Evening journal., 1900-07-06
Prosperity and Expansion Are
the Campaign KeynOteS
M'KINLEY KEPTPARTYPLEDCES
Republicans Advocate a Policy Of
Correcting the Evils Which
Grow From The Trusts


enunciatiOn and denunciation will, as
usual be the dominant notes of the
platforms of the two contending par
ties. The Republicans, standing by
the record that has been made by the
president and by Congress, will propose
to carry out the policies that have been
initiated so successfully and with such
signal advantage to the prosperity and
growth of the country. The Democrats
will, of course, condemn the acts and
purposes of the Republican party, but
will present nothing in the way of a
constructive policy.
Prosperity is a theme on which every
Republican campaign orator can with
irresistible force appeal to the good
sense and the interests of the voters
In every community, a marked contrast
exists between the conditions of to-day
and those of 1896 In that year, the
mills were silent and working men
were idle. The purchasing power of
the wage-earners had been reduced to
such low point that the products Of
the farm and plantation were often
sold at less, than the cost Of produce
ton. To-day. smoke is pouring from
every factory chimney, and every man
anxious to work can find employment
at remunerative wages, while the
farmer and the planter enjoy a degree
of prosperity that has seldom been
equalled.
The increased prosperity OF the whole
country can best be shown by a simple
comparison of the foreign commerce
Of 1896 with that of 1900. For the ten
months of the fiscal year of 1896 ending
April 80 the United States sold abroad
goods to the value OF S749, ,444,513. For
the corresponding ten months ending
April 30 of this year the exports
amounted to s1,172. .749 43O an increase
of S423, ,304,917. During the ten months
ending June 80, 1896, the imports into
the United States were valued at $685.,
291,157, while those for the same per-
iod of the present fiscal year amounted
to S717,241 ,466. This, in itself, is an
indication of increased prosperity. as
it shows that the people of the United
States were able to spend for foreign
goods S5O,950, ,309 more than in 1896
Still more forcibly is the increased
prosperity of the country shown by
the fact that the balance of trade in
favor of the United States. which for
the ten months ending April 30, 1896
amounted to $50 1853 ,356, had increased
TO the enormous sum of S455. .307 964 for
the same period in the present year
There is more than eloquence in these
figures. The voter will not shut his
eyes to their bearing on his own well
fare.
This prosperity has been the natu-
raj result Of the restoration of conf
dence brought about by the eelction Of
1896, and of the enactment into law
of the two leading principles on which
Mr.. McKinleys campaign was con-
Quoted. The Dingley law, framed with
view of depriving the products Of
cheaper foreign laOr of an advantage
in the American market, has enabled
American capital and labor not only
to command the home market but to
compete with most gratifying results
for the markets of the world. The ad-
vantages of the reciprocity feature of
this law are already partially realized
as a result of the commercial agree
ments entered into The gold standard
law enacted during the recent session
ofCongress has established the financial
system of the country on a sound foot
ing. Il has made it impossible to put
the country on a basis that will depre-
ciate its currency. 1t has provided for
refunding the national debt at the low
est rate paid by any nation on earth
and has effected an annual saving in
interest of many millions of dollars
It has extended the benefits of the ma.
tiOnal banking system to small town.
and has provided for an expansion OF
national bank circulation adequate tC
fIF ~ an lei s.f d.
country.
That the country has become pros
porous since the election of Presiden
Mckinley the opposition cannot deny
They will attempt to minimize it, how
ever, and will make the most of sucl
isolated instances of business depres
sion as they may be able to fnd bu
exceptions only prove the rule. They
of course, will not admit that busines
conditions have improved as the resul
of Republicanlegi or Republican
administration. They will follow tn
old plan of contending that the countr
is prosperous, not because of Republi
can government but in spite of it. I'm
less the Kansas City Convention is car
ried off its feet by the extremists
their ranks, il is possible that the lead
ing Democratic issue of 1S96-the FIRE
coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 [
1-may receive only a perfunctory il
dorsement. Still. they will argue thS
the soundness of their Free Silver can
paign four years ago has some Wind
cation in the increased prosperity 4,
the country, on the ground that VIII;
they then contended for was an il
crease in the volume Of basic none
That increase, which they sought
bring about by opening the mints
silver. they will assert has been ACHE
ed by the enormous increase in the ou
put of gold. There will be some COZ
demnation of the Dingley law by Dem
cratic campaigners, though with Il
changed conditions Of the country al
the development Of manufacturing /
dustries in the South, the Democrat
party can no longer unitedly suppo
free trade platform. This issue ca
not be revived without injury to Z