Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-10-18
WEBSTER. DAY COUNTY. SOUTH DAKOTA, OCTOBER IS, 1900
PROSPERITY A

PROSPERITY A KEYNOTE,
Senator Hanna was wise when he
declared in Chicago the other day that he
proposed to drop the discussion of all is
sues save present Prosperity and the ne,
cessity of its continuance. 1t was easy to
see, months ago, that in the good times
which the countryh has enjoyed since 1897
was to be found one solid, substantial and
possibly ample bridge across which the
republican party might march to victory.
The republican national platform very
properly began with a eulogy OF the pros
perity almost universally experienced,
and the full dinner pail has since been
the campaign emblem. Now in the
closing weeks Of the campaign, this
prosperity is to be emphasized more
than ever.
CuriousIy enough, a glance at the
southern Newspapers, which fling the
names of Bryan and Stevenson from the
top of their editorial columns shows that
in the south the argument Of prosperity
finds its most convincing Illustrations.
When the Sherman CTeX.) Register ad-
mits that "Texas farmers are too busy
picking cotton and paying off mortgages
to take much interest in politics." when
the Memphis Commcrcial-Appeal an
ounce with pride as "material evidence
Of growth" that nearly $2,00O,0O0 has
been expended in the construction of
buildings in that city since the first of
this year, and when the Nashville Ameri,
can complains that "tEe car shortage n
the south is very distressing at present,
and especially in this section, where the
roads have found it a matter of impossi-
bility to furnish equipment to their
patrons without long and unavoidable
delays"-when from every part of the
south testimony like this is voluntarily
offered by democratic newspapers, it
seems that the republicans ought not to
have any difficulty in convincing the
country that prosperity is real, actual
and widespread.
1t is begging the question to say that
the Mckinley administration is not re-
sponsibIe for this improved condition of
affairs. The assertion may be true in a
strictly technical sense, because no ad-
ministration can assure good crops at
home And spoor crops abroad, and no
prpsidept, no matter how powerful, can
saises4 price of cotton until it reaches
10 centsa poundA AT the same time, if
hard times had continued, the Mckinley
administration would have been blamed
therefor, and it dsseHz The other
hand, to enjoy tile credit of prosperity.
In addition to this, people do not analyze.
They only know that whereas they were
blind, now they see; that instead of being
sick, now they are we'll. To the admins
tration under which they emerged from
financial gloom to glorious sunisht, they
give praise and it will require something
more potent than democratic oratory to
dissuade them from the appropriateness
of their tribute.
Imperialism is a mooted question; the
currency issue has been settled by the
passage of the gold standard law; some
thing can be said on both sides so far as
the trusts are concerned, but prosperity is
real, incontestible, practical. 1t is not
an abstract question; it is a definite, en-
joyable experience. 1t is a bright and
shining contrast to the despair which set
tied over the country during the last
democratic administration, and, with the
memory of those dreary days still fresh
in the public mind, the republican party
is fully justified in pointing to present
conditions as a sufficient reason FOR con-
tinuing it in power.-Washington Post.