 to 20 per
cent. more than what they have estimated
for for the material to be used, since
their estimates are an based upon gold
prices Of what they Will have to buy.
This is nothing in effect but an enormous
bet by these shipbulding concerns that
BRYAN will be defeated and Mckinley
will be elected. Talk Of odds IN betting.
no such odds as these have been offered
on the election anywhere else in the world
but # demonstrates the perfect confidence
these people have I'm Bryan's defeat which
millions Of patriotic men are now praying
for.
Tho skies are bright and Frightening. and
al that is necessary for most pros
porous condition for us is the defeat Of
William J. Bryan.