The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-08-31


as w. ]. Bryan four years ago de-
u 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 go 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.
The Prosperity Chapter Interesting.
The Republican platform of 1896 pro-
fessed full assurance that the cleo
ton would bring victory to the Repub-
lican party and prosperity to the people
Of the United States" How prosperity
followed in sequence to the Republican
victory in 1896 constitutes indeed re-
markedly 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 "pcace 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 eE-
istence as q people. the reading in black
and white Of the record of prosperity Is
at this time very timely. Future success
must always be based on the lessons OF
past experience. If the American people
are to continue in the prosperity which
they have been enjoying the last four
years, it is by considering with serious
eanestness the data of such prosperity,
making thereon the one possible decision,
and expressing such decision with salu-
tury emphasis at the polls this next No
vembcr.
The "Masses" the Foundation.
In the remarkable speech four years
ago by which Mr.. Bryan sprang into
fame and into the nomination for the
presidency, he expressed the Democrat
ic idea that if 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 a rather indefi-
mite idea as to what a desirable result
would be. 1t is another thing to success
fully accomplish such n 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 of being made pros
porous by the payment of wages in As
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 sncering interOgatories Of why
don't the show Gomez" 1t came, however,
with such startling promptness as to pro-
duce the bewilderment 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 on deposit at the banks. The
statements of banks during the autumn
ard winter months of 1867 showed
heavy and steady increases in deposits.
There were also striking gains in clear
ings indicating a greater rapidity 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
law until July 81, 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 and blghting such industries
ms tried to exist. With the Inauguration
OF President Mckinley the vast institu-
ton of business credit, on which is vitaily
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-
lion, and from the general loss Of conf
dence 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 il 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