The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-01-04


that cx-oflciai that 1t may be sstlstac-
torily explained
Oar Optimistic Secretary.
1t Is fortunate FOR the country that we
not only have ar optlm!st at the head Of
the treasury department, but that his
optimism IL based upon actual conditions
and Is fully Justified. Mr.. Gage, in an
interview given to the press yesterday,
shows that an era OF unparalleled pros.
perlty is opening up FOR this country, and
points 70 the evidences that exist upon
all sides in proof OF his assertions.
Our increased and sill increasing for
elgn trade; the evidence the tariff law
shows that In future It will be on ade-
quate revenue producer, and that Instead
OF a deficit at the end OF each month It
will yield a surplus; the absorption Of re-
turned securities; the general Industrial
activity; the large western bank depos-
Its, which represent the profits OF the
farmers on their high priced crops; the
growing confidence OF capital, and the
signs that investments will be more free
ly made this year, are some Of the SUBJ
~stantial and visible evidences upon
which Secretary Gage bases his forecast
OF the years developments III the line of
business activity.
The accomplishment OF the year just
closed is warrant for the predictions the
secretary makes, and justlfes the follow
Ing declaration, which is a plain truth
that even the most blindly partisan cal
amity-howlcr must admit: "The inter-
national balance sheet" says Mr.. Gage,
was never before so favorable.as now
to the United S~tates-never before APP
preached so favorable a showing to US.
It Is no more the mere longing OF a
dream that our country shall become the
creditor nation OF the world. That act
ual!y 1t IS to-day" He continues:
AS against tremendous purchases Of our
commodities foreigners have sent us back
more Of our securities. Ever since the
Barring crash, over half n dozen years ago.
Europe has been continually and largely
unloading upon us her holdings of Amer!.
can stocks and bonds. Careful students
limit to such liquidation must by this time
be wcll-nlgh reached: but, however this
may be there certainly Is warrant for the
qualification In the demonstrated fact that
VIC are not only able to absorb what
Europe forces back upon us, hut that We
are able to do this readily, do 1t without
any culver or OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES while
doing 1t, accommodating millionaire: cash
credits to our account in every quarter
Of the globe. E
A little more than a year since we
heard a great deal from the Popocratic
stump and press about England being
the creditor nation" OF the world, and
how that country practically ruled lis as
4 debtor nation, and this alarming but
largely imaginary state OF affairs was all
attributed to the gold standard, which
about that time was responsible for
about. every evil under the sun in the
mind of the Popocratic editor and ora
tor, from the low price OF wheat to the
smokeless mill stack. Secretary Gage
points out what everybody has already
come to realize 10 be true. namely, that
what has come to pass. and what is in
store for the future, with gratifying con-
ditions everywhere, and the balance of
trade with the world In our favor, has
come without the aid OF Mr.. Bryan's for
ty-five cent dollars and 4 currency sys-
TEN which would have dishonored our
credit and impaired our national honor.
Mr., Bryan has returned from the BAN
quats and ovations he received from the
wealthy mine owning dons in Mexico,
where haven't TO study the silver stand
ard and its workings" He promises to
reveal what he learned. If he is honest
he vii! point out and reason out how
much better the Mexican system has
made that country's conditions than
our conditions which now prevail, and
which Secretary Gage depicts so graph
icai!y. He will also, II he is an honest
man, show us what better conditions
than the present state Of affairs could
have existed If he had been elected and
turned the country upside down with
the application Of his peculiar financial
and economic theories. Time vIndlcates
all righteous causes, and 1t Is driving
the last nail into the coffin Of the dead
dishonest dollar issue.