The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-28
RIDPATH'S VAGARIES

The editor of the Arena INDUCES In
what might be called satirical screed
at the return Of business prosperity. He
assumes that there is such a thing as
prosperity real and prosperity artificial.
After granting, for the sake of the argu-
ment, that bogus prosperity is a think
able proposition, it remains for the read
er to decide whether the present tidal
wave is a counterfeit or not. The tal-
ented historian, and erstwhile ex-college
professor, assumes that increased bank
clearIngs are a myth, that the opening
of the mills is an idle report going the
rounds of the newspapers. that mechan-
les and day laborers are still out of en-
pioyment, that the active movement In
merchandise are only transactions IN
wind, that the increase in loans and
loanable funds is but a clever ruse of
The money powers to create the irnpres-
sion That confidence is restored and tha.
Whatever Improvement the public NAV
nave noted In business conditions is Al
trlbutable TO universal ignorance. In
TACT he assumes everything favorable
10 MS cause, and proves nothing. This
Is indeed most remarkable reasoning
IL IS remarkable from the fact that NOT
one man in million had thought to ac-
count for this so-called trade revival in
That way. Most men are governed In
their judgment by natural evidences of
The senses. When they see prosperity
lhey believe in it. When they hear from
all sources that everybody is prosperous
they accept 1t as a fact When tbev
hnger the cash, deposit It In bank. and
cAeck 1t out TO pay bills, they believe
they have transacted business. When
lhey invest 1t in stocks and real eS+ota
merchandise or machinery, they believe
ihey nave bought something. and when
taXpaying time rolls around. the proof
Is quite conclusive But according to
THIS writer, there is nothing in il. He
tells Us that hard times are srfu unon
u.s. lie would give Us ~ believe that all
the direful prophecies of the immacu-
late Bryan are yet TO be realized. What
Insight. What a gift for the divjnat;on
OF the wicked designs Of the money
marpiots. \ revelation extraordinary
a voice from the interminable depths of
Il matchieSs genius, tells this surprising
version Of our late prosperity,
Granting ali the premises. what Is tho
cure-all? or. rather. first. what is the
sole cause Of this great financial dis
treSS? SIver-the demoneriZarjon of
SILVER. The remedy: Restore silver nv
forcing the government to buy S4.5Ao.-
"o worth Of silver bullion every month
com II into dollars and store II away in
ihe treasury vaults. That IS the WAY N
pay individual debts. That is the way
20 restore prosperity which EVERYDAY
can understand.
As literary production. this article is
mp 10 the standard of lis author. Tbara
IS neither want of style or dear1b NJ
IDEAS. but such ideas The strikins fsa-
lure is III the clever use Of satire. Drjv-
en- TO this last resort. he prostitutes his
great ability as writer by playing up-
on the credulity Of his readers. RELYING
upon his ability 10 tickle the ear with
satire when there is no ground for ar
Snment There is no doubt OF his sin
eer1ty from start to finish. II reads like
half humorous. half conscientious al
tempt to earn his salary. but surely DR.
h'dpath has added nothing 10 his lau-
reis as writer upon economic suhiec,
through this article.