The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-07-15
/. MODERN JEREMIAH.
wauIes Ventures Some Dire Predictions.

uation which does not seem to be
hy those who consider
prohibition the dominant issue, or
who favor union solely ON the
ground OF opposition % the saloon
The expected wave Of prosperity
does not materialize; and as time
goes on il becomes more apparent
that the inauguration Of Mckinley
~ going % Prov Intellectual ~
means of restoring activity 10 trade
and commerce. The tinancI'rs who
talked 80 giibly OF prosperity and
confidence are in a puzzled silence
now. Nowhere il. the horizon i
there ray of hope for a change
from existing conditions. What
will existing conditions lead to!
What is before uS2 These are
Questions which must be an wered
and taken into account by party
builders
am not an alarmist, but say
with all candor that consider our
lcountry to be in a desperately crit
cal condition; and believing this,
| wish to make few predictions.
A continuation OF present con-
lditons will bear harder upon orr
agricultural population, until the
renters and those who are mort
gagged will be driven into bank
'lruptcy and out OF the business.
This will cause great and constantly
increasing distress, hardship and
ldiscontent, and the next four years
will witness agrarian disturbances
more formidable than have been
known before in the history OF the
world.
The continual impairment OF the
purchasing power OF our farmers
.lwill cause a still further falling Oh
lin the demand for manufactured
goods, with consequent closing OF
factories. and increase in numbers
and suffering among the unem-
ploved. Men driven OIL farms will
,lnelp swell the numbcfs OF the "out-
lof works. and as this class be-
come more hungry ard desperate
the labor unions must fight harder
to hold their own aga nst them, and
every strike will be marked by des-
perate combats between strikers and
a scabs.
! Under the increasing pressure OF
hard times the churches and other
benevolent organizations are be
coming less and less able to take
, care OF the unemployed; and bread
riots of a formidable character will
occur within the next four years.
The ext ten years will be years
of constantly increasing distress,
turmoil and excitement The
ELECTION Of Bryan and free silver IN
1900 will only add fuel to the
flames and hasten the final catas
ltrophe of universal bankruptcy
I'm times Of such peril, distress
and uncertainty as are before ~
the man wi.o tries to tell the peo
q pie that the suppression OF the "a
n loon i the all important issue vii
he laughed at for his pains. One
nf the first consequences Of the IN
creasing pressure Of hard times vii
be the cutting of Of AL support iron
our papers and the prohibition
movement will be killed.
:. There j. but one way Tor Us Y
yet the ear Of the people, and tina
4 by telling the truth; that nothing
: can prevent the destruction OF tn
v republic but complete puriil
I; cation Of our political system; TIA
monopoly in every form must b
u oyerihrown: ana our politics puri
y fled by destroying the liquor traffic
monopoly's great engine Tor coI
J. rupting politics ard enslavlng tn
t pee ple. The single issue idea
!! dead end buried, and for i there
dino resurrection. To join that part
i i to help bury the cause OF prom
AZ btior.
2. These are the times that try men'
souls The saddest and most di-
: couraging sign Of the times, to m'
is the sigh. of the street car men
Chicago and the railroad men
Illinois lining up to protect the co
p.rations against a forced reductlo
in wages. Already these men a
"a robbed Of their manhood by Y
: degrading influence Ct slavery IN
they fight to assist their masters
fastening fetters upon their chlldre
The most dangerous feature
the situation in the apathy, CORFU
ton and seltishness OF the CONNIE
people. II they can be reused
time. and led into a great mor
movement for pure and righteo