The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-06-14
" y u ElltNWf
s. M. SMITH, ,
DUNCAN MACKAY, \ '
REVOLUTION OF 1878.


W ueu IN tine course OF human events II ne
comes necessary for class of people, sut-
icring from long continued systems Of OPP
preston and abuse, 10 rouse themselves
from an apathetic indifference 20 their own
interests. which has become habitual TO
assume among their fellow citizens that
equal station, and demand from the gov.
eminent they support those equal rights,
tuwhch the laws Of nature and Of nature
God entities them; a decent respect for
the opinions of mankind requires that they /
should declare the causes that impel them |
10 course 50 necessary to their own pro |
tectiOu
We hold these truths to be self evident
That all men are created equal; chat they are
endowed by their Creator with certain un-
alienable rights; that among these are life, /,
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness
That 10 secure these rights governments
are instituted among men, deriving their
Just powers from the consent Of the gov
crned; that wheueverthe powers ola govern
ment become destTuctiyeO Of these ends, eth /
ar through the injustice or ineticiency of
its laws, or through the corruption of its
administrators, it is the right Of the people
o. abolish such laws, and 70 institute such
reforms as tn them shall seem most likely
deuce indeed will dictate that laws long es-
tablished shall not be changed for light
and trifiing causes, and. accordingly. ell
experience hath shown that mankind are
more disposed TO suffer while evils are suf-
terable, than TO right themselves BY abol
ishing the laws % which they are aecus-
toned. Bat when a long train Of abuses
and usurpations, pursuing invariably the
Il
pie undertheabso disposition Of combin-
atoms, that, under the fostering care OF gov
eminent, and with wealth wrIrng from the
people, have grown 10 such gigantic pro-
portions as 20 Oyershadow all the land, and
WELD an almost irresistible influence for
their own selfish purposes, in all its halls
Of legislation, il Is their right--it is their
duty 10 throw Of such tyranny, and pro
vide new guards for their future security
such has been the patient sufferance Of the
producing classes Of these States. and such
Is now the necessity which compels them
90 declare that they viii use every means,
save resort 10 arms, to overthrow this
despotism OF monopoly and 10 reduce all
men claiming the protection Of American
laws 10 an equality before those laws, max.
ing the owner Of a railroad as amenable
thereto as the "veriest beggar that walks
the streets, the sun and air his sole inheri-
lance
The history Of the present railway mon.
op0ly Is a history of repeated injuries and
expressions, all having in direct object the
establishment OF an absolute tyranny over
the people of these States unequalled in
any monarchy Of the Old World and hav-
inc its only PARALLEL in the history of the
Medieval ages when the strong hand was
the only law and The highways Of com
merce were taxed by the Feudal BarOns
who, from their strongholds, surrounded
by their armies Of vassals, could levy such
tribute upon the traveller as their own
will alone should dictate. To prove this
let facts be submitted to a candid world
They have influenced our executive Off
GERS TO refuse their assent 10 laws the
most wholesome and necessary for the
public good and when such laws have been
passed they have utterly refused to obey
them
They have procured the passage of other
laws, tor their own benefit alone by which
they have put untold millions into their
own Golfers, 10 the injury of the entire
commercial and industrial interests Of the
country
They have Influenced legislation to suit
themselves BY bribing venal legislators to
bctray the true interests Of their constit-
ucnts while others have been kept quiet
by the compliment Of free passes.
They have repeatedly prevented the re-
election OF representatives, for opposing
with manly iirmness their invasions of the
peoples rights.
They have BY false representations and
nd IL 4.
funds % build roads, whose rates, when
built are so exorbitant that in many in
stances transportation by private convey.
auce Is less burdcnsome
They have procured charters by which
they condemn and appropriate our lands
without adequate compensation therefor,
aud arrogantly claim that by virtue OF
these charters they are absolutely above
the control Of legal enactments.
They have procured a law Of Congress
by which they have dispossessed hundreds
OF farmers Of the homes that by years Of
toll they have built up; have induced 9th
ers 10 mortgage their farms for roads never
intended to be built, and after squandering
The money thus obtained, they have left
their victims to the mercy Of courts over
which they held absolute sway
They have obstructed the administration
"i justice by injunctions, procured from We
MAJ Judges by legal bubbles, and appeals,
from court % court, with intent to veal
out or ruin the prosecutor, openly avowinl
thelr determination 10 make it so terrible
ioT the public 10 prosecute them that they
VIII not dare 10 undertake it. .
They have virtually made Judges do
pendent on their will alone, and have pro
cured their appointment for the express
purpose Of reversing decision Of the high
estc9urt Of the nation, by which million
were gained TO them, to the injury OF tn
holders Of their bonds and the breakinI
down OF this last safeguard Of America
treemen.
They have affected TO render themselv,
independent Of and superior TO the civ
power, BY ordering large bodies Of hirl
hngs TO enforce their unlawful exaetiSn
aud have protected them from tur,ishmel
tor any injury they mightinAict upon pcac