Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1902 — POLITICAL COMMENT. [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL COMMENT.

Prosperity—That's AIL rrrriii'L Thu Republican campaign-text book presents prosperity as the paramount issue of the campaign of 1902. The record is not of prosperity for one year, or two years, but for five years. It Is not a record of prosperity for bankers, investors or manufacturers alone, but for the whole American people. The record is not of an era in which the manufacturer has prospered at the expense of the consumer, nor the merchant .at the expense of the purchaser, nor the industrial centers at the expense of the agricultural districts. It is a record of a period in which all have shared in the most wonderful years of wealth in the history of the country. In the election of 1896 the Republicans promised that, with the election of Mr. McKinley to the presidency there would be a renewal of manufacturing' activity and a return to prosperous conditions. The McKinley policy was put tn-force In 1897. In the five succeeding years the excess of exports over imports was seven times greater than in all the one hundred ard eight previous years of the government. To be specific, the excess of exports over Imports in the one hundred and eight years from 1790 to March 4, 1897, was $383,028,487, while the excess Jn the five years from March 4, 1897, to March 4, 1902, was $2,707,993,194, the excess of exports in each year since 1897 being greater than that of the entire one hundred and eight years prior to the inauguration of President McKinley. There is no gainsaying this record. It is the best possible measure of our producing capacity under favorable conditions. We sold abroad in five years more American products by $2.707,993,194 than we bought of foreign products. This means, of course, that there was a great Increase in of manufactured products; a great increase In wages earned by those engaged in industrial pursuits.

In the same time the value of the corn, wheat and oat crops of the country was doubled, and there was an Increase of $250,000,000 in the Value of live stock. There was an advance in the price of what farmers had to sell, but there was a corresponding advance In the earnings of those who bought products of the farm. In 1896 and 1900 the Republican party raised the battle cry, “McKinley and Prosperity!” Now it raises the battle cry, “Roosevelt and Prosperity!” There are other great issues associated with Mr. Roosevelt’s policies, but this Issue of prosperity comes home to every man’s pocket; comes home to the farm and the workshop; to the investor, the manufacturer and the wageearner as well as to the millionaire. . This Issue has been with us for five years. It Is the issue of all the people. It is the child of Republican wisdom and Democratic folly. It will not.down or off or out, as long as Republican wisdom and Democratic folly exist.— Chicago Inter Ocean.

Marching Away from Bryan. The anti-Bryan managers are making rapid progress in this State and Illinois toward getting the party organization on a basis of hostility to the Kansas City platform. In this State the platform was ignored by the State convention, and all of the congressional district conventions are forgetting that the last national declaration of the party was made In Kansas City in 1000. In the Eleventh District a man has been nominated for Congress who was a somewhat pronounced gold Democrat in 1890. This, however, is consistent action, since it is the logical thing. In the departure from Bryanism, to take a man as a leader who never was in the Bryan camp, or, if there, only for a brief period. To make such men candidates is a practical confession of error. It is an open admission of the Bryanltes to the gold Democrats that they were right in voting for Palmer or McKinley tn 1896.

In Illinois the hostility of the present leaders of the Democratic party to Mr. Bryan and bls platforms is more marked. The chairman of the present Democratic State committee was active against Mr. Bryan in 1896, while exRepresentative Cable, who is looked upon as the great man In the coming campaign In Illinois, was openly against his party in 1896. Two years ago, when looking for speakers for the Campaign both in Indiana and Illinois, the Democratic managers turned to the eager orators of the West. Mr. Bryan was sought everywhere, and Mr. Towne, of Minnesota, and Champ Clark were sought as the leaders bearing the message of true Democracy to the people. Now the leaders of the two States turn to the East. Illinois has already announced that David B. Hill will be invited—Dqvld B. Hill, “the still, the very still, Democrat” of 1806, and exSecretary Olney, who did not vote in 1896, and who, as Mr. Cleveland’s Attorney General, devised the plan by which the Debs railroad strike was put down In Chicago, thus incurring the deadly hatred of the late Gov. Altgeld. who was in sympathy with the mob. Mr. Olney was the Attorney General who had the strikers enjoined at that time, thus setting np government by injunctions Chairman Hopkins has not yet announced the Invitation of Mr. Cleveland, but the inviting of Mr. Olney is the same thing. Such progress has been made in the march toward the Eastern Democratic

