Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1898 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

No rlse in prices. fcletetofore when the United States Ivas at war there was a considerable adVanbe in the prices of commodities ahd produets as compared with times of peace. The present war, however, is fan exception to the general rule, though fiver 200,000 men have been changed from producers to consumers by entering the military service. The price of labbr has not materially advanced, if at all. The war has created no appreciable demand for labor, though tbousands are engaged in manufacturing clothing and uniforms of war for the army and navy. Wheat and breadstuff's generally have declined In price since war was declared against Spain, the failure of Leiter, the great grain speculator, having much greater effect upon the market than the withdrawal of 200,000 men from civil life. Of course, thei’e are many articles Which necessarily have advanced Of Will advance In price because of the war. Sulphur, niter, and other materials used In the manufacture of gunpowder are higher, but lead and iron are not. • W'heat and flour are lower than they were before the war commenced, but the decline is caused by more abundant crops this year than last year in foreign countries. Hay is higher, especially on this coast, but that is due to the drought, not to the war nor to the administration.

The principal reason why the war has not Increased the prices of products is that there is no more money in general circulation than there was before the declaration of war. The bonds issued by the government took $200,000,000 out of circulation for the time being. This tends to reduce prices, and would do so were it not that there is no more money in general circulation again for the purchase of supplies and the payment of the troops. A part of the $50,000,000 appropriated by Congress, to be expended by the President as he saw fit, was paid to foreign countries for vessels and war materials, and Very little of the money paid the troops and sailors at Manila and In Cuba will find its way back to tile United States. A Spanish Steamship Hile will receive half a miilioh dollars or more for transporting the Spanish soldiers who sutren* dered at Santiago to their native land, feo that oh the whole the war reduces instead of increases the volume of inbney ih circulation in the United States.—Gardnersvllle (Nev.) Record.

f tarving the Soldiers. While death at the hands of the Spanish soldiers has been a rare event dur Ing the late war, death from the neglecl of the war department has been frequent. Especial attention to this shameful and criminal condition of affairs has been called in more than one in stance, and the death of Lieutenan! William Tiffany, of the rough riders, in Boston will intensify the feeling of resentment which has arisen against the war department. Lieutenant Tiffany served at Santiago and was brought north In the Olivette and landed at Boston. He was taken to a hotel, given care, but could not rally. Th? death certificate, signed by Dr. F. M. Johnson, gives this as the cause of young Tiffany’s death: “Death due to protracted fevers, due to war life in Cuba, and starvation.” While the government cannot control fevers, it can provide food and medicines and decent shelter for its soldiers, and this it has not done. There havd been criminal blunders in the Selections of camps, criminal blunders in sending troops home in pest ships, criminal blunders in exposing men to contagion, criminal blunders in failing to supply medicine and surgeons. In addition there have been robbery, inefficiency, carelessness and cruel neglect in the commissary department. Alger has much to answer for, and by the storm of popular indignation which is rising he will be swept out of public life into an oblivion which is his just deserts. Trouble for Hanna. Mark Hanna is not going to have everything his own way, even in his own party. When young Garfield was “turned down” by the anti-Hanna Republicans of Cleveland the rotund bass Who boasts that he “conciliates with an ax” received a gentle hint that trouble was brewing for him. But just now the sensation of the hour in Ohio politics is the alleged alliance between former Secretary of State Sherman and Governor Bushnell. These two prominent leaders of the Republican hosts in the Buckeye state have not as a usual thing worked together, but a common hatred for their common foe, Mark Hanna, has made them friends and allies. John Sherman visited Columbus and had a long and confidential conference with Governor Bushnell. Under the circumstances this is almost the equivalent of a declaration of war against Hanna. It is so considered by Republicans, and the greatest anxiety to the boss. In addition to the trouble Hanna is going to have in his own party, the Democrats have devoted a plank to him in their state platform demanding that the senate of the United States Investigate the charges of bribery formulated against him by the state legislature. On the whole, it looks as though Hanna might be forced before long to arrive at the conclusion that a politician’s life is not a happy one. The Repudiators, The Republican newspapers are berating the unpatriotic express companies who ore refusing to pay the stamp tax required by the war revenue bill. They are deserving all the pounding they may get. To refuse to pay a just share of the war tax is nothing short of treason. They do not deserve to be protected in this country and ought to be kicked out. put we wonder if these same Republican newspapers remember how they abused the Democrats in 1896 for what the Chicago platform said on corporations and trusts? Because the Democrats said all men were not treated alike, the Republicans howled traitor, anarchist, and repudiator till they grew black in the face. Nothing was too vile nor too low-lived to apply to anyone who dared suggest that may-be the corporations had more than their share of influence with the potvers. Now it is different. This is a horse of another color. Somebody else is pinched, and how they howl! We wonder who are the real repudiators this load of poles. Sic ’em, Tlge!—Washington (la.) Demotrat. No Large Standing Army. The plutocracy, while charging that the Democracy is seeking a new issue, is depending upon the issue it is attempting to make on the question of foreign conquest, to distract the attenUon of the people from vital

