The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-08-31

Gao THE American business man.
as W. J. Bryan four years ago de-
q fined him. Including 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 60 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.
The Republican platform OF 1896 pro-
fcssed full assurance that the cleo
ton would bring victory to the Repub-
llcan party and prosperity to the people
OF the United States" How prosperity
followed In sequence to the Republican
victory In 1896 constitutes indeed re-
marlfably interesting chapter of Ameri-
can hIstory-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
no less renowned than war"
LEST we forget" the causes. and be-
come ungrateful for the prosperity which
during the last four years has become the
all important incident Of our happy ex-
fstence as Il people. the reading in black
+aud white of the record OF prosperity is
at this time very timely. Future success
must always be based on the lessons OF
mast experience. If the American people
are to continue in the prosperity which
they have been enjoying the last four
years, 1t is by considering with serious
earnestness the data of such prosperity,
making thereon the one possible decision,
and expressing such decision with salu-
tary emphasis at the polls this next No
vember.
The ILLNESSES" the Foundation.
In the remarkable speech four years
ngo by which Mr.. Bryan sprang into
fame and into the nomination for the
presidency. he expressed the Democrat
Jc idea that il you make the masses pros
porous their prosperity will find its way
up and through every class and rest
upon it"
Literally indeed has this general ex-
preston of an old idea been fulfilled by
the Republican party under President
Mckinley
1t Is one thing to have n rather indefi-
mite idea as to what a desirable result
would be. 1t is another thing to success
fully accomplish such result.
Both the Republican and the Demo
cratic parties made their promises in
1896 to restore prosperity to the people.
The masses saw through the quackery Of
the Democratic plan or being made pros
porous by the payment Of wages in 49,
cent dollars. so they turned down Bryan
and elected Mckinley President.
Mr.. Mckinley had somewhat facetious-
ly been termed "the advance agent of
prosperity" So soon as he was elected
Democratic organs got themselves ready
for sneering interrogatories OF why
cont the show Gomez" 1t came, however,
with such startling promptness as to pro-
ducc the bewlderment of despair among
the 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 advance
agent" They were soon getting more
than they had really dared to expect
The Unlocking of Money.
The first manifestation Of the prosper
ity movement was the unlocking Of vast
sums of money from boarding. and the
placing Of it OH deposit at the banks. The
statements Of banks during the autumn
aud winter months of 1867 showed
heavy and steady increases in deposits.
There were also striking gains In clear
Ings indicating q greater rapidly in the
movements Of money. While the first
Republican measure positively conducive
10 the present prosperity was the Ding
! ley tariff bill, which did not become
INV uotil July "a, 1897. yet general bust
ness waited not for its passage before
"discounting" the great improvement In
general conditions which it was obvi-
GUS would soon ensue.
When 1897 began the gloom of four
years OF Democratic hard times was still
hanging over the country. discouraging
enterprise aud blightinS such industries
as tried to exist. With the Inauguration
OF President Mckinley, the vast institu-
ton Of business credit, on which is vitality
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-
zion, and from the general loss of conf
dencc 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-
lily to revive 1t 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 II had resulted in the closing
Of mills the country over. the driving out
Of employment OF thousands Of American