The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-24
FARMER MOUNTS TALK
HIS WORDS OF WISDOM AT THE COM
MERCIAL TRAVELLERS MEETING.
The Next Governor OF Indiana Given
an Ovation-some Pertinent Sta
tistfcs as to Finances.

date for Governor, addressed the Travelling
Mems Republican Club at their clubrooms
last evening. There was a big attendance
and the spacious rooms were crowded. The
next Governor of Indiana was given big
ovation. The talk of Mr.. Mount was purely
Informal and, az he expressed IL, was not in
the nature Of campaign keynote.
The rooms were tastefully decorated with
patriotic co,ors-the emblems of the Repub-
lican party. Above the speakers stand
was perched an immense American eagle,
the gift OF Billy" Wright, one of the old
est Republican commercial travellers of this
city. Carey Mcpherson presided and intro
duced Mr.. Mount, who was welcomed with
rousing cheers
He spoke at length of the present depressed
condition Of the country, and the change
that has taken place since 1892, showing how
the Nation has sunk from prosperity to adj
versity, and instead Of being a debt-paying,
has become debt-increasing nation In part
he said: The shrinkage of values since jan
uary, 1898, has cost the country far more
than the cost OF war. The Secretary of
Agriculture, in a report made Feb. Is, 1885,
gives the number OF live animals in the
United States, and their value, from 1868 to
1896. This report shows shrinkage in value
Of live stock on the farms of the United
States since January. 1898, amounting to
$755. 5S0.597 and the shrinkage in numbers to
be 100000 head. Dun & Co.'s weekly re-
view of trade begins a resume of the year
1893 with this startlingly suggestive state
ment: Starting with the largest trade ever
known. mills crowded with work and manu-
facturers stimulated by high hopes, the year
has shown a sudden shrinkage of trade, COM
mercial disasters and depression of indus
tries that Is the worst that has been known
for fifty years. Whether the financial results
of the panic of 1897 were relatively greater,
the records of that time do not clearly
show
"Our commerce In 1892 amounted, in round
figures. to $500, 100000; our exports to more
than $1,000. 900. Our agricultural exports
amounted to s7ss, 100000. This year our agri-
cultural exports amounted to $3.50, OOO, 900,
loss Of s24o.0OO.0O0 In agricultural exports
alone. Our Importation Of agricultural
German tariff bill. For the year ending Dec.
I, 1895. we imported 100000 pounds of wool.
amounted to sO7 In this we fnd the
sequel or agricultural depression In this
country. Why this changed condition? Ii
laws governing the finances of the country,
but by the uncertainty OF Democratic legis-
lation on the subject of dinances and by the
opening OF our markets to the products OF
foreign farms, foreign factories and foreign
shops. and by the repeal OF the reciprocal
trade laws, Which had secured neW~Qnarkets
mills.
.''In the Democratic platform of 1892 was
clause declaring in favor of the repeal OF the
l0-per-cent. State bank tax. This created
uncertainty as to whether we were about to
return Tburn to wildcat system of currency.
as 10 their position in the money question.
Inc business men, wage-earnerS and farm
monetary system. and a dollar that will be
try.
REPUBLICAN FINANCES.
when the Republican party came into
power in 1861 it found s2O7. 100000 of State
bank money in circulation, attended with
uncertainty. inconvenience and loss. There
was in circulation s235, 100000 OF gold and
silver, with s6,Oo0,000 in the treasury a per
capita circulation Of 1885. They created a
national system of finances that met the
exigencies of war and the demands of peace.
In 1892 there was in circulation 81. soc, COO 600
Szi.4o per caplta-besides more than 5000, Co.,
VuV or gold and silver in the treasury and
suptreasury of the United States, every dol
s ear OF which was good IN every State and
which saved the country from financial ruin
IN perious times of war and gave us the
best monetary system in the world, can be
sound money, sufficient in volume and fiex-
IDLE enough to meet the demands of trade"
In discussing the tariff question Mr.. Mount
sald: Tne Republican party created a sys-
tenn of tariff duties that sent labor into the
forests, fields, shops, factories and mines
and from our own furnaces, shops. mills and
factories turned out the munitions of war
and supplied the wants and commerce of
the country. The products of our manufac-
in 1892 Sym farms s increased ia iSe sgo To
z,Uo,Uo to 100000, with products quad
rupIed. Railroads increased from 10000 miles
eoun s4S % fro@ to we s. CT sse
capital invested IN manufacturing enter
prises from $1,000, 600 to 5000. O0O. 600:
wages paid by manufacturers from $S7S, &c.,
600 to 5000, 900; Accommodations in savings
banks from sl4s. "a, 600, or s4.75 per capita,
tional debt Aug. 81, 1865, was $3.50. 647, S6s:
Jan. l, 1893, the interest-bearing debt was
sss5. 600 600: Under this tariff law, the cur
interest on the debt had been paid, and
81, 796, 900 OF the principal had been cam
celed during this period.
PROSPERITY UNDER HARRISON.
"The climax of prosperity was attained
during the able and patriotic administration
Of Indiana's illustrious statesman, Gen. Ben
jamin Harrison. cloud applause) The tariff
law enacted during his administration, COM
binins the wise provisions of protection and
reciprocity, gave to our country its greatest
Of Maj William Mckinley. (Applause) With
the induction OF the Democratic party into
power came uncertainty. paralyzed business,
shrinkage Of values and increase of debt Not
one year has there been during the thirty
two years or the administration of the Re-
publican laws but what there was a sur
plus TO apply to the payment OF the debt.
The calamity message OF President Cleve-
land In 1893 finds counterpart in the mes
sage OF President Tyler in 1912 and Mr.. Blu
chanans message in 1851. Mr.. Tyler in two
messages sent to Congress within two weeks
time, plainly noted the cause Of deficient rev.
enues in these terse words: The diminution
OF revenue arising from great diminution OF
promise act necessarily involves the treas
ury IN embarrassment In 1857 Mr. Buchanan
called the attention OF Congress to the fact
sands of laborers were thrown out of work
and reduced TO want and that the country,
from a financial point Of view, was In
condition most alarming The cause of the
paralyzed condition of the industries of the
country and the deficient revenue were at
tributed by these Presidents of the United
States to the reduction of the tariff duties
Mr.. Cleveland, in his message, seeks TO find
some other scapegoat to bear away the sins
OF Democratic incompeIency"
In conclusion Mr.. Mount said: with the
return of the Republican party to power
with protection and reciprocity with a safe
and stable currency, idle men will find en-
ployment silent wheels will again revolve
fires will be kindled in the furnaces and la
Dor everywhere employed at remunerative