The Louisiana populist., 1897-05-14


Total northumberland .$95, ZIG, $50
These figures are made UP from quo
tations of Monday Nov 9, and Mon
day, Jan. 25.
During the campaign these compa-
nies took an active part, organized
their employees into sound money clubs,
and marched them through the streets
OF our cities under sound money BAN
ners. A shrinkage of $S5,OOO,O00 in the
stock of ten companies doesn't look
much like prosperity, although we ac-
knowledge that the money is sound
enough. Before we get through with
the gold standard it is to be hoped that
the business men" will get their eyes
open and learn that the kind OF money
that doesn't employ labor never sets
the wheels OF commerce to moving, and
cannot therefore bring prosperity.
| But what will the Republicans do?
They will fume, fuss and fizzle just as
the Democrats did. No sane man be-
lieves that you can make times better
by making taxes higher. There may
and will be, perhaps, better times for
temporary season. Something like a
settled policy will prevail for the next
four years, and this of itself will bring
out some capital which is now unpro-
duetiye, but was "timid'' before the
election. Prices have reached point
so low that it seems we have gone to
bedrock. Naturally they will take a
turn. Railroads are already availing
themselves Of the opportunity to buy
cheap steel rails. When the tide once
turns and prices start upward money
will come from its hiding places, add
to the volume n circulation and assist
prices in their upward tendency. But
all this will not be on account of the
gold standard or increased tariff taxes.
On the other hand it will be in spite OF
them The wonderful resources Of this
country are too tempting for capital to
remain long idle, and it will only do
SO when money is advancing in value
while prices of other things are shrink
ing.
We were told by Republican cam
paign speakers that better times would
prevail Immediately after Mckinley
was elected. They said confidence
would then be restored, business be
stimulated, and prosperity quickly fol-
low. It has now been five months since
The election and Mckinley has been in
stalled as president. Looking back
over the business failures since the
election we find them as follows:
Failures, week ending Nov. Z, 223:
failures week ending Nov. IA, 25S; fail
| ures week ending Nov. 81, 90S; failures
week ending Nov. 2S, 296; failures week
ending Dec. 5, 321; failures week end
7 ing Dec Il, 3S1; failures week ending
| Dec. 10, 3S7; failures week ending Dec.
| 26, S95; failures week ending Jan. 8,
1 4SS: failures week ending Jan. .16, 455;
| failures week ending Jan. %, 429: fail
ures week ending Jan. 80, 3S1!' failures
week ending Feb. 6, Gil; failures week
ending Feb. 13, 301; failures week end
ing Feb. 20. 325.
I This doesn't look much like a re-
turn of confidence or reign Of pros
perity. Whatever may be in store for
us in the future as regards prosperity
at the hands of the Republican party,
there is no mistaking the fact that the
Republican politicians advertised their
show too soon. But the policy Of the
Republican party will not produce good
times. Better times than we have been
having may come in spite of that pol
| icy and an unthinking public may give
| the Republican party credit for It.