New-York tribune., 1896-12-31
Mr.. BRYAN'S LATEST.

Mr. Bryan might profitably realize that he has
no longer the excuse for Justification which. to
some charitable minds. the excitement of Pres
idenla campaign may have given him. His
assertion that Republican success has not caused
the prosperity which was promised has in il
essential untruth for prosperity is relative
term. and no one can deny that the country is
far more prosperous than when there was sup
posed TO he a chance Of his election. More manu-
featuring establishments by at least 800 are at
work. the number Of hands employed has in
creased about half million. the wages Of labor
have In many cases been advanced. there Is no
longer any boarding of gold nor are rates for
money as high as in other countries. and there Is
ample capital for those who can offer fair pros
pect of success in Investment. Actual produc-
ton has increased about so per cent In the iron
and steel manufacture, and largely in other great
Industries, and the prices Of many manufactured
products are more fairly remnneratlve. All
these are definite changes for the better. and TO-
gether do not merely promise but actually bring
a measure Of prosperity which would have
seemed bliss too great for reasonable expecta-
ton to men In the depths last August. Failures
are numerous as they always are toward the
end Of a troubled year. and as they usually are
not In August. and yet neither In number nor
in amount of defaulted liabilities do they at all
compare with those Of last August.
These being facts of everyday record. what
excuse has Mr.. Bryan TO give for his misrepre-
sentation? only this, that the full measure Of
Improvement which Republicans promised TO
bring about when restored to power has not
come before thel. restoration TO power. Not one
sane man believed they could bring about all
the effects Of change In National policy before
any part Of that change could be effected. The
pretcnce that Republican assurances meant any
such thing Is simply dishonest. 1t was and is
claimed by Republicans that when the country
can be restored 10 a wise and sound National
policy the prosperity which has always resulted
from that policy will result again. Mr.. Bryan is
not baby. to be ignorant of this The truth Is
that lie is not ignorant OF 1t.
Some business men, indeed. are disappointed
because the specific results which they imagined
would at once flow from settlement OF the
money question have not been realized. But
they were told all the time by Republicans that
they were deceivlng themselves: that the cause
Of much Of the trouble from which they suffered
was not uncertainty about finances. but the war
fare upon American industries by change or
the tariff Some were not then convinced, but
insisted that being fnanciers or business men.
they must know all about it. and that prosperity
would q; once come back when the monetary
per had been removed. Now all know that for
four years at least there can be no departure
from the gold standard. and yet there are men
who refuse 10 see that Republicans were right.
ana that nothing can bring back the measure OF
prosperity az desire without reversal Of the
Democratic policy as to the tariff.
This was made impossible at the present Sos
sion by Mr.. Bryan's supporters in Congress. and
| by the President also. Nothing could he done
| but to wait until those to whom the people have
intrusted power could begin their work Prepa-