The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-10
ga GHOST nANcE.y

The people of those states in which
the immediate traces of the North
American Indian have not yet disap-
peared, are familiar with the term
"ghost dance" Within few years we
have had fun descriptions of the savage
ceremonial, as carried out among the
Sioux Indians at Standing Rock 1t is
doubtful whether more perfect figure
OF speech could have been devised to
express the character of the OPP
erations which have been in progress
in Wall street within the past few days
Sooner or later the significance of the
manipulations which have produced
these insane outbreaks viii be made
known. The public will learn who the
spectators are whose manipulations
Were able to so generally deprive
operators and investing public alike of
their senses, and to set afoot one of
the most remarkable of the speculative
crazes which arise from time to time
in Wall street
an epidemic of hysteria, cultivated and
kept up by a few INSCRIPTIONS men 20
whom the opportunity is offered through
stock transactions to indulge the frenzy
for gambling and make their victims
pay the cost
The men who organized the conspiracy
which produce those results ought to be
turned over to the criminal authorities.
When men like Gould and Fisk were In
control of the market years ago, and
had at least nominal control of valuable
railroad properties, 1t was notorious that
both mon and their immediate retainers
were conducting their scalp dances on
the very verge of criminal prosecution.
They were known and recognized finan-
cial crooks and wreckers, and the public
were prepared for such exhibitions as
they treated the world to in the stocks
they controlled, when they thought prop
er to engage in the wrecking of a
given road or the manipulation Of an
other with a view to its subsequent
control. Fisk died as he lived, and
Gould has left behind him a reputation
which his descendants for many genera
tons viii never be able to overcome.
Who are the men who have organized
the dissracefuI orgies Of speculation
which have been enacted within the past
few days? Whoever they are they
ought to be punished Whether they are
reputable or disreputable in the world of
stock speculation they should be made
known and the criminal authorities
ought to devise the means to deal with
them.
There is absolutely nothing in the ex-
listing condition Ct financial or business
affairs which would suggest a suhstan-
tial cause for such madcap proceedings
The industries Of the country are pros
Porous. Money is plentiful and is pro-
ducuvely employed; the people are oc-
cupied throughout the length and
breadth of the country and are c,ntent
with existing conditions; the breath CT
uncertainty does not disturb the SUBJ
stantial business interests of the coun-
try. The men, who through their spec
ulative manipulations of the stock
market are thus able to make it appear
otherwise, and are willing to do so for
the gain they may themselves realize
or the loss they impose on somebody
else, ought not to be allowed to escape
the lash Of criminal prosecution.
The moral public sentiment which will
pillory the professional gambler and
leave these men immune from punish
ment is worthy the contempt of even
those against whom it is invoked.