The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-05

to increase the army that it may be prepared
to kill such of them off during the summer
as may not consent to starve to death with
out protest. The estimate has been made
that at eighteen years af age a youth has
actually cost $500. This estimate applies
to the laboring class, the men born to toll.
ShyIock boy costs more and is
worth less, as general proposition.
We have said that the population
of the country is now 45,OOO.OOO,
of which one-halt, or q, SOC, 600, are males,
and of these at least 5000, 900 are adult sons
of toll, able bodied. ready and willing to
work. Admitting that one-half of the num-
Der are employed, we have 100000 out of
employment. If these 100000 people cost
at Is years of age 81, 500 to raise and fit them
for employment, then we have an invest
ment of Sc, OOO, 600 900 that is absolutely pro-
oucing no income whatever; on the contrary,
1t is idle, worse-the 100000 persons
it represents are starving ana dying. Now,
then, we ask what is being done for these
100000 of human beings, representing
So GOO 600 600, to better their condition, to help
them TO obtain food and clothing that they
may aid in developing the resources of the
country and to carry forward its ENTERPRISES?
We answer nothing at all. On the contrary,
legislation is constantly depressing them,
making the immediate future more gloomy
and the grave problem OF more difficult
solution. While this is the case as to men
how stands the account as to bonds, to keep
thot ShylOoko
may feel secure In their possessions? We
answer congress never tires in legislating for
bonds Let Shylock growl and congress
stands awe struck. Let it be reported
that legislation in favor of labor will
jeopardize the value of bonds and
John Sherman will protest and all the
Shylock organs will chime in, and the bene-
fcent policy of doing something by which
100000 of men may better their condition is
scotched, and another turn is given to the
contraction screw, and deeper groans are
extorted from men who plead for work and
wages, clothes and shelter. 1t has
come to this at last, that bonds are
regarded of more value than laboring
men and their wives and children who are
dependent upon them. We are eternally
hearing about syndicates, capitalists, inter
est gold, ETC., but only at long intervals
does any one raise his voice in favor of a
policy that may arrest contraction, give the
people more money, stop the shrinkage of
values and give labor employment, and when
such measures are introduced into congress
they are subjected to such opposition fire.
quently can not be overcome, and the ter
rible work of idleness and starvation goes
forward. This state of affairs is stra nge in
deed in view OF the fact that these 100000
idle laborsrs would earn, if their value to
the country was so much appreciated as to
influence the financial policy of the country,
at least 81 per day, or Sl,2OO,OOO,0O0
annually, and this amount would be ex-
pended for the necessaries of life. Set the
people TO work and the cry of hard times
and overproduction will be hushed. Before
the curse of contraction was forced upon the
county men were at work, and the blessings
of prosperity and contsntment were every
where observed. The time has come when
it must be understood that a man who is
willing to work Is equal in value to a bond
in the hands of Rothschild or a syndicate,
and when this great truth is recognized We
may hope for an era of prosperity.