The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-31
What Is the Matter with the Countrys

In the foregoing facts we have called
attention to the disastrous effects upon
few of the leading industries of the
country resulting from changes of ad-
| ministration and changes of policy, in
regard to tariff and money. The facts
herein produced have been copied from
government official reports, and are the
most reliable that can be obtained. If
| the statistics were available, 1t would
be found that an investigation in every
department of business would develop
| similar disasters. a brief reference to
some OF these we have pointed out may
serve to fix them more permanently
upon the minds Of the voters Of this
| county.
These statistics show that since
CleVeland's election in 1892 the business
OF our clearing houses has been injured
to the extent Of from $40, 900, 900, 900 to
$5O, 1000 ,OOO.OOO; that our foreign COM
| merce has been diminished by nearly
$1,000 .00O,O 900; that our agricultural pro-
ducts have suffered a depreciation in
value of over 81 900. 900, 900; that there
Is nearly $1,O00,000.000 depreciation in
the value OF live stock: that the sheep
industries have suffered to the extent
of about $60000, 900 in the value of the
sheep, and over S46,000,O00 in the wool
crop.
The number of new railroads being
built has been reduced about two
thirds the number of passengers car
ried has decreased almost 80, ,OO0, 900 in
three years; there has been a decrease
of over 31,000.000 In the net earnings,
s5O,OCO,0OO In the net receipts. $3l ,OO0,-
900 in the receipts from passengers and
$12,0O0,0OO in the dividends
Our exports Of agricultural products
have decreased 1890, 100000. Unfortu-
nately. we have not the statistics to
show how disastrous has been the eff
feet upon our manufacturing Industries
since the German Tariff bill went into
operation: we know. however. that in
many industries the production and
prices have decreased almost one-half.
The facts In regard to the per capita
circulation of money show that IL is not
for want of money nor Of good money
that all this trouble has arisen. That
depreciation of prices has not been
caused by the demonetizatiOn of silver
Is self-evident: for. according to off,
cial reports. there is at this time s43S,-
100000. or about Sc per capita, Of
standard silver dollars in circulation,
whereas previous to 1873 there never
had been more than twenty cents per
capita.
The change Of administration and
cutting down Of duties has reduced the
revenues of the government so that in
stead of paying off the public debt at
the rate of S70.000,000 year, we have
added about SS7,000,000 annually to the
bonded debt of the country. Now, why
this change? The great falling off in
all departments of business in the last
three years. as indicated by the fore
going statistics, gives a clear insight
into the conditions of the country at
the present time. What. then, is the
matter with the country? If such
facts as these do not indicate to the
voters of the United States for whom
to cast their ballots, we do not know
what will. Terrible as has been the
outcome Of Cleveland's administration,
the election Of Bryan and his party
would more than double the calamities
that have already been brought upon
the people and the nation.