The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-23
TIE OUTLOOK.

The other evening our esteemed con-
temporary the Telegram published the
Interesting and informing results OF a
large pum Der OF interviews with Provi-
derce manufacturers and merchants
upon the business OUTLOOK.
From the opinions therein expressed we
note two important points. One is that
| the business boom that we hear so mucn
about as following upon the election Is
not yet fairly unoer way in this vicinity
and the other is that however bright the
outlook, IT 10 still shsdowed by the VIII
son German tsrif nil.
The first exception will take care of
itself Providence could hardly feel the
renewed impetus 80 quickly as New York,
for instance, and the West have
felt 1t. On the other hand 1t
will be recalled that the hard times
old not strike ns here so quickly as they
came upon larger communities and some
other parts OF the country. Our mills,
as a rule, did not shut down or go on
short time and our bank interest did
not go up for considerable periot after
other communities were suffering. IL is
q matter OF experience, We believe, that
IN this LEGALITY. our industries and busl-
ness follow rather than lead in an up
ward movement or downward ton
oency, while in good times OF steady
business confidence and smooth running
tho conditions OF trade business ana in
dustry,ot capital and wages, are not more
favorable TO all concerned anywhere In
the land than in these plantations. IL
times are better as they evidently are, il
business general y has taken q jump to-
ward prosperity, Providence viii be with
tho move in due time. This feature OF
he local situation as contras;ed with
the general situation need occasion no
concern. We shall arrive all right.
Toe other exception taken to too san
game view Of the outlook is suggested
In the interviews, but in none OF them Is
II put with greater force, ciearness and
thoroGghness OF exposition, considering
limited space, than by the response to
the Ielegrsm's queries by President -.
hnt ~ kt.o
Engine Company, whose views We have
pleasure in reprinting In another
column. We can add little to the eluci.
daticn OF the view 30 widely held hy
business men throughout the coun-
trg as given by President THoMP-
soS. The verify of the case he
makes SO clearly cannot fail to receive |
general recognition. The fact Is, OF
ouese, that the conditions today are |
exsctlJ ths same as they were before tAe
election, so far as the tariff Is concerned.
While the silver agitation contributed |
10 make a bad matter worse ii WAS a bad |
matter before the currency question was
hought Of. We had had more than two
years OF depressed industries, tight money,
ow wages or no wages, bread funds and
'oup kitchens, with which the silver
question had nothing at all to do and
hey continued up to the ii ne that the tar
n i,sae-the making OF which by the Dem
,crscy, would have resulted in a sweep
ug Reprbli nm victory-was sioetreck.d
ma shelved for the fres silver oelu,ion--.
,arCly less a dclusion, be it said taan the
Democratic idea of tariff reform as rla-
erially expressed in the wilson tior n IN
aric. The free silver agitation depressed
.usiness still further. 1t threw mud
nto an algady stagnant pool. But it's
tissoIu Ion by tho overw helming vote of
he American psopie by no means relieved
he business conditions from anything
'ut what may be called the artificial dc.
,rsssing due to fear. he actual cause OF
oppression, the Infamous and reckless
aIif legislation, when even President
-as- the grand -maaLar OF taria
eform could not bring himself To en-.
orse, with his signature, but, on the con
rary he referred to IL as a measure OF
psrtidy and dishonor, F" was, and is still
n operation, and the outlook cannot be
right until a wisely protective tariff is
uhstitCted for H.. II II looks brighter
oday il is because OF the prospect of a
roteciion tariff by the Repu blicsn party
ledged to wise tsriT measure.
We commend to our fellow-eitizsns Il
arefnl reading OF President THoMPsoN's
Jews. Ihev are interesting and in