The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-09
CHIMES" AND POLITICS.


That stratum of mind that lies under
what may be called the average of in
telligence unquestiorlably accepts some
occult relation as existing between
financial conditions and the govern
ment. 1t reasons from condolences in
which it places government as the
primal cause whence all effects flow. If
'times are hard or if "times are
good" it attributes either to COVER
ment and casts it's votes against it in
the one case and for it in the other.
Politicians of the "get there kind
long since discovered this, and as the
superior strata, which see more dis
tinctly the true causes and their eff
fects, are mainly a quite evenly divided
minority, the strata of lesser intellect
are the quantity that controls. Conse-
Cuently we find the politicians of any
party taking advantage of financial
conditions to make Roadway or retain
position won. If 'times are hard" we
find the editors and stumpers and hust-
lers Of the party that is out charging
the situation, with stimulation of fierce
earnestness, upon the government;
while, if the contrary is the condition,
its advocates point to the coincident
prosperity and their mana cement, and
ask the voters why they should wan:
a change.
So common has this become that, in
those cases where financial depressions
are measurably chargeable to misgov-
eminent, as during the panic and the
years following,it becomes very difficult
to impress even upon the upper strata
the truth Of the case; for it has become
too indurated to this cry Of wolf to
regard any warning as serious.
Government, by its interference and
meddling with industrial conditions. or
by forcing adoption Of mischievous
monetary methods, can very seriously
affect the financial condition of its
subjects; but, aside from this, times are
hard in those periods when individual
folly, extravaganza, speculation, I'M
thrift, have run to their certain col
lapse, and they become good when the
enforced economies have induced thrift
and accumulation Of money, represent
ing wealth. which, like all wealth. men
seek to put at earning more. Thence
comes that activity of business that
men call good times, gradually accel-
Grating its pace until it again becomes
feverish, running on with ever increas-
ing pace until the inevitable collapse
comes. and again we have hard times"
Then, with scarce failing of the rule.
the party in power goes out, driven Out
by an electorate convinced out Of their
own suffering and the artful declana-
ton of the ''outs" that the government
is responsible for their woes.
While it is hardly credtable to the
intelligence of people whose majority
can be thus hoodwinked and whose
reasoning faculties lie below thei1
throats, it is one of the facts of politics
of which politicians of all parties and
d.
vantage. Should there come coinci-
dentally with the accession of the
outs" industrial and financial condi-
lions that relieve the depression. mere
~ fortuitous juncture Of circum-
stance" the newly installed Gins"
point with PRIDE to the relief. and
commend the electors for their sumo
rior wisdom in changing the govern
mental control. And the gullible cleo
tCrate, seeing only the coincidence of
improved conditions and the change of
party control in government, associate
the two as effect and cause, and f1atter
themselves on the soundness Of their
judgment. Such use of "hard times"
we have recently seen, and now we are
seeing the merely synchronous occur
renee Of good crops, better prices here
with short crops abroad, and the er
fects Of the frugality Of the four wears
Of depression, with the restoration of
rejected party and it's pet policy again
paraded noisily and persistently as re-
lated cause and effects. Later. when
contests for control are again on. we
shall have again the plea of the '1ns."
why change? Did we not give you
good times?" Did not our opponents
bring you hard times?" And theNan-
swer will test whether there has been
any advance in general intelligence
and capacity for correct reasoning.