Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-10

love wretchedness. The practical Illus
tration of 1t is not yet far enough away
to attract the multitude. The nine-
teenth century has been most prolific
in exemplification Of economic princi-
pies and conditions. especially in Amer
lea, where sudden changes are always
possible and where the public mind is
quick to understand. There never has
been time or place in the history OF /
our world when theory had to answer
so quickly and so thoroughiy 10 pTac-
tice as during the past half century in |
the United States.
Perhaps the most startling illustra-
tfon of this truth is furnished in the
history of the last two administrations.
The fall of the year 1892 found the
American people in an unexampled
state of universal thrift and we'll being.
They felt absolutely free experiment
Ito try anything. They laughed at
every suggestion OF conservatism and
forgot every lesson of disaster. They
We're on the peak of prosperity and the
Iatmosphe-e was stimulating. Like Da-
| rius Green. they resolved to fly. To
make a !org story short. they lit in the
ragged lap Of one Wilson, Of West Nir-
ginia, somewset patched up by sa-
gacious political tailor from Maryland
by the .llustr;ous name OF German.
That is enough to say. A description
of national descent and of human mis-
cry is never interesting. We like bet
ter the stor... OF progress.
The fiscnl igures, however, OF that
terrible experience are cut in the stone
of time. They are at the bottom of the
industrial thermometer and the busi-
IL
eldest settlers recall the coldest day
they ever knew.
That epoch or administration of pub
lie affairs, except for one single ray Of
3 Light constitutes the darkest chapter
in our industrial history, and that one
Hight will slimmer on forever thru the
lagos. 1t was ignited by the conflict Of
a ths reckless and revolutionary element
Of the democratic party with the
moral character and stubborn intelli-
gences of its own chieftain, Grover
Cleveland 1t was the lightning flash
Iproduced by the meeting of the posi-
sltive and negative elements. On the one
side was single positive mind. on the
other all the negative element of neg
ative party which had elected this pos
|sitive character on platform of ne
> cation.
Strange to say, the positive survived.
. and all that remains for the world to
observe. except the misery recorded in
.lthat brief history. is that single light
!, which yet ilIuminates the record of
. that one exponent of respectable demo-
! cracy.
Following that unhappy and miser-
5 liable administration. Illuminated with
ON, "a m tiOT
Ell sIof President Mckinley, and never in
e our history did any president or any
: party come to power under such ad-
a verse and gloomy circumstances. Hall
e the labor OF the land was Idle. The
OF live stock on the American
n farms, according to official reports ol
y the department of agriculture, had de.
preciated sS20,000000. The value of in
Z dustrial properties had diminished
e more than 40 per cent. The nation had
s been compelled TO borrow and to issus
e5 bonds therefor. during the four years
d lending March 4, 1897, s2622 81 5,400, anc
n that in time of profound peace-s65,-
e SIS. $50 a year-S5, 463. 900 a month-$1S2.
d 900 Il day-s7,500 an hour. And OF
March 4, 1897, when President McKin
z ley took the oath of office. the casl
# balance in the treasury. including th'
d gold reserve. was $50,0O0.000 less thai
e had been borrowed. In other words. i
i nothing had been borrowed the Nc
ID IlSinley administration would have tax
d en- the treasury without a cent in !
y and s50.000.000 in debt
"a Our total exports for the year ending
March 1, 1900 amounted to Sl.3oS,0S4,
n SSS, While our total imports amounte
to sS24.S67.543. making our balance Q
lc trade s47S,2l7,345. During the thre
VI years beginning March lst, 1898, ou
= total exports amounted to $2,562 6a7. "A.
al and during the three years beginnin
4 March lst, 1897, our total export
/ amounted to s3,693,9 1905, SEA net gain 9
D exports during the first three years 9
" AIckfnley's administration of Sl,131
se 35S.Os3. During the same there year
n our total balance of trade amounted I
81, ,4S3, ,66l ,4y7, While during the ,hrt
Il years beginning March 1st. 1898, our I,
G tai balance of trade amounted only
$325, ,151,O21, showing a net gain in ba
ne ance of trade during the first thre
n years of Mckinley's administration {
d sl,l5s.5lO,45S. During the three veal
nc. beginning March 1, 1893, our expor
Us of agricultural products amounted
only sl,15S. $50, ,S3l, while during II
three years beginning March lst, 1s9
our exports of agricultural pr,
e ducts amounted to s2.392416,413. sho,
ing a net increase of exports of agricu
tural products during the first thr
re- years of MckinleS's administration
~. s6Ss, 426,5s2.
at So much for the balance sheet-tl
il-5 5Iledger account-the fiscal facts-t1
Il. practical affairs that affect the indu
IN, trial situation of our country and
'es people. Comment is unnecessary. b
70 / simply have to say that if Preside
" Mckinley and this republican admin
an tration had been placed under bonds
VI accep. the worst industrial sltuati
lne ever experienced in our history and 0
~, lls, OF it to bring forth the most substa
~ tial and illustrous success, there is n
a Just judge nor a conscientious bu
ness man in all the world who wor
not today exonerase the bondsmen wi
- -. the most favorable commendation.
Iiie But it is not enough for the repu
po lican party to be successful, to
establish the order of things, to restt
- = values, to I'LL a vacuum in the treasu
ies to enact the standard of gold, to
ess deem credit and to credit redempti'
-. ~, to make it possible to be employed,
70 20 fill the sky with the light of furnat
-, and human hearts with confidence a