of taxation, finance; the aggressions of corporations, and the subordination of every branch of the Federal Government td the influence of concentrated wealth. Once a large standing army becomes a fact, with the attendant force of officialism that will grow up under the colonization policy, election will become a farce; our legislative halls and courts the mere tools of art aristocracy that will trample with impunity on constitutional government and perpetuate its power on the absolute destruct! an of personal liberty.— Cleveland Recorder. Needless Bond Issue. Professional financiers rose to the occasion during the war with Spain and demanded an issue of $500,000,000 worth of government boners. This dtf-' ma nd was finally reduced by $100,000,000 and an issue of $400,000,000 was authorized. Secretary Gage was besought by the money dealers to offer the whole amount, but decided to issue only half the number of bonds authorized. His decision has proved fortunate for the people of this country, and it would have been still more fortunate if he had waited sixty days, because in thitt event he Would not have issued any bbnds at ail. 'there is a great surplus, growing greater eVery day, in the treasury, and there is nd way to get this idle money into cirbuldtion except for the government to' buy back its bonds. In the meantime the people of the United States have been burdened with an interest-bearing debt of $200,000,000. Democratic Congressmen pointed out the mistake when the suggestion of issuing bonds was made by the Republicans, bu>t the cry of “obstructionists” was raised and the Democrats yielded rather than to place themselves In a position which would have been construed as an opposition to war measures. Republicans will have to bear the responsibility of the needless and costly issue of bonds. Democrats suggested methods of meeting war expenses which events have proved would have been amply equal to the emergency,, but the Republicans wanted to serve the mohey dealers, and now they find themselves iu a serious dilemma.

“Object Lesson for Bryan.*’ So the tradesmen of Santiago refuse to take the American silver dollar except at 50 per dent discount ‘l Let Shafter be recalled and send Colonel Bryan in his place. If he cannot turn the Santiagoans from the error of their ways he may learn a thing or two which will he useful to him in his political campaign.—Boston Transcript. How about the discount on American told coin at Ponce? For whom is that in “object lesson?” Why do not the gold-worshiping fanatics give us a few “object lessons” from the conditions which have prevailed in India since the mints of that country were closed to the coinage of silver? Why do they not lay some stress upon the fact that even with gold bars as security, money has frequently commanded 12 per cent interest at Bombay? Why do they not advert to the historic fact that there have been times when money could not be borrowed in Calcutta at all upon the security of gold? That the merchants and business men (native and foreign) would have nothing but silver? They would take silver bars quickly enough, but not gold bars. Why? Simply because they could have the silver bars coined into money, while the gold bars Were merely a commodity the same as pig- iron. And the law made the difference, but it is safe to say that not one gold scribbler In ten knows It. A Momentous Contest. We arc now entering upon a momentous contest. Gold monopoly has the Executive, and is making superhuman efforts to control both houses of Congress. Ih that event, legislation will be devised whereby the machinery of government control for the good of the people Will be placed in the hands of bankers, money changers and stock jobbers with which to tax, harass and impoverish the mass of the people. You must not allow gold monopoly to continue to own the executive branch of the government. You must not allow gold monopoly to acquire a complete title to the two houses of Congress, for if you do your government is a despotism. It will rob you and treat you with more cruelty, harshness and oppression than the Russian government is said by its enemies to treat the serfs of that country.—Silver-Knight Watchman. You Know What to Expect. If gold monopoly rules, you know very well that it is more heartless, more cruel, more relentless) and more grasping than any other despotism that can be invented by man. There is no passion as wicked as aval ice. There is no sin so far reaching and destructive as usury, and if you permit avarice to rule and usury to fatten on the labors of the people you will be slaves. Resist now while it is in your power. Arouse your neighbor, and your neighbor’s neighbor, and keep the good work moving on, so that you will be ready for the great battle at the tfext election in which the fate of humanity Is involved.—Silver Knight Watchman. Prosperity Notes. About 1,500 cloakmakers isj New York and vicinity are on strike. There were only sixty-five suicides in Cleveland, Ohio, during the past year. The number of suicides has increased 100 per cent in six months. The sheet and steel manufacturers of Pennsylvania are closing their plants, and they will remain closed for at least six weeks. The reason given is that it is desirable to curtail production in order to raise prices. The Hamgut Cotton Mills at Bristol, R. 1., which are operated by the Richmond Manufacturing Company, have been shut down for the month of August. A dull market for goods is the cause of the curtailment. The Stevens Woolen Mills at Ware, Pa., were shut down on the 30th ult., to remain closed until September sth. This is the first shut-down in these mill in the past four years. The New York Journal of Commerce says that an expert who has canvassed the growth of trusts finds that fully 200 such organizations are now in existence, with a total capital In stocks and bonds of $8,662,000,000. Needful Preparations for War. “In time of peace prepare for war” is a saying which has been tremendously emphasized by the affair between the United States and Spain. There is a considerable extent to which war preparations can be made without violation of the thne-honored precepts against |he maintenance of a large

standing army. The American objection to a large standing army is opposition to a military establishment that means constant invitation to war.—Cin* cinnati Enquire* jobbery in the War Department. Alger has been Surrounded by a coterie of jobbers always oil the make, it is surmised they have becii preaching patriotism to cover their boodling. The expenditures of tile wdr shduld be thoroughly inquired into when Congress meets by an independent committee, hot for any partisan of personal purpose; but to find out the wedk spots of our system that they may be guarded against in the future. Wfe want td have in stock the benefits of our experience, no matter what party may be in power.—Pittsburg Post.