The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-04-10
"a uNFulFILLEp PRoMlsE.
bow the People We're asoId9 by the
McEtlnleE Crowd.


bow tke People Were asoId9 by the
Mckinley Crowd.
The general public has become some
what accustomed to the great disap-
pointment it began TO experience
shortly after the November election be-
cause Of the failure of the promised
prosperity to ~materialize, and, as q
consequence, We don't hear so much
about it now as we did a couple of
months ago. It having been settled
that the promise of prosperity was
nothing more than a bunco game, the
peopIe have philosophically set them
selves to the task of bearing the hard
times and the growing stringency as
best they can, satisfied, at least, that
they were successfully worked"
Occasionally, however, we still find
expressions Of dissatisfaction; sarcas-
tic comments on the %gullibility Of the
public, and caustic references to the
grand republican rainbow of promise,
IN contemplation of which the Ameri-
can people were SO easily "sold." Rev.
III. G. Hogan, Of Forest City, Pa, a
Methodist clergyman, who is we'll
known In this city, recently wrote a
letter to the Carbonate Leader, bear
ING on the republican promise of pros
perity, and the pith Of his communion
Lion IS found in the following excerpt:
n amlooking for the Advance Agent Of
Prosperity Evidently be is lost, stolen OF
strayed, and I want to e word to the
public through your valuable paper.
"a few months ago we were told to vote
for mckinley and Prosperity The under
signed then stated that the people could
get Mckinley by voting for him, but cub
ed ii this would bring prosperity. To-day
reports from the large cities relative to
the number Of unemployed show that there
are over 4.5e0,000 men out of work. There
are 100000 In New York, 10000 in Philadel-
mia. $4,000 In San Francisco, $4,000 in De-
froit, 10000 in CleveNnnd, 1900 in Cincin-
natl. 5000 in Boston, and so on. During bhe
past few weeks widespread destitution has
been reported by the papers.
Where is the prosperity that was to
follow?
"Tt wnl hardly satisfy US to say that
Mckinley & Co. have not yet gone into
business. Why2 Because they told us all
that was needed to usher in a paradise OF
prosperity was sound money and conf
dence.' BY sound money was meant the
existing gold standard that we now have,
and Immediately after the election Ignorant
partisans and pulpit orators pointed with
pride to the great boom in business as q
proof that the announcement of republican
success had brought us an overproductior
of confidence
'-But since the late 1amented election
many private banks, miscalled national
have gone republican, too. Over 80 of these
banks at the west failed during the month
of December.
Here in Forest City, preceding the cleo
ton, many patriots were especially anx-
ious4 to save the honor of the nation. They
held a meeting in the opera house, at which
& certain ancient statesman d~iscoursed or
the beauties of sound money and conf
dence. The boys organized and sat VI
nights to sing for Mckinley and Protec'
tion,' n they are now getting it at tht
rate of seven days per month. e ever
tramped in parades with the bosses In
command in carriages. And 10! even tht
bosses hav now been placed on hal
time. A thing which has never been known
before the advent of the Advance Agent Of
Prosperity
'sThat confidence game was a success
in one way, but fails to work the othel
way.
Il notice that many of the preachers whC
50 zealously spoke and voted in favor o
pIutocracy are now asking their pew renters
to contribute food and clothes for thu
support of poverty. 1t is good to feed thu
poor, but It is better to work for conditions
under which none need to be poor. A jus
social and Industrial system would maxi
this possible"
Mr.. Hogan gives strong and graphic
expression to his estimate of the stu
alton, but his view of the s is not
in other respects, a whit different from
the view entertained by the people, wis
are not saying much, of course, bu
who are perfectly satisfied that the.
were "roped in" For it is hardly to b,
doubted that the promise of prosperit,
saved the major and his party last No
vember.-Binghamton IN. W Leader