The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-10-22

Reed led US TO the conclusion that the
depression of 1s93-1S97 would have
come whether Mr.. Cleveland or Mr.. Har-
rison had been elected in 1892, whether
we had had nigh tariff or low tariff,
tinkering with our financial system or
no tinkering, would have come because
We had enjoyed prosperity in 1S91-'92,
and because hard times follow prosper
ity with unerring certainty.
As a matter of fact. a change in the
sentiment Of the business world from
hopefulness to dependency ever
brings, or rather accompanies, hard
times, but this change in sentiment
does not come with periodical regular
ity, like the swing OF a pendulum. It
comes only when prices are falling; 1t
never comes when prices are rising,
and it is dear money that brings falling
prices. So it is that when man thinkers
with the currency laws so as to make
money scarce and dear, CT when the
supply Of money depending upon the
product Of the gold or silver mines
or both falls short, that men. seeing the
profits of industry undermined by de-
probation in the value OF the products
Of labor, lose incentive to enterprise,
curtail production and we have indus
trial stagnatiOn. Reverse such condi-
tons working for searcer and dearer
money, that is, let it happen that the
supply of money rapidly increase
through increased production of the
precious metals, as happened under the
discoveries Of gold in California and
Australia, or let the currency of the
world be expanded by increased issues
Of paper money as happened during
the Napoleonic wars when England
went on to paper basis, ceased to make
a demand for gold for her domestic
trade for upwards Of 20 years, and thus
left more gold for the use of the rest of
the world, and, money being cheap
ened, prices will rise, there viii be
hopefulness because industry will hold
out the promise of large profits, and
there viii be industrial activity in the
place of stagnation.
Further, there are causes affecting
the world at large, but affecting it in
juriOusly, that bring US national pros
perity in greater or less degree now
| and again. We refer to crop failures
abroad, which put our people in the
way of getting better prices for their
products, and hence higher remunera-
ton for their labor. And this ever en-
courages men to increase production,
makes demand for labor, and thus paves
the way for the coming of prosperity.
This it is that brings a measure of
hopefulness to the wheat grower to-
day, and if our agricultural classes were
interested in nothing but wheat. then
would assuredly come agricultural re-
yival, followed by an increased demand
for manufactured products, and, hence,
manufacturing revival. But, as this is
lar from true, as the corn crop will be
in all probability short Of last years
by 5OO,0CO,00O bushels, so that the erop
though fetching, perhaps, three or four
cents more bushel than a year ago viii
probably bring considerably less money
to the farmer than last years crop, as
the oats crop is also apparently under
last years, so that the advance in price
will be, IN good part, if not all, neutral
lied, and rs with the coming of the new
cotton crop on the market the price of
cotton has suffered a decline that makes
it exceedingly questionable whether OF
no the planter will realize more money
for his cotton crop this year than last.
there is grave reason to doubt the com
Ing of revival. And so far there has
been 40 appreciate revival in industrial
lines, boom in stocks, indeed. which
IS top heavy and threatens to fail crush
ing those Who cannot stand fromunder.
but no boom, no great demand, no
marked increase in prices for the prod
uets Of labor, a fact which nonumber of
mendaeious newspaper reports can hide
from manufacturers and merchants.
The fact is, the foundation for pros
perfty, an increased number Of dollars
in our farmers pockets, which would
make it possible for them to Increase
their purchases Of manufactured goods.
and thus lead to general activity and
prosperity has not been laid, and there
is no certainty that it will be laid. that
Is, no certainty that our farmers viii:
get more money for their crops Of this
year than they get for their crops Of
last. And Il they do not. ofeonrse they
will have RJmore dollars to spend, and
Of course there can come from them.
ard Tor that NATTER from no one else.
ang increased demand for manufac-
spfsd Products. Therefore, Ar. Reed
may pc disappointed in the shsnQe Of
sentiment IRON despoudeney toward
aoPstnlnsss which he tells us IS due.
has set Il IA earnest, and is bound to
continue. bringing sstb 5 { iiilsst.ss Fiial Re-
liyal. Thai change viii not come Unless
there is a basis Tor II. Our agricultural
classes viii not be more hopeful Bat
rather less hopeful. not Yesdler 10 ax-
tend production, bnt rather Inclined TO
eilrtail, Il Despite the rise 10 she price CT
wheat s-ls year labci- brings then nc
mere dsliass man last Years Z shex
eesiizs more dollars i'sass Wilde sad.
siasi7 = basis upon sshseh 70 build lie.
gre ~ zsFiFa.sa Hlgrse that I'll. 81
measured . i'isstes sase ct 5sls hHniaer
81 a91ats tsa i=eti 7alS- YLs- oyer last.
ane asss seysf-al syisl eeIse, FL. then MI
es sssf lncreass g rlie flesAsyl eo1
s.s'iasEQfsss goods. 6 sgel sGbstah,