The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-08-05

Of the oppressed, the prohibition party
in chief.
Mr.. Levering in reply read his letter
of acceptance, saying among other
things:
The platform adopted by the conven-
ton meets my hearty approval, and though
ased on q single issue, is in reality sufh
GENTLY broad to allow all TO stand on II
who are opposed TO the saloon and its con-
seQuent evils, regardless of their views on
any of the other public questions CT the
day.
1T is true, and no thinking man, regard
less Of his surroundings or residence. can
for moment doubt II, that WY many OF
the people Of our beloved land, and espe-
cially those engaged in industrial and farm
ing pursuits, are suffering from the general
depression so widely prevalent at present,
and also that there has not been time
since the memorable days just preceding
the breaking out Of the civil war. when
these difficulties weighed so heavily upon
the people, or when there was SO much IN
rest and dire foreboding for the future as
exist to-day.
The products Of the soil-the mainstay
of the nations prosperity anc wealth-are
SO low in value in many instances as not to
pay the cost of production, leaving moth
ing for the labor of the toiler or for the
capital invested Many persons hold the
opinion that the cause Of all this trouble is
ever-production. But can such an explain
stion be true? Is not the thought An i'm
pious onee Can anyone who believes in
tenefcen1 Creator believe that He bestows
bountiful harves1s to be a curse rather
than a blessing to mankind? No, no; per-
ish the thought The reason Of all the
prevalent trouble in our fair land to-day is
not oyer-production. but under-consump-
ton
THAT being so, where is there cause
which prevents the consumption Of he
necessaries, to say nothing Of the luxuries
of life, comparable TO the liquor traffic?
We are told by the advocates Of one OF
the political parties that high tariff is
the panacea of all our Ills, and yet the
average annual receipts from customs for
the three years ending June 30, 1894. when
the Mckinley tariff bill was in operation,
were only 81, 0o0, 900, less than $3.50 per
capita Of our population. Others tell las
that the free and unlimited coinage of Sill
yer will be the cure-an Of the evils afflict-
ing our people. It is strange such an idea
should be entertained when the fact is
recalled that the total output of silver
IN this country for last year was Only
s60, 900,0 900, q sum much less than the an
nual product Of familiar barnyard fowl
How utterly Insignificant are either of
these figures compared to the s, 300 005, 900
which Is reliably estimated as the direct
yearly tribute the people Of this country
LAY to the support of the liquor traffic A
stupcndous sum, and so large as to be
difficult of realization. 1t is nearly twice
as large as the aggregated capital OF all
our national banks. or. to state it more
plainly, 1t is equal TO about 75 per cent
Of the entire money. gold, silver and paper
currency OF the United States.
Let this vast sum Of money which Is
now spent yearly in this way and for
which no value is received but on the con-
trary, is only adding to the suffering Of the
people IN varied and manifold forms. be
turned into the channels of legitimate
trade in the purchase of these things
which VIII bring comfort and happiness
to the home and family, then, believe
the troubles which are now weighing SO
heavily upon them will be largely things
of the past, and until it Is done no real re-
lief can be expected.