Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-08-07
Then and Now.

Then and Nov.
The Wausau Record, overhauling its
store of "reminiscences of the campaign
of 1896, declares the present camuaign
very tame in comparison. 1t recollects
that at that time there were knots of
men on the streets continually pro-
claiming the doctrine of Is to |, and
quoting Coins Financial School, while
it has not heard a word about either on
the streets thds far during the present
campaign. 1t remembers that there
were plenty of men then who prophe-
sled that if Mckinley was elected wheat
would drop to % cents bushel and
other property in proportion, but upon
looking over the history of the years
that followed it does not find that these
predictions were realized.
The campaign of 1896 was an educa-
tional campaign, and Coins Financial
School, the greatest political educa-
tional book that was ever written,-a
book that stood the test of a weeks
debate between its author, defending
it, and Mr.. Horn, of New York, assail-
ing it, in which debate Mr.. Harvey, the
author of the work, came off an I'M
don tod victor fbot hook bop iona
its work, and through lis simple and
clear statements of financial principles,
United States that the demonstration
of silver in 1873 was conceived in sin
and born in iniquity,-a fraud against
the common people of the United States
and in the interest of the money kings
of New York and London. These mil
lions of voters did not know the facts
before; but they know them now, and
are prepared to cast their votes for
bimetallism without the consent of
other nations when that question shall
again come before the American peo-
pie, as it surely will, for no question is
settled permanently until it is settled
right. This year we can do nothing,
nor next year, nor the year following,
as the senate is now for gold monome-
talism, and cannot be changed for a
few years to come. That is why we
are not talking 16 to |, or quoting Coins |
Financial School this year Besides
there is more important work to do.
There is question that is vastly greater
than the financial question:; there is the
question, shall the republic founded by
the revolutionary forefathers live, or
shall it be changed to an empire. in
the face of this question all others be-
come Insignificant.
AS to the predictions of what would
happen if Mckinley were elected, our
recollection materially differs from that
of the Record. We remember that
prices of property had become so low
under the gold standard administra-
ton of Cleveland that they could go
no lower They had reached bottom,
and it was predicted they would remain
so low as to make competitive business
unless bimetallism were
And while an accident in
the shape OF dire famine in India, a
scarcity of the wheat crop in other
and an unusually large wheat
crop here, made better times for far
mers, and therefore for others, in this
there is not any reason for
doubling what the malevolent effect of
the gold standard would be in this
under ordinary circumstances.
Besides the republican administration
did not have the courage to establish
the gold standard fully, but, on the con-
-rary, it began as soon as it got in to
coin silver dollars at the rate of one
and one-half millions per month, and
still continues to do so, thus doing
away with the evil following the repeal
Of the Sherman silver coinage law
under Cleveland. The republicans
promised us more gold standard than
Cleveland gave us, but when it came to
he pinch they were afraid to do it, and
lid the exact reverse. Hence there has,
rs yet, nothing occurred to show that
predictions in 1896, of what
would happen under the gold standard,
we're not correct.
Another presidential election is APP
preaching, and should it result in the
'eturn of herepublicans to power there
$ no doubt whatever as to what they
viii do, The gold standard bilp'
which they were afraid to pass, will be
,ome law; there will not be another
ilver dollar coined; control of the
inances win be given to the New York
bankers; land then we will have an
opportunity to know what the gold
tapdard will do The panic that fol-
owed the repeal of the Sherman silver
aw in 1898, won't be in it compared
With what will then come upon the peo-
lie. No man need then attempt to do
profitable business unless he is in
rust Trusts can do well under ali
onditions because they can compel
'eople to pay fixed prices, or go with
ut the necessarias of life.
SIR Bombaster Furioso, Lucius
)'Trigger Roosevelt has not, so far as
re have noticed. denied as vet any |