Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-09-07

u
as w. J, Bryan four years ago de-
& fined him, inclnding 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.
Tho Prosperity Chapter Interesting e.
The Republican platform Of 1896 pro-
fessed full assurance that the cleo
tion would bring victory to the Repub-
iican party and prosperity to the people
of the United States" How prosperity
followed in sequence to the Republican
victory in 1896 constitutes indeed re-
rarkably interesting chapter of Ameri-
can histoIy-a chapter which must al
ways bring home to the hearts Of the
American people. with grateful force,
the truth that peace hath its victories
mo less renowned than war"
l1eSl we lUi Stl lhS tauct'' Gnu ~
come ungrateful for the prosperity which
rduring the last four years has become the
all important incident of our happy ex-
astence as II people the reading in black
and white Of the record of prosperity is
lat this time very timely. Future success
must always be based on the lessons OF
tpast experience. If the American people
are to continue in the prosperity which
Hhey have been enjoying the last four
Sears, 1t is by considering with serious
tearnestness the data of such prosperity,
shaking thereon the one possible decision,
land expressing such decision with salu-
Hary emphasis at the polls this next No
rember.
The "Masses" the Foundation.
/ In the remarkable speech four years
ago by which Mr.. Bryan sprang into
flame and into the nomination for the
presidency. he expressed the democrat
&c idea that if you make the masses pros
iperous their prosperity will find its way
iup and through every class and rest
,npon it."
Literally indeed has this general ex-
preSsion of an old Idea been fulfilled by
khe Republican party under President
Mckinley.
1t Is one thing to have a rather indef-
pite Idea as to what a desirable result
would be. 1t is another thing to success
fully accomplish such a result.
Both the Republican and the Demo-
Icratic parties made their promises in
1S96 to restore prosperity to the people.
Nhe masses saw through the quackery of
Hhe Democratic plan Of being made pros
porous by the payment of wages in 49,
cent dollars, SO they turned down Bryan
81
Mr.. Mckinley had somewhat facetious-
ay been termed 'the advance agent of
prosperity" So soon as he was elected
democratic organs got themselves ready
8or sneering interrogatories Of why
don't the show Gomez" It came, however,
with such startling promptness as to pro-
6uce the bewilderment of despair among
Ahe few whose own prosperity was de-
pendent 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 'adyance
agent" They were soon getting more
than they had really dared to expect.
The Unlocking of Money.
a>he first manifestation Of the prosper
aty movement was the unlocking of vast
sums of money from boarding, and the
placing Of it on deposit at the banks. The
statements of banks during the autumn
and winter months of 1867 showed
heavy and steady increases In deposits.
There were also striking gains in clear
4ngs indicating a greater rapidity in the
movements of money. While the first
Republican measure positively conducive
80 the present prosperity was the Ding
ley tariff bill, which did not become a
aaw until July "a. 1897, yet general busi-
ness waited not for its passage before
sdiscounting" the great improvement in
general conditions which it was obvi-
ons would soon ensue.
When 1897 began the gloom Of four
yenrs of Democratic hard times was still
alanging over the country. discoura ging
enterprise and blighting such Industries
as tried to exist. With the Inauguration
OF President Mckinley. the vast institu-
4ion Of business credit, on which ia vitally
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 breeding silver agita-
rion, and from the general loss Of conf
derce 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 was
the silver idol.
The free trade policy of President
Cleveland had done harm in two ways.
Primarily it had resulted in the closing
Of mills the country over, the driving out
at employment Of thousands Of American