Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-09-07

@O THE American business man,
as w. ]. Bryan four years ago de-
fined him, including the Man
who Is employed for wages" the "Mer-
chant at the crossroads store" the
Farmer who goes forth IN the morn
ing and tolls all day, and begins in the
spring and tolls all summer" the Min
ers who go a thousand feet into the
EARTH" the Attorney in the country
town." etc, the last four years of Re-
publican rule have wrought remark
able benefits.
The Prosperity Chapter Interesting.
The Republican platform of 1896 pro-
fessed full assurance that the cleo
ton would bring victory to the Repub-
llcan party and prosperity to the people
OF the United States" How prosperity
followed in sequence to the Republican
victory in 1896 constitutes indeed re-
markably interesting chapter of Ameri-
can histoly-a chapter which pust al
ways bring home to the hearts Of the
American people, with grateful force,
the truth that peace hath its victories
no less renowned than war"
Lest we forget" the causes, and be-
come ungrateful for the prosperity which
during the last four years has become the
all important incident of our happy ex-
listence as n, people. the reading in black
and white Of the record of prosperity is
at this time very timely. Future success
must always be based OH the lessons OF
ipast experience. II the American people
are to continue in the prosperity which
,they have been enjoying the last four
years, 1t is by considering with serious
EearneStness the data of such prosperity.
making thereon the one possible decision,
and expressing such decision with salu-
ltary emphasis at the polls this next No
Iyember.
The "Masses" the Foundation.
In the remarkable speech four years
ago by which Mr.. Bryan sprang into
fame and into the nomination for the
presidency. he expressed the Democrat
Iic idea that II you make the masses pros
perous their prosperity will find its way
up and through every class and rest
upon II"
J1leIdIly lHls "a
lpression Of an old idea been fulfilled by
the Republican party under President
Mckinley.
1t is one thing to have rather indeh-
mite Idea us to what desirable result
would be. 1t is another thing to success
fully accomplish such a result.
Both the Republican and the Demo
cratic parties made their promises in
1895 to restore prosperity to the people.
trhe masses saw through the quackery of
the Democratic plan of being made pros
tperous by the payment of wages in 49,
cent dollars, so they turned down Bryan
and elected Mckinley President.
Mr.. Mckinley had somewhat facetious-
Ay been termed "the advance agent Of
prosperity" So soon as he was elected
Democratic organs got themselves ready
tfor sneering interrogntories OF Why
don't the show Gomez" 1t came, however
with such startling promptness as to pro-
Slucs the bewilderment OF despair among
the few whose own prosperity was de-
nJcndent on unrestful despair among the
masses. The prosperity show" was soon
1ound to be no humbug The people had
indeed not been deceived by the advance
agent" They were soon getting more
than they had really dared to expect.
The Urlockinx of Money.
Nc first manifestation OF the prosper
fly movement was the unlocking OF vast
sums Of money from boarding, and the
placing OF it oil deposit at the banks. The
statements OF banks during the autumn
aud winter months Of 1857 showed
L.. -
There were also striking gains in clear
ings indicating a greater rapidity in the
movements of money. While the first
Republican measure positively conducive
10 the present prosperity was the Ding
]ey tariff bill. which did not become a
law until July "a, 1897. yet general bust.
ness waited not for its passage before
"discountlng" the great Improvement in
general conditions which it was obvi-
aus would soon ensue.
When 1897 began the gloom OF four
yenrS of Democratic hard times was still
hanging over the country. discouragins "a
enterprise aud blightiug such industries
a. tried to exist. With the Inauguration
OF President Mckinley. the vast institu
zion OF business credit. on which is Yitally
dependent the industrial prosperity Of al
classes OF people. began at once to re
cover from the destructive effects of tn,
four years OF panic breeding silver agita
tlon, and from the general loss OF conf
dcrce caused by the fiscal blunders OF the
cleveland administration.
The overwhelming defeat OF Bryan the
preceding November had given the coun
try the idea that free silver was a dead
Issue. aud that the Democratic party
would not have the inconceivable temer
iiy to revive it four years later, and In
cidentally Bryan, whose chief god wal
fhc silver idol.
The free trade policy OF President
Cleveland had done harm in two ways
Primarily it had resulted in the closinS
al mills the country over. the driving GU
ef employment Of thousands OF American