The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-07
Daily eagle
NJ. NJ. MURDOCH. Editor.
THE SLEEP OF SUSPICION.

Business confidence, said Mirabeau
Is suspicion asleep" The average citi-
zen in the United States votes for about
twelve presidents. That is, he takes
part in twelve presidential campaigns
When resident is elected he serves for
four years. Immediately upon his cleo
ton a great portion Of the public loosen
the bands of their partisan bitterness
and do not tighten their political preJu-
dices, as a bow-string is frightened Tor
battle, until the near approach OF an
other presidential election
But since Populism made its appear
ance its lea iers have attempted. are sui
attempting today, TO screw partisan
rancor and political prejudice up TO its
highest point and keep there for four
years In brief, they have essayed to
make the presidential campaign in this
country perpetual They expect every
one of their followers, and in speeches
they excite them, TO be as rabid and I'M
reasonable, as anxious and prejudiced
as they are a few days before the cleo
ton
Does this wake up that suspicion
which Mira beau says is asleep? Does a
perpetual howl that a president just
elected by the sovereign votes Of the
people is a rascal, a thief and a nation
wrecker serve TO induce confidence be-
tween man and man? Does the inces-
SAINT whine that the country IS going to
the dogs, that every man possessed or
little wealth is one of great combine
TO rob his poorer brothers, act as era
die to the nOdding child Of commerce?
Does the restoration of a portion Of
prosperity deserve TO be branded an
grily, as Jerry Simpson brands 1t, as
temporary" and does such branding
Of ii serve TO make trustfulness and the
sleep Of business suspicion and business
fear, more sound?
1t is not necessary TO answer the
questions Jerry Simpson and other
Populist leaders are doing their utmost
to wake up suspicion; they are doing
their utmost to turn man IN fear of his
fellow man; they are doing their utmost
to break up every vesdge Of business
faith In Institutions: they sloat over
every failure; they weep crocodile tears
of joy with every loser in a bankruptcy;
they rejoice gleefully at every down
ward turn of fhs wheat market and
bray that it shall go lower still
Can you afford to uphold them or
Populis1n anywhere. -Four years Is
quite large percentage Of your life ON
this earth. If you are a Populist,
Democrat or Single Taxer, Prohibi-
zionist, a what-not, can It possibly be to
your eneflt to have in this country
four kof extremely hard times for
the Tpose of saying that your
hictions aGnt N"Fir Us admins
alton WEI -: Are you so alb
sorbed in ylitiA You IAN thT all
your uaHial int to the p for
the satss,,.f helpingA e up I spi-
cia(eaf. IL "a going sic - and
mad ,od ard satisf praise
worthy r~ward in the lie fact
that ); u sad ''hard times Id con-
tinue under Mckinley, and ~ da?"
Is politics and the private purse inter
esrs of few Populist leaders SO vital TO
you that fo1 the sake OF their prosperity
through official salaries. that for the
sake of them you can afford to raise |
your voice In helping bear cut predic- |
ton that you made last year in the heat |
of the campaign, that hard times would |
continue? Can you AFFORD for the pref
ty and fascinating game of politics, can
you afford for the pride of proving your !
boast of year ago correct, can you af-
ford to take one-tweifth of your voting
time out Of your life for the sake Of
proving a political belief, can you af-
ford to do all these things from pure
" commercial standpoint?
If you can, 20 on bowling calamity |
with the others. The country will pros
per without you and in spite Of you. If
You cannot afford to do this, then quit
Ii, quit the leaders who are practiclng
1t. quit Populism
Confidence is Suspicion asleep" It Is
n wakeful child 1t has been for four
years very sick child. II IS getting
well. 1t Is at last going 10 sleep. There
is a chariYac4 party outside the sick
room with tin pans and horse-fddleS
and tom-toms and direful predictions
trying TO wake Rodding confidence up. |
X esp out Of that crowd. You owe 1t 10
yourself, TO your family and 10 your
country.