The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-09-23
The Monetary Problem.
BETTER TIMES AHEAD.
A Southern Journals Predict ion-
True Prosperity Will Not Come
TIL BimetalIism IL Restored.

|
Some of our esteemed gold standard
contemporaries, says the Atlant Con-
ttitution, are laying the fatterng
JUNCTION TO their souls that the Consti-
buttons prediction of better times for
| this winter is an indication of weak
aess on our part in the belief that
prosperity, in it's fullest measure, will
not be restored until the currency is
reformed and rested on basis of both
gold and silver.
The Troy On. W Times, for instance,
In bidding adieu TO the calamity howl
err, whose occupation. IL says, will be
gone with the advent of better times,
says:
1.-The Constitution Is a shining example
OF this change of opinion. A rabid advo-
cate of free silver. this most prominent
southern newspaper saw nothing but mis-
fortune In store as the result OF the defeat
of Bryan. but now II sings a different tune.
The Constitution is quite as much right
this year as 1t was wrong year ago"
We predicted last year, continues
the southern paper, that the fullness
of prosperity would never be re ached
under the single gold standard, and we
are as in earnest in this belief n ow as
W. -"ere year ago. But the Consti-
tuition was not then, is not now, and
never will be a calamity bowler. 1t
/ as always lived in the sunshine
never in the shade. II has had faith
all along that. however adverse may
be the legislative conditions surround
ing the people, the energy and the de-
termination inspired by American grit
would triumph in the end and enforce
success, even against such conditions.
The misfortune we predicted in demo-
cratic defeat a year ago was in the
comparative prediction that in what
ever degree prosperity might be re
stored under republican admins
tration, better results would have
been attained with democratic success
md with the currency reformed 10 the
basis of the democratic demand.
The Constitution has not doubted
since the country entered the long
period OF business depression and
financial unrest few years ago, that
its duration was self-limited. To have
predicted that conditions as they ex-
isted in the darkest days of the recent
period of panic had come to stay.
would have been an abandonment of
the belief that the recuperative power
Of American energy could not lose it's
vitality, and admission that the repub-
&c had entered upon the period OF its
darkest era. But our people, however
unfortunate they may be. can adjust
themselves TO any condition, and even
ifthrown back TO the primitive method
of barter and trade and settlem ent In
kind, they would have overcome and
bettered the condition in which they
found themselves after the panic of'93.
Prosperity is comparative term.
Commercial activity may be revived,
business generally may be better, in
dustrial enterprise may awaken from
its long slumber. giving employment
to the unemployed and opening up the
avenues which have been closed by the
long period Of depression, and yet the
degree of prosperity enjoyed may not
be what the people have a right TO ex-
pect If the unlimited natural resources
Of their country were given unham-
pered opportunity for development.
The Constitution predicts splendid
business winter. Conditions are ripe
for a change, and If, as a result of the |
close Of successful war. with the |
country reunited. with our fields |
groaning under the burden Of the most |
bountiful harvests this country has |
known in 20 years-in itself enough to |
hrinn 49,. 10 81 . -.
combination of all these circum-
stances. which it looks as il the Lord |
God Almighty had wrought as a spe-
cial dispensation for our people, to |
lead them from the darkness of fl nan
cial depression-if still there should be
no material Improvement. it would
seem indeed as If there were but little
hope for relief and little encourage
ment for the future.
But there are better times ahead.
and from all sides come testimonials Of
the awakening impulse Of trade re-
vival. The farmer sees IL in his over
burdened storehouses and overrun-
ming granaries; the merchants and the
factories feel 1t in the increased de-
mand for their goods and when once
trade revival has been started, IL will
not stop until 1t has gone the full
length Of the line. 1t will accom- plish
It's mission even in spite of an adverse
currency system, which is pulling
Town while 1t should be building up.
system which makes the rich richer
and the poor poorer, and which even in
better times laughs in mockery at the
realization of what it could do in open
ing up the fullness Of prosperity to the
enjoyment of all, If it were engaged in
he broader business of lettering the
public generally rather than in the ex-
Elusive function of serving only n ia
'ored few.