The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-26
FALSE coLoRs

The Republican press mas Deeu TOT
some time vigorously Growing over the
alleged unprecedented magnitude Of the
export trade of the United States, for
the last two years, or since the ascen-
sion of their party to power, claiming
therein proof that President McKin-
ley's long promised prosperity" had at
last put in veritable appearance. The
Textile Record (Philadelphia) period
ical that deals in hard facts, takes ex-
ception thereto, and contends that the
grounds of the exultation aforesaid are
more apparent. than real. While it is
true that there has been a marked in
crease of exports Of American manufac-
lures, in the last two as compared with
the preceding two years, the paper al
luded to points out the significance of
the fact that the gain was largest in
the very period in which American man
ufacturers suffered most from low prices.
1t was these low prices in the home
market that brought about the increase
in our exports, and it turns out that
much Of the material sold abroad was
disposed of without profit.
The Textile Record sees in the increase
thus brought about in our exports little
cheer for the mill-owner and. certainly,
no indication of prosperity in the alb
stract or the concrete. On the contrary,
the signs make for clouds instead of
sunshine. 1.-THE purpose Of the mill
owner" says our contemporary, "is to
procure a return for his investment and
his effort: and it may be that the swift
growth of our exports Of manufactures
really indicates that his chance Of &C.
complishing this purpose is becoming
smaller"
The country long ago appreciated Mr..
McKinley's campaign prosperity" joke
the dawning of an era Of prosperity
spontaneously with his Inauguration to
the presidency, March 4, 1S97-or was not
the suspicious day even to antedate that
event. and the sunshine of good times"
to begin to illuminate the earth the
morning after his election in November,
1896? More than twenty-one months
have elapsed since then, and prosper
ity" like John Gilpin's hat and wig, is
still on the road" Our Republican
friends have made good deal of politi
cal capital out of that Campaign lie."
1t served their party well In 1896. And
from all appearances they still have
faith in it, still believe that its virtue
as vote-winner has not departed.
At the making of the platform Of the
Republican party Of California, at Sac
ramento, on the 2Sd Of the present month.
we find a new version of the prosper
ity" joke. or political dodge, incorpo-
rated into that instrument. In the very
teeth Of the continued business depres-
sion, scarcity Of money and general alb
-sence of prosperous times everywhere
apparent in the United States, belief
in the principles Of the Republican ma
tional goldbug convention, held In st.
Louis in 1896, is reaf11rmed, and, with a
cool assurance worthy of the Republican
machine politicians. we are told that:
Zine mas test6Q the strength anu
proved the truth of the doctrines therein
enunciated, while the country at large
has. under the influence of their enforce
ment, grown in riches and happiness"
Now the American people like joke
and can tolerate, for "some of the time"
even q lusus naturae Of that literary
genus, but our Republican friends are
really making too large demand on the
good nature Of the public. To tell a
people whom the policy Of the Repub-
lican party has reduced to Indulgence
thousands of whom, mainly by reason
of that policy, are today without their
daily bread-to tell that people that,
thanks to the policy of Mckinley and
Hanna, the country has. since 1896.
grown in riches and happiness" and
that. Of course they, the people, instead
Of being poor and miserable, are both
rich and happy, is to transform silly
campaign joke into a grave insult.
Doubtless the people Of California will
know how to resent this stupid insult
at the ballot box next November