The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-11-27

ALREADY we hear of suspensions in
the line of industrial enterprises and
read of the dismissal of thousands of
laborers and in other cases we see
where wages have been reduced. This
does not look cheering for that promis-
ed era of good times which we were
told would come in the event of Nc
Kinley's election. Of course, it is not
fair to suppose that things would open
up at once, yet the election was hardly
over before the foolish statements were
made that already things were BOOM
ing. AS for ourselves, we can see no
reason why things should boom. We
cannot understand why furnaces should
be started anew, or manufacturing ell
terprises commenced, when we have
the same condition of affairs staring us
in the face as have confronted us for
the past four, five and six years. we
do not believe that there is any reason
to hope for or expect better times.
We have the same financial policy
which has produced depression, and
unless this is changed in some way,
prosperity will be slow dawning upon
the land. The increase in the price of
wheat, owing to the famine in India,
has induced the Over-sanguine to eX-
pect further increase in price, but
this is simply the effect of supply and
demand. There was o scarcity of
wheat in India, consequently the
price was high. 1t is the well known
theory, as.you make things scarce you
make them high, or make them plen-
tiful and you make them cheap. The
high price of wheat, however, is not
sufficient to bring about the prosperity
that was promised, for while it may
enrich some few farmers but more
spectators, it will likewise cause flour
to increase in price and bread become
higher for those who constitute the
vast army of consumers, and as they
will have less work and less wages,
times will be harder for them in every
way. What is the remedy? And this
is the question. The past legislation
has all been in the interest of the
trusts and combinations. Gold has
been boarded and made scarce and
has consequently become a marketable
commodity. Whether it will continue
to stay in its hiding places will depend
upon the legislation of the Congress
which will start with Mr.. McKinley's
administration. 1t is an admitted
fact that the receipts of the govern
ment are not sufficient to meet it's eX-
penditures, and in order to escape a
continuance of this condition of affairs
some action must be taken by Congress
to increase the tariff or authorize the
issue of more bonds. AS it is not q
popular thing to issue bonds in time of
peace, it is hardly possible that Nc
Kinley will fall into the error made by
Mr. Cleveland, who unfortunately re-
fused to counsel with his party leaders,
and allowed embarrassing conditions
to fall upon the country which could
have been prevented if fair and just
spirit of compromise had pervaded the
counsels of the party. AS bonds will
not be issued, Congress must therefore
rise to the requirements of the situa-
ton and devise the means of rescue for
most embarrassing situation. The
Republican party to-day is by no
means united upon any single line of
relief. The Dingley bill does not meet
the approval of many of the Republi-
can leaders and it is a question
whether that particular bill could pass
the Senate where it has already had a
precarious existence. Mckinley be-
ing in accord with the high tariff bar
ons and under obligations to rich man
ufacturers, who contributed millions
to buy up the late election, will natu-
rally be inclined for an increase of tar
iff all along the line. Nothing is like
ly to be done by the present Congress,
which expires in March. The question,
therefore, is a serious one and time
alone will be able to solve the problem.