The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-31
A GUARANTEE.
SEATTLE, SUNDAY. OCT. 81.
THE DECLINE OF PoPULIsM.

THE oF
The causes which led TO the spread
of Populism were very sad. Mistaken
though many men were who joined the
ranks of the party led by Bryan last
year. commiseration must be extended
to them, for the extent of the suffering
through which the people had passed
can scarcely be conceived. Not only
we're laborers compelled to wander the
streets In enforced idleness, but many
men who had by thrift and self-denial
saved up enough to partly buy home
or lay by modest savings for old age.
saw them all swept away through in
ability TO meet their engagements and
through the closing of banks. Many
people who, as small investors, had
placed their hard-earned surplus IN
mortgage companies. found the values
Of their securities SO deprecated that
the property was scarcely worth fore
closing on. and under an accumulation
OF delinquent taxes which they could
not pay. saw the security pass entirely
beyond their reach, the buyer paying
enough. In turn. for 1t when he had
met the arrears.
Ii was not only the man whose usual
wage was 81 a day who suffered.
There were tens OF thousands who or
dinarily enjoyed good incomes and who
owned their homes, who had scarcely
enough food in their houses TO keep
their families from starving. In less
degree, there were many more who suf-
fered In the deprivation of clothes and
the little niceties of life TO which they
had been accustomed: and the despair
ing faces OF men, the pinched, patient,
wan faces of women were seen on
every side.
And there seemed no prospect of re-
lief. So long had the depression lasted
that the bravest hearts became afro
phied and life looked like future only
OF increasing want and more intense
misery. Is IL any wonder that In those
murky waters people grasped at any
straw of hope held out? is IL any won
der that In the darkness they turned
to the only glimpse of light offering,
although that were only. as they now
know. the ignis fatuus of chimera?
But now all is changed. AS in pro-
longed winter 1t is hard TO believe that
summer will ever come again, as IN
the midst of sodden crops lying on the
field. too low-priced to be worth har-
yesting. ii Is not easy to foresee the
rich. ripened grain growing like
sheaves of gold ready for a dollar mar
ket. so 1t was difficult for men TO feel
faith in return of the sunshine of
prosperity.
But now Il has come; and amid the
rejoicing songs of happy hearts, and
the quiekened steps OF newly revived
confidence, is heard the screech of
Jerry Simpson. who feels his influence
waning. sees his predictions Of ever
lasting woe shattered, and realizes that
the night Of the calamity bowler has
passed away. In speech, few days
ago. he exnlungly cried; Next year
win be short crops. and then Il will be
our turn TO laugh"
Could anything be more brutals
Could anything be more ghoulish than
this expressed hope that suffering
would return TO the people. and that in
their misery be would find the oppor-
tunity for revived political success
What q contrast between the dis
oouraging. pessimistic. selfish. grave
yard reveling In all that Is sad and
heSrirending. and the bright, hopeful.
joyous appeal OF Republiesaism 10 men
20 make the most OF the advantages
OF today. and By prudence and fore
sIght store the grsnsries against the
reaction which experience has so en-
phatically warned Us Is Inevitable In
The Affairs Of men as In the tides Of the
sea,
Popalism is wsa.ag. II "a rot in the
blood Of cur courageous and enterpTis-
ing people to norhidly breed over the
past in the sunlight Of today. II Is rot
In the destiny 81 our nation that II
shall 80 10 destruction IN gloom and
chaos. Men who were aispirltsd and
ruined have already huckle1 on TIE
armor If faith and taken up the weap-
ems Ct cosEage. They are shaking OF
the enforced siotA. clearing their
brains Of TIE ecowebs o. phaatasnAl
eulpirioS. opening their eyes fron out
the nightmare CT folly and error into
which their clssTaaght senses were LED