Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1878-12-19

~ "ciN'a 10 lliNb Ei'ai N'hlltif
with all its immeasurable wealth of soil
and mineral deposits, its vast extent of
mountain and prairie, mineral and timber
of every description, and its transporta-
ton facilities, is not the most prosperous
powerful and contentcd nation OH the face
Of the earth.
An examination of the false and dis
eliminating financial and economic sys-
TENS OF the country which burden the pro-
ducing and manufacturing class with a
load of extravaganza and usury for the
support of millions of nonproducers will
disclose the cause of this national anom-
ally. This class of men, whose business is
to create their own necessity in the theory
of our government and through wealth
uneaned by them, secure u power over
the fortunes of the nation as fatal to liber-
ty prosperity and peace as can be cOncciv-
ed, is at the root OF the evil.
Here is the fountain head of all the evils
of our systcm-cxtravagance, usury and
corrupt legislation by bad men; unequal
taxation and even exemption from it, a
great public debt gathered up from the
losses and the ruin of the war in the hands
of few men drawing interest from labor
and produce to pay over again the waste
of the accumulations of former genera
ton during our struggle for existence.
The results of this state Of things IN the
shape of national, State ami city debts
private mortgage debts and government
expense have forced on the shoulders of
the producing classes-om farmers, min
org on1 MANN fn ot,,rn.s tho onor,,,nu, 1aIt
of Sl2,OO0,0O0,000 causing an annual
drain of over 81 400, 100000 to pay inter
est and governmental expenditures incud-
ing our public school Indian and other an
nuities. Here is drain ftwlce the annual
increase of wealth in the nation, causing
a steady increase Of at least $500, 100000
per year to the already enormous debt of
the people, ,sand causing the poor to become
poorer, the hitherto middle class to sink
into poverty, and the absorption of ma
tional wealth in the hands of few. So
here we are able to observe the process of
national decline. Usury and debt are
constantly reducing the number Of we'll
tO-do farmers and artizans at one end of
the line and increasing the numberOf em-
baTassed and the miserably poor at the
other.
Tie ras,ally discrimination in favor of
the wealthy nonprOducer forces the bur-
den OF taxation on the shoulders of the far
mer, the miner, and the manufacturer.
While the bOndhOlder and the money loan
cr and mortgage are almost wholly cx-
empt from taxation, the farmer. the mi
ner, and manufacturer are assessed at the
full value of their property even though
mortgaged to one-half or two thirds of its
worth and forced to pay taxes on what
they owe us well as what they own. Thus
the real creators Of wealth are over taxed
and the drones are exempt. We must
have an income tax, to at least reach the
on their interest, il not on
their principle. We must reach the law
making power. The Grangers, til, Labor
Leagues and the producers Of every name
and nature must combine to stay the over
flowing tide of injustice and ruin that has
already eneuied millions and soon will
reach millions more hitherto unconcclncd.
What then is our duty in the circum-
stances. II is undoubtedly to find sou-
ton to the great labor problem such as
will not only sccure just and equitable
legislation bnt will set all men to work at
profitable employment.
There need be no fear Of ovcr-production
or over-work. The United States has not
begun even to be teStedas to her possibl-
tiles. Our soil has only been scratched
over, and our mines OF gold, silver, and
coal, iron and other minerals only tapped:
Onr enormous resources only dreamed Of.
and our great territory only berun to be
peopled. We can sustain Il population of
contented, happy and free people in the
Of every useful ana necessary
and by proper distribution
of labor and exchange, do all this inde-
of every nation on the globe. |
But, in order to grow to our full posslbili-
ties, we must change the whole policy of
onr financial and industrial theory in nc
cord with the mighty capacities and the
equitable rights Of this great people.
The wonder is, as we said before. that |
we have a country at all. The greatness,
the extent and grandeur of our country
have been om salvation. The mineral |
wealth of Colorado has come up to the
help of those who have sought il and Civ
en- partial relief, but although we have
had this resource over our fellow.suHcrers |
it Is patent to all everywhere that times
are threatening.
The wealth of the soil and the resources
of the United States and the illimitable |
scope for the adventurous to seek new and |
better settlements have saved us. Such |
fatal and idiotic policy as has character |
lied cur government for the last fifteen
years, if practiced on any other nation of |
the earth, would have inevitably secured |
It's extinction. We have copied the worst |
features of European finance, industrial |
economy and extravaganza and substituted |
for their unjust law OF entail ourstill more
unjust law Of taxation exemption, by |
which the producing and working masses
lre beggared to support the government, |
enrich their despoilers and secure their
OWN ruin.
Farmers, miners, manufacturers, mer-
chants and workingmen, it is not time to |
examine the ground on which you stand |
so insecurely? Thousands of honorable
men of each of your classes are daily de- |
sending into bankruptcy, poverty, insanity |
and suicide, and other thousands are be- |
ing forced into beggary, dependence and |
lestitution under the malign system that |
permits a few gold gamblers, bond.hold-
FRS, money lords, bankers and monopolists
o place their feet on your necl,s and call |
you slaves. "Who would be free himself |
must strike the blow"