Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-23

SANGTTNF FORECASTS
Speeches were made Thursday by two
men who are at the head of great busi-
ness enterprises. In which they referred
TO the continued depression and ex-
pressed opinions regarding the outlook.
one Of these Is Chaunccy NJ Dcpew,
president of the New York Central rail-
road. the other Andrew Carnegie, the
head of the largest iron and steel works
in tie United States, If not in the world.
1t Is needless TO say that these gentle
men are close and deeply Interested
observers Of business conditions and that
by reason Of their intimate connection
with financial and commercial Affairs
their Judgment respecting the future OF
business is entitled TO great considera-
tion.
They are confident that the United
States Is soon to enter upon period
of genuine and general prosperity. Both
of them see in the fact of this country
having to its credit in the foreign trade
several hundred millions of dollars as
surauce of inevitable Improvement
in business conditions. In reference to
this Mr. Depcw said: ut only needs
confidence in the stability of legislation
and administration for the next four
years for that golden current to flow
into new enterprises, giving new EN-
poyment and stimulation to every i'll
dustry of farm. of mine and of factory
Mr.. Carnegie said: "UnleSs some sur
prise is sprung upon the country nothing
can hold it back from period of gen
uine prosperity. | am optimistic to
degree in regard to the future These
are the deliberate opinions Of men who
are in u position to take Il compre-
hensive view of the situation and VINO
are enlightened by constant contact
with other men of large affairs. They
are encouraging and reassuring.
Those who complain that there has
not taken place complete revival OF
business fail to consider that the policy
which brought about depression is still
in operation and that the party chosen
to apply remedy is not yet in power.
Moreover there is some uncertainty rs to
whether that party will be permitted
to carry out its policy. The political
elements which defeated its effort in the
present congress to give the government
needed revenue will be strong in the
next congress and may again defeat re-
publican endeavor to put into effect Il
policy necessary at once to the solvency
of the government and to the revival of
industrial activity. If 1t were assured
that judicious tariff bill could be
promptly passed in the senate of the
Fifty-fifth congress there is no doubt
that an industrial revival would antici'
pate such legislation. As it is, men en-
gagged in enterprises affected by the
tariff are quite naturally disposed TO wait
until the question of Il change of policy
is settled. This delay in putting the
industries into operation is hurtful to all
interests.
What the country is sure of is the
maintenance of the existing monetary
standard for at least four years. There
will be nothing done during that period
to debase the currency. This is of very
vital Importance, because it insures
financial confidence. But something
more is needed to give prosperity. All
the people must be given an opportunity
to earn. This the republican party pro
poses to provide and it Will do so If the
opponents of its policy and those who
would overturn the monetary system OF
the country will give it the chance. APP
to do with the tardy revival of business
and the slow return of prosperity.
But the situation is unQuestiOnably
better than n year ago and there are
substantial reasons for thinking that it
will continue TO improve. Those who
intelligently investigate the conditions
must take hopeful view of the future.