Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-15
Hard Time, and n Remedy.

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production of manufactures. and general
lack Of confidence in the future.
Thousands of able-bodi men all over
the New England and Middle States are
now out of employment, or working at an
actual loss of their own capital or that Of
others Every branch of industry seems
to be crowded with operatives, and physi-
cal strength. intelligence and mechanical
skill, are waiting upon every street corner,
in every village in the land, for the torlorn
hope of better times.
The vast extent of this country. its un-
surpassed fertility of soil, richness in min
ersl wealth, and its position in reference to
the great markets of the world, render it
will be found for this depression of business
and general lack of confidence and courage
in the future.
1t seems to me, one of the best ways to-
relieve the oyer crowded labor market and
the unproductive use o. capital in manu-
featuring articles for an already glutted
market. IL to send men and money into the
mining regions Of the tar West
The vast deposits of gold and silver in
tie San Juan country of Colorado alone,
will gise employment to hundred thous-
and men at largely increased wages over
the prices now paid by manufacturers in
the most hourishing business of New Eng
land
1t IS country of treasure-almost fsbu-
lous in vastnesa, and has climate as fine and
scenery as grand a. Switzerland and
Italy combined. From the summit of "the
silver filled hills" you lock down into '-the
gulches of gold" and Sparkling, pure
streams of wholesome water" You look
off upon the grassy plains where hill
lion of cattle could find food summer and
winter, and you see all these immense
treasures, grand scenes and fertile plains pos
sessed only BY a few settlers; while among
the hills of New Eng land and along the streets
OF her manufacturing towns you find thou
sands upon thousands of able bodied men
working for starvation wages 10 the
large cities Of the Middle and West
ern States, it is the same, and in all places
are found the armies of the unemployed,
once /" honest, patient sons of toll, now
fast becoming tramps, " and too soon, if
not provided with honest work to do, to be-
come the "lazsroni" of America IN the
cities and the - brigands" in the rural dis
tricts.
All this can be avoided by distribution of
laborers, and the concentration Of capital in
new fields of material wealth.
The vast plains of Kansas, Nebraska and
Oregon can furnish work for a million of
men. But to begin farming requires cap
itsl so that g the CO. operative plan" might
be tried in that field of labor to the greatest
advantage. Let from ten to one hundred per-
sons or families unite upon 'sthe cooperative
plan, and those " hO have capital purchase
the lands, stock, ETC., and the others, who
| have not, become sharers to less extent in
the harvests and accruing profits, by virtue
Of their labor, and prosperity and plenty is
sure to follow frugality and industry.
In these times when the good mourn over
the evil effects Of sin and intemperance, rem
dered more sad BY poverty and the general
depression. it would look much better to see
the wealthy morslist giving his mind to the
task of finding a remedy by means Of help
ing out of idleness and want, the able
bodied man who would gladly find him
self out on the fertile plains of the
West, or among the gold and silver filled
hills of Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico,
than to remain here waiting for chance
employment
Sooner or later we shall all understand
the serious menace OF enforced idieness, and |
what it is surely leading US to. The man
who is pilling to be idle may be harmless, |
though persistent tramp and beggar But |
Il l. III L
to do, is dangerous man to be LETT unem-
plOyed.
The destruction and laundering of $780, |
600 900 of property by the strikers of rail- |
roads, last Summer, set on by Arthur, |
chief of the brotherhood of railroad engin-
GERS, is an instance of the fearful results OF
combined trampism.
The new idea of paying one dollar with
"ninety-two cents" and the threat to
wipe out the national debt as with
sponge" are of the same spirit of tramp
violence as that which burns the rich mans |
We filled barns, or plunders his home, and |
differs only from the brute endorsements of
Chief Arthur by being little more genteel.
The man who, IN the halls OF tramp
congress, greeted the Presidents veto with
shouts Of laughter" and "sneers" at his
modest reminder that ninety-twc did not
make one hundred, and that to pay a hun
dred dollar bond which had been paid for
with gold at par, with ninety-two dollars
of silver was dishonest. had in his heart the
same disregard of the rights of property,
the same spirit Of lawless violence as is
shown by the common tramp who burns
and murders in the blsckneSs of his hate
and envy.
Nay, more, the political demagogue who
seeks TO array labor against capital, or to
dishonor the nation by enacting laws which
are communistic in their character and re-
suits, is the most dangerous tramp oil the
tribe.
Step by step these Entertainments upon
good society and honest government have
gone on fer years, and the man or woman
who cannot see in 1t an element of frighttul
danger must be blind, indeed. The army OF
lOcusts. devouring every green thing, is not
so fearful a scourse to vegetable life, as the
political tramp OF to-day is to the body
polite and he owes his existence, not 50
much to the discomfort and gloom of the
present. as to tho neglect of political
duty on the part of good citizens
in the past. Indifference and the
feeling that to NEEDLE with politics
is dirty work, have induced many to be
careless as to the selection of candidates,
and as result the political tramp has got
into Congress and straddles the dome of
the Capitol on his slyer-plsted srilts, while
under him. the Seat Of Governmeni" is
placarded She ninety-two cent store
Peter Funk. proprietor.
To remedy this political evil is the work
of years, but the danger is so great. in
view of the shameless dishonesty OF the pre-
sent Congress. no time should be lost
and tho remedy should be applied at
once. AMI even carried to the selection of all
officers of the public from the highest to the
lowest places.
The alarming evil of enforced idleness /
and use of capital at loss, demands the
of all good citizens to save the &
country from financial and commercial
ruin.
The real wealth OF the country and the
means for renewed prosperity lie among
the hills and mountains, and upon the plains
Of the far West. Small or large capitalists
who are rolling the stone OF trade up the o
hill to see it come rolling down again, may /
10 thems, Ives and others good by taking 0
heir diminishing capital into - green fields /
and pastures new, in the regions of silver r
md z, IL in Colorado, Nevada and New 7
Mexico. Men out OF employment, but still 4
1ber and honest, can avoid the quickssnds /,
If their position by seeking the mines where :.
fitting recompense is sure 10 follow honest
oil; ard the best WY the bOndholders can o
leSise to save beng wiped out as
With a sponge" il to loan money to
Itlp distribute the unemployed voters 5
mong the hills Of the mining re- c.
ions or out on the fertile PLAINS of 81
he far West. where labor, wholesome air o.
nd food, will soon restore their mental
lsion and free them from all eommunistic
ieas These hundreds of thousands OF
men, filed with tho venom OF
MY and wrath. are voters, and can help
h,, In W n |