leaders in this State that the announcement that Mr. Bryan would make halfl a dozen speeches in Indiana would] cause general dismay, while the coming l of David B. Hill, the “very still Demo J erat,” would fill their hearts with something of the ecstasy that the comingi of Mr. Bryan did in 1896 and in 1900. Bu't is the rank and file, the thousands who hailed Mr. Bryan as their leader two years ago, marching away from him into the camp of the Eastern leaders who have denounced Mr. Bryan?— Indianapolis Journal. Fool Remedies for “Trouts." As a further illustration of alleged Democratic cuteness, Representative! Richardson proposes to reduce the duty) on any articles sold for export, by. American producers, at lower prices than the same products are sold for at home. All this is in a bill which Mr. Richardson certainly does not expect Congress to act on, but which he intends as the text for certain stump speeches. In substance this is a proposal that, when the Ameriean workmen have supplied the American market the mills must shut down until a new home demand arises. The greater part of international commerce consists In the dumpage of surpluses, almost Invariably at cut prices. Such prices pay wages, but frequently do not pay profits. Richardson proposes that no American goods shall be sold which do not bring profits to capitalists as well as wages to labor/ We should be rather glad to See the ways and means committee report the Richardson bill back, with an amendment that a prohibitory duty should be placed on foreign trust made goods, and on products imported at lower rates than those current in the country of It is a poor rule that will not work both ways. A week or two of discussion in Congress on a bill so amended would be very edifying, and help to clear up the muddled Democratic brain. We do not know just how they would determine when either foreign or American goods are sold at cut rates for export. Pass it up to the President, we suspect That seems to be tlje fashion.—San Francisco Chronicle.

Never Stronger than Now. The divergent views of Republican statesmen, and the tenacity with which such views are severally maintained, indicate the virility of the Republican party. It has been a positive, forceful party throughout its strenuous existence. It is a thoughtful, considerate party, with convictions that are not cast in the weathercock mold, making them amenable to change with every political breeze. The Democratic leaders are quite welcome to all the hope they can make out of the vision they afreet to see at Washington. They may at least enjoy the comforting assurance of Paul, “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” It will be a long wait The cohesion of the Republican party was never stronger than it is to-day. There never was * time when Its leaders were more loyal in its support or more determined to stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of its principles. But there is no bellweather in the Republican fold. The leaders of the party, and the rank and file as well, do their own thinking and express their own views. When it comes to a political battle, however, all minor considerations are forgotten, with the usual result of a total eclipse of Democratic hope.—Los Angeles Herald.

Wise Words of Caution. The tariff has too many ramifications and is too far-reaching in its effect to be made the football of purely local judgment. It is true, there are not lacking “reformers” who feel that they are Inspired with wisdom from above to lead the party through the wilderness, but It is noticeable that the reformers are seldom able to agree among themselves, and that their followers are of uncertain number and allegiance. The few of them who get into a national convention are quickly lost to view in the vast expanse of national interests which tower above mere local environment.—Burlington Hawkeye. Both Were Bad. However, the Democratic party is not obliged to follow either Cleveland or Bryan. As leaders they are both hasbeens. Both brought it disaster—Cleveland, with his administration, and Bryan with his platform. It would do well to look up a new Moses, not recommended by either.—Kansas City Journal. Democratic “Harmony." Mr. Whitney might have gone further and declared that as It is managed now the Democracy is an old woman’s party —Washington Post Mr. Cleveland’s Vilas is forging to the front but Mr. Bryan’s Adlal Stevenson continues to abide in his tomb, —Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. The Democratic party under present leadership is open to the definition that it is composed of people who are generally opposed to everything.—Decatur (TH.) Herald. The Michigan Democrats took rather a mean advantage of their nominee fog Governor. The poor man was off on sf fishing expedition and was slapped onto the ticket before be could reach a telegraph office for the purpose of resigning.—Washington Post