Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-08-24
White slaves free society.


The Richmond South" a Democratic
paper which, like most Of It's CO. partisans
in that region. is horrifed at the idea Of
free society, and inAul.ngly calls every
person that lab0rs for n living. a siove,
invariably. in s:eaking of the people ot
The free States. styles tleib asAits slaves
IL its last ISSUE Is an article headed How
it works." III which lie editor says:
The following paragraph. which we
clip from a New York exchange. will give
our readers some idea OF what 4ch ,te SIQOeS
suffer in free society"
The editor then copies from N. Y. pa
per 40 account OF the suicide of woman
in that city, and proceeds as follows:
.;Suicide or starvation was the alterna-
tive with this sadly unfortunate Stare, in
ciy which exhibits all the beauties and
Gefornllties Of free society. Death was the
doom to be endured, and the victim had
the choice of lingering long, and suffering
pangs greater than Il thousand deaths, or,
by oae rash movement, to end LIES mis-
cries and W oes. Aud she chose the latter
rxther than wear the chains imposed by
the competition of free SDctety; but what
must have been the suffering which could
drive woman u deed SO esperate."
The highest conception that Southern
Democrat seems able to form of society,
is that in which the capitalist oWHs the Ia
bnrer. and whoever earns an honest living
by honorable toll is simply waitc Sla0e,
aud 10 be treated as such.
But is it not amazing that the very men
who are thus scorned, looked upon,
spoken of, and trea ed as SLAVES, should,
like very seris, bow in meek submission
to receive the brand that is to class them
forever with the negroes on the cotton
fields? But mark the idea that underlies
all this paisstcnt effort to degrade the la
borer What is it? This. simply: The
laborer everywhere as a Si0ve-that in free
society the condition of these aohite slaves
(all who labor) is far worse than in state
of society where the labolers are held il
legal and absolute slavery. TIE inference
follows, of course, free society must be
abolished, the laborer must become the
property of the capitalist, the rich mar
must O~m the poor, the strong control the
weak, until that happy state of society is
reached in which such Democracy as now
reiyns in South Carolina and France, shall
flourish without rival.
Can any man open his eyes TO the ten
dency of events, and fail to see that we are
drifting into such condition with fearful
rapidi;y? Is it possible that the men of
Ohio, who give their support to the Dem
ocratic organization, as now controlled by
Shareholders. can be SO blinded as not 10 see
the deep and desperate game that is being
played for the degradation of labor and the
ensIavement of mankind? Do not fatter
you are in no danger. Are you whittier
than the people of France? Do Louis
Napoleon and his minions gauge their des
potism by the color of their victims? Are
not the people of Ireland aOhite? But do
the aristocracy OF England, therefore, re-
lease their grasp and treat them as equals?
Are no: the people of all Europe tOhite?
But do they any the less feel the iron heel
of tyranny upon their necks? Are not a
large portion Of the slaves of the South
white? The bleached sons and daughters
of these precious Democrats? But does
that effect their condition? No! Despot-
ism is the same wherever found, and what
ever people prssumes upon their color to
save them from its power will find that
they have trusted in vain delusion.
1t is yet in the power of the people. to
save, for themselves and their children !
the liberties our fathers won with their
lives and their treasures. But let them |
through party attachment, OF
otherwise, in the schemes of the present
leaders of the 50 called Democratic party,
aud the story Of our enslavement will be
but stale repetition of the folly. the mad
ness. and the subjuga'ion of the 6tful Re
pubiic5 that have preceded Us.