The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-01-08
Harder Times Ahead.


dented vehemence that confidence"
which had been lost, if restored by the
election of Mr.. Mckinley, that business
which had been growing steadily worse,
would be Immediately restored, and that
as soon as it was known that McKinley's
election was secured the throb of return
ing prosperity and a general revival of
business would be felt throughout the
country. This was asserted and insisted
with such vehemence; and at the same
time the most direful results were, not
only predicted, but threatened, if Bryan
was elected, that people were frightened
and fairly demoralized. Large mauufac-
turing establishments were closed to
await the result of the election, or the
men told that they would close perhaps
never to resume work again if Bryan was
elected Railroad companies notified
their employees that the election of Mr..
Bryan would bring disaster to the COM
panies and lower wages, short hours and
curtailment of force. The banks notified
their clients that the failure to elect
| Mckinley meant a restriction of loans on
their part, which would not fail to bring.
untold disaster to business men and such
financial panic as never had been ex-
perienced. The country fairly rever-
berated with predictions Of sure disaster
on the one hand and the most solemn
promises and assurance on the other of
speedy revival of business seldom wit
messed if Mckinley was elected. Hun
dreds of thousands were actually scared
half out of their wits-people who did
not understand present economic condi-
tions, believed the exaggerated stories and
fact.
Those who had studied and clearly
comprehended the cause of the hard
times, assured and pointed out to the
people that they were being deceived,
that the promises made them with so
much solemnity were impossible of full
filment, that the means proposed by their
deceivers could not bring prosperity to
business. But the loud clamor and
frightful predictions frightened the peo-
pie into the trap the gold trust and com
hiua6 t1,or0,N1iae l,ol TO
And now with the election of Mckinley
what do we see? Is there any more
confidence" apparent than before?
Mills are not opening but on the contrary
they are closing or remaining closed.
The largest American carpet factory-and
the largest in the world-has closed since
the elections. Railroads have laid off
men by the thousand and shortened hours
with shortened wages. Coal miners are
reducing the already Starvation wages of
their men. Hundreds of the great bus
mess firms throughout the country are
being placed into receivers hands, banks
are being closed every week Here at
home in our little county of Cecil mort
cages continue to be foreclosed and prop
erty sold for song. The Singerly en-
ployes we're made to understand that
Bryan's election meant closing of the
works.
What was behind all these mingled
threats and promises? The New York
banks and the gold trust. Every railroad
manager, every factory operator who
knows anything about financial laws,
knew that without money people could
not buy and ship goods and travel, and
that without these railroads bave no
option, but to take off freight trains, lay
off hands and cut down salaries. 1t is
the same with manufacturers They
cannot sell goods when the people are
without money and employment, and
they can have neither with falling prices
Nothing is surer than that.
Every railroad manager and every
manufacturer who knows anything about
the laws of trade knows, and knew all the
while they were insisting with such vehe-
mence for the election of Mckinley, and
protesting against the election of Bryan,
that they must go into bankruptcy unless
the people were enabled to sustain them.
They knew as we'll as they understood any
business principle that the RECOMMENDATION
OF silver would put more money into cir
culation, which is the only possible road
to revival of business. We say these
men who knew anything of the laws of
trade knew this Then why did they
oppose Bryan and the rehabiliment OF
silver? Because they are all in the power
OF the English money trust. Every rail
road in the country, every factory, every
large business firm is in the power of that
trust and none dare say it nay under
penalty of speedy ruin.
The desolation the Bryan party leaders
foretold is going right on; the revival of
business, the restoration of confidence"
which the Mckinley leaders predicted
have not come, will not come and cannot
come, no more than thistles can grow
grapes.
The government revenues are behind
expenditures and no tariff that can be
laid will restore them. A higher tariff
Will increase the price of goods. The
people cannot pay higher prices and