The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-06
THE CALAMITY CRY.
It Is the Vital Breath of
Johnsonism.
CLARKE WENT WITH THE CROWD
"Good Times Are Here" Says the Gin
cinnati Enquirer, Declaring That
We Should Not Menace Prosperity
Even by Inference-Prophets of
Evil Condemned by All conserva-
tive Men.


The Cincinnati Enquirer has fallen
into line with the Cleveland Plain
Dealer in sharp criticism upon the
Johnson and Clarke stump speech at
tack upon the general welfare This
arraignment by the two principal or
gans of the party in this state OF the
two chief candidates for their most
significant public utterance of the
campaign. must carry great weight
among the people OF all classes. II
bears witness that both Johnson and
Clarke care more for carrying a few
votes than they do for the public
peace and prosperity.
The Enquirer appears very 10th to
believe that Mr.. Clarke should have
used the expression that this country
Is on the verge of a financial and in
dustrial collaDse." II thinks he "ts
way. and that 1t may be assumed
that he is not obliged to resort to
calamity" as the main avenue through
which he must ride to success" Any
one might well think So according to
the Enquirer's description Of Clarke
as "a man Of ability. education. elo-
quence and good presence" All of
these things are true of him, but the
trouble Is he 1id say just the mis-
chievous words credited to him, and
more of the same sort. The author
lzed version of his Akron speech is
the best evidence. Johnson was there,
heard Clarke. indorsed him. and never
objected an iota to anything that
Clarke said. Thus the entire utter
ance. wise or unwise. true or untrue,
belongs to both of them
So far as Johnson Is concerned and
Johnsonism, this cry Of calamity. Is
its vital breath. The entire Johnson
program only takes up. repeats and
enlarges upon the Bryan attempt to
make political capital out of public
calamity and general distress. In
1896 Bryan had some excuse for what
he said. but in 1903 Johnson and
Clarke have nothing to Justify them
whatever in the general business sit
uation. As the Enquirer well says,
GOOD TINES ARE HERE. and let
us embrace them as long as they will
stay here. Let us not menace pros
perity even by inference Let us not
contribute anything to the discourage
ment of either capital or labor in the
business of the country" The C1eve-
land Pain Dealer has been equally
emphatic along this same line, that
| the country is truly prosperous, and
that there should be no partisan at.
| tack upon that prosperity.
What Mr.. Clarke has said and John
son has endorsed. cannot now be un.
| said. II cannot he taken out OF their
campaign. in fact. because that Is
based upon making one set of men be
lieve that some one else is working
them harm. and thus obtaining theil
| vote by that deception. II is too late for
the Enquirer to say of Mr.. Clarke. "Lei
him not give the slightest sign of sym.
| pathy with a collapse" That is just
what he has done. He cannot undo
II now. Prosperity. largely the result
of Republican policies and admins
tration. is here to stay In spite Of HIN
and Johnson
In the language OF the Plain Dealer
"the actual business OF the country
has been practically unaffected" ant
"it will remain so unless 'alarmisti
for a purpose should succeed in scar
ing business to a stsndstil." Clarke a~t
Johnson are "alarmists for purpose
and that one Is the deception OF th'
voters Into their support. In orde
to win votes they would recklessl,
plunge the entire nation from rea
and great prosperity down to tn
very verge OF ruin" To both o
them applies General Dicks query Il
Tom L. Johnson: 'If that is not you
| nnrnose WHY do Won invite q manic 90