The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-30
THE POLITICAL PROSPECT
HON. JESSE ovERsTREET TALKS OF
THE PRESENT CONDITIONS.
The General Outlook Is Favorable to
Republicans, and Especially So
i'm the Central West.
special to the 1ndlananolis journal.


district and secretary of the Republican
congressional campaign committee, sub
mitted to an interview to-day, which will
be found of general interest to Republicans
throughout the country. Mr. Overstreet has
recently returned from Indiana, where he
had many opportunities for extended person
al observations as to political conditions. He
is besides, in touch with Republicans in
every section, and his views at this time
have special value on that account. Mr..
OverStreet said:
Il found upon my recent visit to Indiana
that the business of the State is not as
much injured by the war situation as had
been at first supposed. Indeed, l was very
much gratitied to discover that some lines
-' business have very greatly increased.
The farming communities of the central
west have been greatly profited by the rise
In the price of farm products, and the great
number OF mortgages that have been lifted
Wltnln the past few months is strong evil
oence that the farmers had products for
sale. L am credibly informed that through
all or the agricultural States the farmers
nave taken advantage of the conditions
which have prevailed for the last year and
made great reductions in farm mortgages
and Cancelled or reduced their debts to such
an extent as to put the farming commune
ties on much better footing than they
have enjoyed for a number of years NEx-
cept for the natural disturbance which all
business feels during time of war, wherein
the purchases of large concerns are affected
because of the fear of a sudden change of
price, the business OF the country generally
has been vastly improved. The balance of
trade is greatly in favor of our country,
and, as compared with the year 1892, when
our prosperity was at high-water mark, the
net profits to our people have more than
doubled IN the past year. Our exports have
not only been vastly increased, but have
occurred in new lines of business, showing
that we are not only selling more products
abroad, but are selling a greater variety
OF OF products abroad than we ever did before.
InlS improved condition in business naG
reached such a point at the outbreak of the
opanlsh-Amer1can war that but for the war
situation we would by this time have en-
Joyeu Inc greatest mark of business pros
per1ty this country has ever before wit
messed, and even with the war situation the
American business has received under the
operations OF the present administration.
rms emphasizes the claims made by the
Republican party in the campaign of 1886
that if given power and opportunity to
change the revenue laws and give full ex-
preston to the gold standard on the money
There was not a claim made by the Repub-
lcan managers in 1896 but that has been
fulhiled. This necessarily has resulted in
greatly improved political condition
throughout the country. The success of the
Republican administration has increased the
confidence of the people in the Republican
party, and consequently the outlook for Re-
publican success at the fall elections is
much improved.
TWO IMPORTANT THINGS.
THE Republicans advocated two impor-
tant things First the passage of a reve-
nue. measure which should overcome the
deficit in the national treasury and put the
government upon a paying basis. Second,
to maintain the gold standard and place the
credit of the Nation above criticism. The
first OF these questions has been disposed
of by the passage of the Dingley bill which
has demonstrated by it's operations that it
is revenue producer, and but for the un-
fortunate war situation would to-day be
producing more revenue than the expendi-
lures Of the government. The second step
mas been accomplished in part. The dec
laratlon OF the Republican party for the
gold standard has ueen accepted universally
by the party, and there is no point more
pronounced than this in our ranks. There
is no disposition to evade this ISSUE While
many of us have hoped to see some meas
ure enacted into law which would reform
and as we think improve the currency
laws, yet the war situation has necessarily
interfered with this movement and post
poned it, perhaps, to a later session of Con-
gress. But, in my Judgment the country
generally is stronger to-day in favor of the
gold standard than it was at the close of
the, campaign of 1886 Every illustration
cetVed its death blow by circumstances
arising since that election. The unexpected
rise in the price of wheat has forever de-
stroyed the argument of the Bryantes that
the price of wheat was in any way affected
by the silver question. Every argument
that was made by the advocates of free sill
a pn Inc
tration to defeat it, and these things are
recognized and understood by our people
Inc lst or June, 1896, the great mass of Re-
publcanS or the central West were hesi-
tating and doubtful in reference to the sill
yer question: but l believe there is no class
of Republicans in these States now more
firmly fixed in their beliefs in the Repub-
lican doctrine of the money question than
those of the farming communities
The war situation at the beginning of
its discussion appeared to somewhat en-
barrass the Republican party. and the I'M
cratic leaders received the greatest atten-
ton. 1t claimed for a while that the
Republicans were undertaking to shirk the
responsibility of the war, and the Demo-
cratic leaders sought by constant efforts to
crowd the administration into war before
the country was properly prepared. There
is no question in my mind but that the adj
miniStration and those Republicans who
hesitated for SO long to bring about the
the hands of the people generally, but now
it has been demonstrated that delay was
the better part of wisdom. Delay was alb
solutely necessary for proper preparation.
Even now undue haste embarrasses the
success of the situation. The people have
changed in their view towards the admins
tration, and now applaud where before they
condemned. They now commend the course
of the administration in delaying until
proper preparation could be made. / be-
lieve Mr. Mckinley is stronger to-day than
he was at the beginning of his admnistra-
ticn His course is universally approved by
our people in the central West, and the
concentrations of his actions are not en-
trely confined to the Republican party He
has demonstrated his ability a leader of
the Republican party and the executive of
a great Nation to wisely conduct this war,
and when it is concluded / feel that he will
have the Endorsement of the entire country
in his entire course.
ATTITUDE OF DEMOCRATS.
IT found that our people in the central
West have also discovered that the Demo-
cratic leaders in Congress who were so loud
in their declaration for war and seemingly
so patriotic in their determination were
really prompted by 81 desire to take advan-
tage of the situation to foist their financial
falacies upon the country. The people
have noticed that. while the Democrats in
Congress expressed a willingness to lay
aside all craftsmanship for the purpose of
aiding the administration in conducting the
war against Spain, when ii came to the test
and a vote was required they voted almost
unanimously against the resolution which
authorized the President TO take the initia-
tive in the war, and insisted upon recognize
ing the independence of Cuba an act which
events have demonstrated would have been
disastrous, and voted against the necessary
provisions 10 raise funds with which