Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-24
TWELVE PAGES
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 1890.
THE TIDE IN THE AFFAIRS OF
MEN.

A goldite organ asks: us prospect
\ ty waningY" The prosperity" refer
red to is the partial and temporary I'M
provement in some matters that has
occurred since the election and inaugu-
ration Of Mckinley. and which is claim
ed by him and the goldites as the re-
suit Of silver decentralization and Re
Z publican gold administration. A more
pertinent and important inquiry is as
to the character and cause Of this al
legged prosperity. That 1t is In nowise
due to silver decentralization and cur
constitutional single gold standard and
tariff Protection, nor to any principle
or policy OF Mckinley and Republicans
ism Is very evident to everybody who
has looked into the facts with any de-
sire for the truth. The act of silver de-
monetization. with It's contraction OF
the currency and its alleged gold stand
ard had been in force and effect for
twenty-three years when Mckinley
was inaugurated at Washington, and
during that entire period every admin
tstration had been favorable to gold
and adverse to silver-the so-called
Democratic administrations of Clevc-
land being the most ultra OF all in these
respects; yet from 1873 to 1896, under
Grant. Hayes, Garfield. Arthur, IIar-
rison and Cleveland. depression and
hard times had steadily prevailed and
grown worse. Why was 1t that only
under Mckinley the gold policy began
to do its beneflcent work?
The same considerations demonstrate
that 1t was not the Republican, turiff-
policy OF Protection that brought us
relief contemporaneously with McIlin-
ley's administration; for If the Dingley
tariff bill was Immediately enacted I'M
der Mckinley. we had previously had
the Mckinley tariff bill and other Re
publican protective bills from 1873 un-
der five other Republican Presidents
provement in the general condition Of
the country. Obviously, them not to
Republicans and goldites nor any of
their measures, was the relief due On
the contrary, Providence declared
against all the Republican principles
kand policies, and brought succor to our
people despite those principles and poll
icies: Contraction was met by an i'm
mense increase In gold production from
newly discovered mines and improved
processes; the gold single standard was
met by drought plague and famine in
India and Russia; and Protection was
met by an abundant yield of wheat,
corn, &C., in this country, at high
prices in exchange for foreign money,
and products at any price, under the
! for breadstu!ts caused by the failure of
the usual crops in Europe, Asia, South
America and elsewhere.
The misfortunes OF the rest OF the
world were thus transformed into bles-
sings for us: and the war of liberation
against Spain, demanded by both par
+ tirs. added to the already extraordinary
demands upon lis not only for all ma
Stcalal supplies. but mon and labor
'thus. not to Republicanism, but to
Nature and Providence, not to McKin-
Icy. hut TO God, our thanks are due for
The improved conditions in some ma
terial respects during 1898 and 1899 ana
now, with tho wars against the Beers
and Filipinos in progress and plague
and famine still raging in Russia and
sys5s