The Ravalli Republican., 1898-08-03
MY pOPiLIST FRIEND.
Was it the Crime Of '7:' Or the Bluudc
OF 90 That Caused the Trouble?

said my populist friend, as he planked
himself into the chair with such
force as to burst the cane seat. Then
Jerking Off one boot he threw it at
tho cat. Forgetting the other boot
he, continues: ''Aren't YOU ever
going 20 let up? Must you continue
world without end? Am to hear it
forever and a day on this side OF Jor-
dan, aud must | have it dinycd into
my ears as 90 sailing through the
pcarly gates? DO stop! Enough is
enough, and I've had enough"
With that lie ran his long, bony
fingers through his dishcvelcd hair,
settled back IN the chair and raised
his bootIess foot high in the air.
The meek little wife sat unictly
beside the table, on which was Il
lamp and Il twenty dollar bill, and
darned away at her husbands stock
inys, unruIlled, undisturbed., un-
moved. M-
My pupulist friend is Il ig-hcarted,
quick tempcred honest, whole soulcd
farmer, who learned to "rough it,
in the war of the sixties, and ever
since has fought lire's battles bravely
II wife is gentle meek, kind, for
bearing, devoted. patient, shrcWd
and tant"lizing. They live out in
Kansas: and that day he had been to
the Kansas City market with q car
load of fat cattle. Tcnderly had he
cared for them, regularly had he fed
them: with a feeling Of supreme sat
isfactiou had llc watched the market
rise as the cattle gained in flesh, JOY
fully had he contemplated the time
when he could bring home to the
good wife Il portion Of the profit.
.Ihc time to sell had come; he eX-
pcctcd much. but sold ut the stop
price" Of the market and got more.
"Who would have thought,' he
said, after figuring it all over, 'wlen
/ bought those ycarlings less than
two years ago, that they would bring
that price now? There's bit OF it
for you.' and he placed the crisp
bank bill beside the lamp.
The little woman glanced at .it
quickly: the old, familiar, miscbiev-
ols smile began to play about her
Hips: and turning 10 her husband she
blandly asked: "What's the price of
silver:?"
It was this innocent little question
that caused The storm-cloud to burst.
But when it had spent it's force she
said, with mild manner and placid
tone, "Iour reference to the time Of
buying brought to mind the cond-
lions then existing. Let's see: it was
in August, | believe: yes, August '9G.
Nothing On earth. according to your
notion, would ever bring up the price
Of cattle and hogs and wool and corn
and wheat but the free and unlim-
| tied coinage Of silver at the ratio of
l6 TO /: commodities and silver went
| up and down together"
At this my populist friend jcrked
of tho other boot, threw it in the
other corner, said not a word, but
listened to his wife. who continued.
II told you that what was needed
was employment for the then idle
/ hands: that wages for the workers 50
that they could buy beef for their
families, would help you and nae:
! that so long us oar country bought
| its goods Of other countries our labor
ers could NOT be employed making
them and could not have wages with
which to buy what VIC have to sell.
You voted for silver and practical
free trade. but in spite Of you the
men Of the cast voted yOH down, 9ot.
ed for employment and protection tc
the wo1 !;crS of mill and mine and
factory, voted to give them u chance
to earn money with which to buy tllc
/ beef Of the steers that VIC fattcn and
ship to market. But where is silver:
| What has become Of the yoke that
litclIcd the white metal and the
steer together? Cattle are up in
price: silver down..
"But | really thought McKinley'>
election would make money scarce" +"
he answered plainlivcly
II know YOU did. You're honest
/ in whatever you do, honest in blindly
following the dcma9ogic leaders OF
your party. That's what rritatcs
me. Did it make money scarcc?'
she asked :'Sincc election haven't
we been bothered beyond endurance
by agents who have wanted to loan
US eastern money? Aren't farm loans
easier to get: Haven't rates Of in
tcrcst been lowered? Aren't prices
! bcltcr?"
son, | don't know as you need
crow so much about cattle prices. 1t
is not home demand but foreign
! prices that have rIpcd us ont" as
serted my DopuIi,' friend, as he com
mcnccd pacing The floor in his stock
ing feet.
Ibid you say that YOU s;rw Mr.
,rkctt at markctt?" asked the wife
seeming TO change the subject.
$50, | suW him Oh the train,''
"'.That i:; AIr. s. BiIkett Of Eureka
down in Greenwood county.
:'N'cs."
'IIad he been to England again?'
AS the littlc woman put this gucs
ton to him my populjst friend pauscC
before the chair and seemed Iudetcr
n!iI"d whether to sit down or to con
linuc pacing.
"Wcll, n-o-n, not this time" he
answered, hcsitatinglv.
"IIc had the other time. though
hadn't he? That was before the
presidential election, ii remember
correctly. about August.