The Forrest City times., 1897-07-23
M'KINLEY PROSPERITY.
More Burdens and Less Wages feU
 the People.


 , We are told as an evidence of the pros- perity which it is claimed has come upon the country that there is money and to spare in the vaults of the nation- al exchequer. Such money as is there is taken from the pockets of the people. who need it far more than the govern ment needs it. but there is a certain class of people who assume that the government is a rich beneficence total ly apart from the people. and they fam cy that because in their eagerness to prevent the harsher burdens of taxa ton proposed by the Dngley bill citi- gems of the United States have hastened to withdraw imported goods from ware houses and to fill their stores with such as they need, and thereby accumulated duties in the treasury. the fact is evil dence of prosperity. These are persons who look to the gold reserve as a sort of fetich and to large treasury balance as not only temporal but also eternal salvation.
 What prosperity is there in the very significant fact that many good banks in Chicago passed their dividend in July and that others reduced the amount so paid? The management by these bank CTS is prudent. but it Is not manifes- tation of prosperity. Prosperity does not show itself in that way. Prosperity does not shorten sail.
 Nor is prosperity seen in the fact that great number of coal miners throughout the United States have con- cluded to walk out rather than be sub jected to the furtaer reductions and hardships by rline owners who enjoy a protective tariff on bituminous coal. There is no prosperity in the fact that 150.0o0 workingmen have quit, while unnumbered thousands have no oppor- tunity for work.
 One may speculate if he choose upon the time when prosperity will present itself, but whose asserts that it is here now is stupid. When prosperity comes the people who need 1t greatly will know that 1t is here. There need come no ghost from the grave of the treasury department to tell us that prosperity has arrived. Prosperity is not thing that can be made by governments any more than by individuals, though both may unmake it by foolish intervention, by rapine, by idleness, by living on the fruits of other peoples toll as govern ments do and do properly when they confine themselves strictly to the dis charge of an ascertained function of government. and improperly. disas- trously, when they assume that govern ment is some great necromancy which. by exacting tribute from the people for the benefit of protected class. may make prosperity. They make prosper ity for the protected class. but what of the infinite number of the unprotected?
 Republican leaders are very anxious to impress upon the people that pros- perity has arrived. The people win believe it when they see it. They have had the same old assurance from these same old party leaders so often and so untruthful that they are through with them. Prosperity by the election of Mckinley; prosperity by the inaugura- tion of Mckinley; prosperity by the ap- pointment of Reid as envoy so the queen; prosperity as the result of Me- Kinley's visit 10 the exposition at Nash vile; prosperity because the secretary of the treasury is certain that if is here; To! here is prosperity and there pros perity, but the only visible evidence of prosperity consists in passing divi- den6s and in locking out labor.-Chica- go Chronicle.