The Forrest City times., 1897-06-25
DESPAIR OF REPUBLICANS.
Disappointment and Lack Of Cou rage
 Showing.

Showing.
 At some risk of being accused of party lukewarmness the Republic de- precates the disposition on the part of many republicans to take a gloomy view of the business situation and to make bitter complaint of the failure ot the republican administration to real ize the glowing ante-election predic- tions of prosperity indulged in by ad- vance agents and press agents of the Hanna syndicate.
 It is true that the existing situation is not encouraging. The general bank ciearances, in sharp contrast with a large gain in St. Louis. indicated fall ing off in business last week. Reports from the industrial centers. particular ly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the states most favored by protection, show tenn porarily, at least, an intensification of business depression resulting in the re- duction of wages and production. and in an increase of business failures.
 But these results are in great measure caused by special rather than general business conditions. Much of it can be traced to the wholesale tariff tinker ing of the republicans in congress. The conditions favorable to business reac- tion, which the Republic has pointed out, still exist. We have sold an enor nous quantity of stuff abroad. and have an easy treasury and a great balance of trade in our favor. Exceptionally fine crops of garden products have been marketed, and the prospect of the grain and cotton crops. except in few locali- ties, was never better. If the repub- licans had refrained from business-dis- turbing legislation these favorable con ditions, despite the opposing influence of a bad monetary system, would have resulted in measure of business re- lief. The republicans deliberately and in the face of solemn warning took the one step sure to prevent a return to prosperity by yielding to the pressure in favor of tariff legislation for the benefit of the bounty grabbers.
 There are truth and justice, there fore, ip Mir. Wanamaker's arraignment of the republican party for .promis- ing immediate prosperity and then do- ing nothing to help it along. While the gloomy bitterness expressed by him and echoed by masses of republicans are not fully justified and indicate an unmanly and foolish attitude, yet there is extenuation for the weakness. They are the victims of misrepresentation and deception. They were led to trust in the blossoming rod and the stimu- lating fetich. To the disappointment following false prophecy is added irri- tation over continued misrepresenta- tion to cover political deception.
 No bitter resentfulness affects the Republic and the rational people who placed no confidence in bombastic cam paign predictions and do not believe in fiat prosperity. We suffer neither the disappointment of misplaced faith in the McKinley's rabbit foot nor the hu- initiation of the false prophet. We are still able to discern the conditions that make for better times and to believe that they will work out measure of salvation despite the follies and the blunders of the fetich worshipers and the fiat prosperity agents. We believe the American people have enough strength, energy and resources to with stand the blight of McKinleyism. We advise our discouraged republican friends to swallow their party disap- rointment and keep up courage and cheer.-St. Louis Republic.