The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-18
Wrong Then, Wrong Now.

place the Republfcan party IN the po-
sftion Of making a defensive cam
paign. AS a matter of fact, the person
who will be under the necessity Of re-
sorting to the most adroit defensive
tactics viii be Mr.. Bryan himself.
Should he for the next three months
apply himself diligently to the task of
explaining his speeches made four
years ago. he viii have barely time
enough to clear up some OF the pre-
dictions made while discussing the
silver question, to say nothing OF touch
ing upon the fictitious issue which his
party in its distress has been obliged
TO call paramount.
Mr.. Bryan talked a good deal dur
ing the campaign Of 1895 and all his
utterances were accurately reported.
At Newton, Iowa, he said, 1.-THE law
upon which we base our fight Is as sure
as the law of gravitation. If we have
a gold standard. prices are as sure to
fall as the stone which is thrown into
the air" At New York: "A gold stand
ard encourages the boarding Of money,
because money Is rising; 1t also dis
courages enterprise and paralyzes in
dustry." At New Haven: mo party
ever declared in its platform that 1t
was in favor OF hard times, and yet
the party that declares for gold
standard in substance declares for
continuance OF hard times" At Min
neapolis: THE gold standard will de-
stroy the hope Of the toiling masses.
will destroy the opportunity to work,
viii increase the number Of idle men,
will decrease the volume Of standard
money" At Minneapolis. to ladies: ''It
win make II impossible for husbands
and wives to pay off the mortgages on
their homes. and will make dearer
money. cheaper property. harder times.
more people out Of work, more people
destitute. more people desperate. more
crime" At New York: 'It will make
1t more diffcult for the farmer to live:
it will make employment less certain:
1t win compel depositors in savings
banks to withdraw their deposits to
pay living expenses; II will lessen the
salaries Of those engaged In business
and lessen the pernanency of those
salaries"
All of these direful predictions have
proved untrue. The declaration in favor
of the gold standard has come to pass
and it has been followed by Just what
Mr.. Bryan said would not happen. He
made his prophecies. and by the facts
Of history ne has been completely dts
credited and shown to be utterly un-
trustworthy as a political teacher. The
gold standard has been adopted. but
prices, instead OF falling, have risen.
Money instead Of being boarded has
been thrown into the channels OF trade
and an abundance of capital In a season
OF confidence has promoted new enter
to industries In all sections of the
country. Instead OF an era OF hard
times we have had three years OF I'M
exampled prosperity; the gold standard
instead OF insuring continuance of
hard times has been a powerful factor
in bringing them 10 an end.
The hopes OF the toillng masses were
never higher; the opportunity for work
was never greater. the number Of idle
men was never smaller: the volume OF
standard money was never larger.
| Husbands and wives have paid OF
mortgages as never before: money has
been growing cheaper property has
been approaching In value: farmers
have found IL easier 10 live; en-
1 pioyment has become more certain
with better wages paid; dep0siiors in-
I stead Of Withdrawing their deposits
/ from savings banks are adding to them.
/ aud people all over the land are ae-
/ eumulatlng wealth mere easily and
faster and are generally happier and
/ mere hopefui than for many years
J In fact. the experience Of the last
fsw years has shown Mr.. Bryan 70 be
80 unreliable as a prophet and adviser
that IL hardly seems possible that pec-
/ PIE can take seriously any predictions
I he may make As 60 the future. The
fact % the matter Is that the Demo
cratic candidate for president DID not
know what be was talking about In
! isss, and he is labarink under the same
I difhculiy al the present time.
/ SIR, Arthur sewall. wha WAS Bryan's
running mate four years ago, is today