Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-08-30

NH ~
as W. !. Bryan four years ago de
fined him, including the Man
who is employed for wages" the "Mcr-
chant at the roads StOrc,' the
GARNER who goes forth IN the morn
Ing and tolls all day. and begins III 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
tiOn would bring victory to the Repub-
lican party and prosperity to the people
of the United States" How prosperity
followed in sequences to the Republican
victory in 1896 constitutes indeed re-
markahly interesting chapter Of Ameri-
can histOIy--a chapter which must al
ways bring home to the hearts Of, the
American people, with grat.fm force,
the truth that "peacC hath Its victories
no 'esS renowned than war;
Lest We forget" the causes. md be-
come un.ratefuI for the prosperity which
during the lust four years has become the
all important incident uf our happy ex-
istrur,. rs people. the reading in black
and white Of the record Of prosperity is
at tins time very timely. Future success
must always be based OIL the lessons OF
past experience. II the American people
are to continue in the prosperity which
they have been enjoying the last four
years, it is by considering with serious
earucstness the data of such prosperity.
making thereon the one possible decision,
and expressing such decision with salu-
tary emphasis at the polls this next No
Vember.
The MASSES" the Foundation.
In the remarkable speech four years
ago 10y which Mr.. Bryan spranG into
fame aud into the nomination for the
presidency. he expressed the "DemOCrat-
ic idea that Il you make the masses pros
porous their prosperity will find its way
up and through every class and rest
upon it."
Literally indeed has this general ex-
pressiou Of an old idea been fulfilled by
the Republican party under President
Mckinley.
1t is one thing to have a rather indef-
mite idea as to what a desirable result
would be. 1t is another thing to success
fully accomplish such result.
Both the Republican and the Demo-
cratic parties made their promises in
1896 to restore prosperity to the people.
The masses saw through the quackery of
the Democratic plan Of being made pros
porous by the payment Of wages in 49,
cent dollars, so they turned down Bryan
and elected Mckinley President.
Mr. Mckinley had somewhat facetious-
ly been termed the advance agent OF
prosperity" so soon as he was elected
Democratic organs got themselves ready
for snCering intPrrOGatOries OF why
don't the show come 1t came, however,
with such startling prOmptncSs as to pro-
ducc the brwildCrmcnt Of despair among
the few whose own prosperity was de-
pcnGent on unrestful despair among the
masses. The prosperity "Show" was soon
found 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 Unlocking of Money.
The first manifestation Of the prosper
ity movement was the unlocking of vast
sums Of money from boarding, and the
placing Of il OH deposit at the banks. The
statements Of banks during the autumn
aud winter months OF 1867 showed
heavy and steady increases in deposits.
There were also striking gains in clear
ings indicating Il greater rapidity in the
movements Of money. While the first
Republican measure positively conducive
to the present prosperity was the Ding
ley tariff bill, which did not become a
law until July "a, 1897. yet general bust,
ness waited not for its passage before
"dscountiEg" the great Improvement in
general conditions which it was obvi-
Gus would soon ensue.
When 1897 began the gloom Of four
years OF Democratic hard times was still
hanging over the country. diScOuraging
enterprise and blighting such industries
as tried to exist With the inaugural ton
OF President Mckinley. the vast ins,tu,
ton of business credit, on which is vitality
dependent the industrial prosperity of all
CLASSES of people, began at once to re-
cover from the destructive effects of the
four years Of panic-brceding silver agita
riOu, and from the general loss OF cont
dcECc 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 dead
issue. and that the Democratic party
would not have the inconceivable temer
ity to revive it four years later, and in
cidentally Bryan, whose chief god wa'
the silver idol
The free trade policy OF Presiden
Cleveland had done harm in two ways
Primarily it had resulted in the closinI
OF mills the country over the driving GU
of employment Of thousands of American