The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-05-13
Is History Repeating Itself


can people become dissatisfied with
tho working of the Protective Tar
iff. 1t Is a curious fact that this
dissatisfaction usually manifests IT.
self when the country is In pros
porous condition and when it would
seem that there was every reason for
Steadfasty adhering to a fiscal pol
icy which has admittedly resulted in
making the United States the
wealthiest nation on the face of the
globe. That was the case in 1900,
when the Republican majority in
Congress, elected two years earlier,
was converted into an overwhelming
Democratic majority, and there are
abundant signs that the experience
will be repeated in 1910.
Ii such result occurs, we may
reasonably expect a repetition OF
the circumstances watch attended
the restoration of Democratic con
trel of the lower house in 1901.
NiReteen years is comparatively
short space of time, but it appears
that 1t is long enough interval IN
which to forget very important hap.
penings, and TO permit several hun
drea Thousand new voters to come
on the sceae who have no know
ledge of them. And while there are
many who recall the disastrous
years between 1892 and 1896 who
are ready and willing to sound q
warning note, the chances are that
what they say will pass UNDECIDED
Nevertheless, 1t is worth while to
make the attempt, Perhaps the
country may be sane enough to per
cei~e that there is Something like q
grOtesque Inconsistency in attacking
cohdition which eEly few year,
ago was declared by those aow loud
est in their denahciation of the Pro
tective Tariff to be the one snost da
isirabie of attainment. La: us no
! forget that il was Bryan, the Free
Z Trader and the free silverite, who
4 vociferously urged in 1896 that tht
farmer was being ruined by the fal
in prices aud thSt the whole country
was suffering from the evil conse-
quences OF the failure of the pro-
ducer to receive fair remuneration
for his products. If he was righ
then, he and his followers must bt
wrong new when they assume tina
what he once ewtOlled as a blessiat
is now curse.
Mr.. Bryan declared in 1896 tina
) i. was lack of basic money whiet
caused the mischief; trotectionist:
asserted that despite the unQues
toned fact that there had beea
general tall in prices efter 1873, che
United States had managed, b.
means of its Protective Tariff, to
ward of Its evil effects and that W
] 10 1891, owing to the rapid devsl
opment of the resources af the coun
try, there was prosperity becaus'
there was activity in every line o.
industry. Up to the very eve of the
; campaign in 1899, which resulted
in the defeat of the Republican par
ty in the Congressional poll, the
newspapers of the couatry were
h dwelling on the prosperous ooudi-
tions then existing. The "Chroni-
Gle" has repeatedly quoted an art;
Gle from the New York "Herald'
published in July, 1890, in which
the writer declared that business was
"provokingly" COED, sad Brad
streets amply confirmed its asser-
ton without using the queer quail,
flying word; but in few short
moRths the whole situation was
changed. Industrial activity ceased.
Mills closed down in every direct
ion. Business failures were unpre-
cedented in number and volume,
aud affairs generally were in as
wretched state as they were on the
accession of Buchanan to the Presi-
dency, whose first message to con