Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-17
RECORD OF ONE YEAR
4 TWELvEMoNTH WITH WILLIAM
M'kiNLEY PRESIDENT.
Even HE Political Enemies Are Forced
to Ackno Wedge the Gratifying Inn
provement I'm the Business Condition
Of the Country.


One Year Of Mckinley.
Hon. william Mckinley, of Ohio, has
been President of the United States for
one year. The campaign that preceded
his election was, in some Of It's fea-
lures, the most notable In the history
Of the country as a direct issue was
made between a sound currency and
financial system which meant nothing
less than repudiati ton Of the govern
ment's obligations. II was the issue OF
national honor against national dis
honor and national triumph in such a
way as to declare to the world that this
was an honest government, one that
meant to pay Its debts in honest mon
ey, worth dollar for dollar, one that
could not and would not defraud its
creditors or repudlate any Of Its obliga-
who had come to Its aid In its hour of
need.
But the victory Of the Republican
candidate for President In that cam
paign meant even more than this. For
a number Of years the business Of the
country had been In depressed con-
dition. Account for II as you may,
capital had grown timid, and instead
of seeking investment In Industrial en-
terprises had hidden itself in the vaults
or found resting place in such invest
ments as could not be affected by the
uncertainties that prevailed In the
markets Of the country. There was no
confidence among business men. Mer-
chants instead Of branching out and
trying to increase their trade, were not
only holding back, but were narrowing
the limits Of their operations, so that II
disaster came upon them, their losses
would be the minimum. A large num-
Der Of the most important industries of
the country were seriously crippled,
and some Of them seemed to be hope
lessly wrecked. Mills had stopped run
ming, mines had been abandoned, and
most OF those factories that were do
ing any work at all were operating on
short time and with less than half the
usual force. The army. Of the unem-
ployed had thousands upon thousands
In its ranks, and seemed to be grow
ing all the time. The treasury Of the
United States, In spite Of repeated
loans, was In a demorallzed condition,
showing larger and larger deficits ev-
cry month.
The outlook, certainly, was not a
cheerful one, and there were very few
who could be convinced that with the
Inauguration of Republican Presi-
MI 70
wise tariff policy would come a COM
plete reversal Of business conditions,
that prosperity would follow close up
on the heels Of adversely, and that a
general trade revival would begin at
once. People pooh-pOOhed the idea.
made fun Of it, laughed at it, until the
change for the better became so mark
ed in all parts of the country-east,
west, north and south--that they had to
stop their jokes at Its expense and ad-
NIT that a marvellous transformation
had occurred. Carrying out the prom
ises made to the people Congress was
called together and tariff bill passed,
one that is by no means perfect, but
one that has already put the treasury
of the country into decent shape, check
ed the monthly deficits and placed the
receipts Of the Government more than
on par with its expenditures.
The country's business revival has
but begun. The record Of the past year.
remarkable though II was In nearly
every branch Of trade and commerce. is
but an earnest of even a greater record
for the second year of this administra-
ton. There have been very few pc
RODS In the history Of this country
when the people were enjoying a larg-
er share Of substantial prosperity than
they are to-day. In view Of this and In
view Of the magnificent work done by
this administration for the good Of this
land, 1t Is now the solemn duty Of the
American people to stand by the man
they have chosen as the chief executive
of the Government under which they
live. Have faith in the President of
the United States. Be assured that he
can be trusted to act with prudence and
discretion, and at the same time, to
uphold the honor of this. the greatest
nation Of the world.-BaltimOre Ameri-
can.