The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-10-12
Contrasts Between 1896 and 1899

Contrasts Between 1896 and 1899.
Two years and half of Republican
administration have worked great
change for the better. The fact stands
out with striking distinctness as every
citizen knows. The Chicago platform,
which the Democratic party is at pains
to reaffirm, dep1ored 'Ethe fall in prices,
the prostration of industry and the inn
poverishment of the people" 1t would
require columns to epiton1ize the pros
perity that has taken the place OF those
conditions. The first step in the trans
formation was to reject the Chicago
platform. All succeeding advantages
resulted from that emphatic judgment
of the people. A glance at some OF the
benefits indicates the nature and ex-
tent of all Our currency is equal to
the best in the world. Workers every
where are busy at good wages. There
is no army of the unemployed. Farm
crs sell their produce at profitable
prices, and are paying off debts incur
red during the period of Democratic
blight. The foreign trade of the
country is unprecedented. Threatening
international problems have been set
tied. The Pacific railroads have paid
up in cash Hawaii has been annexed,
after half a century of discussion.
Cuba is free. The treasury keeps
ahead of expenses, and has an immense
store of gold. The country has carried
through a successful war and ex-
banded.
A closer look into these items in
creases their significance. In three
years the money in circulation has
been enlarged nearly $4O0,OOO,OO0, and
$3.50. OOO, 900 of the addition is in gold.
Exports of manufactured articles in
the last fiscal year footed up S338,667,-
794, or % per cent of the total exports
of domestic products. Our exports are
90 per cent heavier than they were four
years ago. Theincrease in two years
~ -
going to Egypt and Burnah, our loco
motives to a dozen countries and our
agricultural machinery to nearly all
the world. One reason for this is that
the world knows that in all trading
Our dollars mean 1OOc. Bankc1earings
for the year ending with last month
were the largest on record. The in
crease is III per cent over the dark
Democratic year of 1894. 1t is to be
remarked that the latest figures are the
best of all. In August the exports of
iron and steel manufactures amounted
to S12, 442, 974, against Sc, 061, 965 in the
same month last year. The export of
wood manufactures were larger than
in any previous. month and there were
gains also in paper, tobacco, fibers,
india rubber, glass, fertilizers, starch,
paint, naval stores and some other
articles.
Now let Mr.. Bryan, who persever-
ing1y invites the country to place him
at the head of affairs, take the witness
stand. Three weeks before the Presi-
Dental election of 1896 he said in a
speech at Minneapolis: II repeat that
we are on a declining scale; that we
are going down, and that under the
gold standard gold will be dearer still,
demand for gold and every new de-
mand will increase the purchasing
power of gold and depress prices. "
Many voters were led to believe that in
1896. But in 1899 are they as much
impressed as ever with Bryan's judg-
ment as to the basis of prosperity in
this country? In a previous speech
during C1eve1and's second administra-
ton Bryan declared that the world
could not count on an addition of over
$40 100000 year to it's gold coin, or a
total of S138,OOO,O 900 for the next three
years. The amount really coined in
those three years was 1864, 7O4, 300
Gold production is more than twice as
large as he said it could be. What
passes for e1oquence in Mr.. Bryan
may satisfy some people, but if they
want to talk common sense business i
is the part of wisdom to choose SOM
other adviser.-St. Louis G1obe-Demo
crat.