New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-20
THE PASSING or THE HOWLER

Scarcely any feature of our National life since
last falls election has been more conspicuous
than the disappearance of the calamity howl
err" Before that date he was numerous enough
and vocfelous enough. His Mutations made the
South vocal and the West tumultuous, and pene
trated with dread forebodings even the gold
barred Businesses Of the East. Everything was
going, we were told. to the demntion bow
vows; nay had mostly gone. The South was
in 4 more distressful plight than 1t had been
since Sheridan cleaned ont the Valley of Viz
Ginia and ShernaI's 'bummers lived on the
land from Atlanta TO the sea. The West was
becoming wilderness. with farms abandoned
and farmers turned tramps and paupers. Black
ruin was brooding over all the land, and moth
ing but the election of Bryan and the free coin
age Of silver at 16 to ! could save the Nation
from universal bankruptcy.
That. without exaggeratlon is what we were
told But what is the story to-day? Leave out
of consideration the unquestioned revival Of
business in all great centres of trade. the re-
opening Of factories. the rc-employmenl by
scores and hundreds Of thousands Of men who
had been idle since 1893. Take the testimony
that is offered in the very home of the quondam
calamity howlc:" offered. indeed. by that
transmogrlfed prophet himself. The POpulls.
Governor OF Kansas. Of all that party now most
evident to eye and ear declares that in that State
there are no paupers and no tramps. save ran
dom birds of passage from other less-favorel
communities in Kansas. the very State erst-
while most bitterly ground beneath the golden
heel OF plutocrat oppression. And the South.
where lay the strength Of the POpOcratic move
nent will not now give It's former candidate and
idol hearing az n lecturer. being too busy do
ing work and making money. From the Poio-
mac to the Rio Grande nothing is heard but the
hum of revivlng and increasing prosperity and
the voice Of satisfaction Of those who are en-
joying it.
And yet the very thing has come to pass which
provoked the calamity howlcr's" most lurid
and abhorrcnt vaccinations. If he spoke truly
six months ago we should by this time have
reached eternal smash That he did not speak
truly is evident. The question is, Did he speak
sincerely? We all remember the lamented
Henry Grady's passionate prediction Of the great
wave Of woe and desolaton that would engulf
the South If Harrison were elected in 1855; and
how signally it was not fulfilled. No doubt he
was in earnest. and really believed his fears
would be realized But were these later prophets
of evil equally sincere? Or were their dark
JOTeDOulnSS loI 'ailIpdieh uSt onil -SOou tuousH
scarccrows till after election? There are not
few who, in spite Of charitable desires. will he
constrained 10 take the latter view.
"IIOwsOeer these things may be- II Is 4 sweet
relief TO be rid Of the calamity howler" He
was always grewsome creature. even when
there was some shadow Of reason for his fore
bodngs. But when. just rs the night was pass
ing he afrOnted the rising day with black Ia
'ments. when after a debauch OF 'pcriidy and
dshonor' he rallied against n return to right and
honor rs rnnoms, he became an intolcrable aiiiIc-
ton lie Is scf-convctcd OTTO put 1t chara-
blyan error so gross as TO he wellniGh a crime,
and he vanlshes into the limbo of exploded
booms amid the fervent thankfuness OF the
whole Nation-even Of his former dupes. 1t was