The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-04-03
The Peril of the Future.

and Money" recognizes the danger to our
free institutions from aggregated or in
| corporated wealth. He sees in the not
distant future the inevitable conflict be-
| tween capital and labor. Archbishop Pur
cell some months since in an able address
sounded note of alarm, and predicted a
| revolution which would shake the social
fabric to its foundations 1t requires no
gift OF prophecy nor the wisdom of a sheer
to fortell the conflict, says the Cincinnati
Enquirer, but God only can Know what
will be the results to society OF to the
State. A high order of patriotism and u
wise craftsmanship might have averted
the impending revolution. While the
ruling spirits Of the country have been in
tent on the overthrow of African slavery,
they have been constructing system Of
servitude and forging chains tor the toll
ing millions of whatever color, which will
only be broken by social earthquake
which may demolish even the fabric of
Government. We are rapidly approach
ing the period when all the earnings of
productive industry will be appropriated
to swell the fortunes Of the rich, and it is
only question of time when the robbed
will retaiate upon their oppressors. The
rapaclty OF the moneyed c!ass is growing
daily, and the governmental schemes de-
vised and enforced by aggregated wealth
are bold and undisguisea There is a
point not far distant when torbearance
will cease TO be a virtue, and when a ter
rible retribution will come
The Congress OF the United States, in
all its legislation. acts upon the theory
that if the rich are cared for they can pro-
vide for the poor. What more fragrant
outrage could be perpetrated upon the
producing classes than that act which de-
clared that sixteen hundred millions of
currency bonds should be paid in gold /?
This single measure practically increased
the public debt more than five hundred
by that measure? Only those who held
the untaxed bonds, the army of National
bankers and the moneyed class generally
Thaddeuo Stevens denounced the PROPOSE
ton in the strongest language, declaring
that it would add millions to the burdens
of an already overtaxed people
The National banking system is most
ingeniously contrived scheme to increase
the gains Of capital at the expense Of
labor 1t enables the moneyed man to
get usurious interest upon his money.
The tariff, falsely styled protective, is i'll
other OF the legalized agencies for the
robbery of labor. The squandering of the
public lands upon railroad corporations is
another. We will search in vain for any
legislation in the interest of the masses.
We are told that this is an era of general
prosperity, that all branches of industry
are adequately rewarded, and the indus
trious, enterprising, and frugal are steadi-
ly and rapidly growing in wealth. We
appeal to the agricultural and mechanical
interests to prove that this declaration j.
false The cultivators OF the soil, who
lay the foundation of all wealth, will bear
us witness that it is with the utmost DIFF
ficulty they can hold their own. "Farn-
ing no longer pays' is the uniform testi-
mony of those engaged in agriculture.
Inequalities in wealth are every year
growing greater. The few are growing
rich, the many are becoming impoverish-
ed. Legislation encourages these inequali-
ties by giving peculiar privileges to ag-
gregated wealth Money is power, and
its despotic rule will not always be patient
ly borne by the millions The mutterings
of discomfort are beginning to be heard,
and observing men can not fail to see that
a storm cloud is gathering.