Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-08-02
POLITICS AND PROSPERITY.

POLITICS AND PROSPERITY.
In politics as we'll as everything else the
highest aim OF every true man and citizen
should be 'pro bono publicO." Even those
politicians who are at heart demagogues
and are chiefly interested in their own
personal advancement pretend to be for
men and measures for the general public
good.
What was the memorable political con-
test of 1896 about? What did the advo-
Gates of the free and unlimited coin
age of silver at the ratio of l6 to l, and
the advocates of gold standard, respective
w, proclaim they were contending for ?
The greatest good to the greatest number.
This is an old Democratic doctrine and
fixed Republican principle. Taking it for
granted that both of the great parties that
fought for supremacy in 1896 were sincere
in their declarations, we must conclude
that each stood for certaint principles, be-
cause of an honest conviction that those
principles were best calculated to advance
the common welfare.
Not only was it the supreme effort OF
political parties in 1896 to adopt policy
that would remove the unhappy business
conditions that then prevailed, but indi-
vidual thought and action were directed
to the one, all-absorbing question of how
to get rid of hard times and secure re-
turn of prosperity. No doubt was then
expressed by the leaders or voters of either
the Democratic or Republican party that
governmental policies played an impor-
tant part in shaping business conditions,
that an unwise policy would bring disaster
and wise one prosperity. The followers
of Mr.. Bryan earnestly proclaimed that
his election would bring relief, while the
success of the gold standard and the res
toration of the Republican party to power
would prolong and insensify the cruel,
hard times which had been so long pre-
vailing. The Republicans held opposite
views, and asserted that the triumph Of
the gold standard and the success of the
Republican party would bring the much |
desired relief.
In all earnestness, we will ask Our read
ers, Democrats and Republicans. what
results have followed the election of 1896 |
You must all admit that the business con.
ditions under the present Administration
have been phenomenally happy. They |
have proved to be directly the reverse Of
what Mr.. Bryan confidently predicted |
they would be. They have turned out to
be what the Republicans more confidently
asserted they would be.
Now, you frequently hear Mr.. Bryan
and his followers trying in every conceiva-
BILE way to account for the wonderful bust
ness prosperity the country is enjoying,
without giving any credit to the Republic.
an party or President Mckinley for these
conditions. When they do this they de-
ny that a party policy or governmental
policy has anything to do with the pros
perity-or non. prosperity of the country.
When they make that contention they
render themselves absurd by insisting that
a change to the policy of Organism will
make the country more prosperous and
bring wonderful benefits 10 all classes of
citizens. In other words, they Claim in
one breath that the Mckinley policy has
not brought prosperity and in another
breath declare that Bryan policy would
make our country bloom and blossom as
the rose.
We appeal to thinking men Of the
country, and ask them if they ever saw
more inconsistent position taken than
has been adopted by the Bryanites.
We have splendid times. The Repub-
leans believe firmly that these times are
the result in great measure of the pres.
snt policy of our Government. A great