The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-08-25

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 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-
fesscd "full assurance that the cleo
ton would bring victory to the Repup-
lican party and prosperity to the people
of the United States" How prosperity
followed III sequence to the Republcan
victory in 1896 constitutes Indeed re-
markably interesting chapter of Ameri-
can history-a chapter which must al
WAYS bring home to the hearts oil the
American people, with grateful torce,
the truth that peace hath Its victories
no less renowned than war
LEST we forget" the causes, and be-
come ungratcful for the prosperity which
during the last four years has become the
nil important incident Of our happy eX-
istrncc as a 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 ot
INST experience. II the American people
are to continue in the prosperity when
they have been enjoying the last four
years, it is by considering with serious
earnestness the data of such prosperity,
making thereon the one possible decision,
ard expressing such decision with salu-
tary emphasis at the polls this next No
vembcr.
The "Mnsses" 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
.erous 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.
Ii Is one thing to have n rather indeh-
mite idea as to what 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 49,
cent dollars, so they turned down Bryan
and elected Mckinley President.
Mr.. Mckinley had somewhat facetious-
" been termed ''the advance agent of
prosperity" So soon as he was elected
Democratic organs got themselves ready
for sneering Undergraduates OF why
don't the show Gomez" 1t came, however,
with such startling promptncss as to pro
duce the bcwilderment of despair among
the few whose own prosperity was de-
pendent on unrestfu 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 vas
sums OF money from boarding, and the
placing OF it Oh deposit ut the banks. Thu
statements Of banks during the autumn
and winter months OF 1867 showed
heavy and steady increases in deposits
There were also striking gains in clear
ings indicating greater rapidly in thu
movements of money. While the frs
Republican measure positively conducive
TO the present prosperity was the Ding
ley tariff bill, which did not become
law until July "a, 1897, yet general bust
ness waited not for its passage befor
"dscounting" the great improvement II
general conditions which 1t was obvi
Gus would soon ensue. ..
When 1897 began the gloom OF fou
years OF Democratic hard times was still
hanging over the country, discouragin
enterprise and blighting such industrie
as tried TO exist. With the inauguration
of President Mckinley, the vast institu
ton OF business credit, on which is vital.
dependent the industrial prosperity OF nj
classes OF people, began mt once TO re
cover from the destructive effects Of tn
four years OF panic breeding silver agita
ton, and from the general loss OF cont
dencc caused by the fiscal bunders Of tn
Cleveland administration.
The overwhelming defeat OF Bryan tn
preceding November had given the coun
try the idea that free silver was dead
issue. and that the Democratic part!
would not have the inconceivable temer
ity To revive 1t four years later, and in
cidentally Bryan, whose chief god wa
the silver idol.
The free trade policy OF Presidcn
Cleveland had done harm in two ways
Primarily 1t had resulted in the closinj
of mills the country over, the driving on
OF employment of thousands Of American