The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-04-12

germ VI Injustice VIII Ao' AA 49,"
outlaw, the swindler, the cheat may swim
for while, but he is sure to sink at last
One man cannot perpetrate gross Outrage
upon another with impunity. One class can
not pursue line of policy that unjustly op
presses another class without danger. There
is an inevitability in the law of retrlbutlon
individually and collectively.
The moneyed rings, the representative
of capital, in this country, embracinl
the bondholders, bankers and railroad
corporationists, have had supreme contro
Of its legislation for the last fifteen OF
twenty years, State and national; and they
have SO shaped it in every instance that II
might rebound to the benefit and enlarge'
ment of the power controlling it. The
practical result of this legislation has been
to confscate one half of the property oil
the owners of real estate and the laborers,
and give it to the class who have charge OF
the bonds, railroad stocks, and money bags.
Does shis proposition need any demonstra-
toni What was the house and lot, or the
farm, OF the days labor of the mechanic,
or artisan, or common laborer, worth ten or
fifteen years ago? Will any man deny that
each of these interests commanded then
twice the sum they will command to~day!
Here is depreciation of one hundred per
cent. and who gets the benefit of it? How
does the property of the bondholders COM
pare now with what it represented IN gold
fifteen years ago? Let us see about that.
His bonds, as is well known, cost him
originally not above an average OF ~
cents in gold on the dollar. They are
worth to day a considerable premium over
gold, or nearly double what they cost
During all this time they have yielded an
annual interest of from to y per cent,
per annum, and were exempt from taxa
ton. The property of the bondholder Is
worth twice as much as it was on the day
he invested in it. He has enjoyed a fine
income, free from taxation, while his
neighbor who invested in land, factories,
commerce or muscle, had to pay his profits
in the shape of taxes to maintain the nom
productive incubus. and bring up the bonds
upon the downfall Of their own values.
The question arises, Is such legislation
Just? Is it fair to stiAe one interest to fos-
ter another Can people struggling un-
der the weight of debt and taxation, see
their possessions gradually slip from their
hands and fall into the hands of others
under system of legislative discrimination
at once hostile and unjust to them, with
out complaining? Is it not perfectly natu.
raj for them to be dissatisfied
The point is: The favored class may feel
too secure in their entertainments. They
nay imagine that as long as they can con-
rol Congress and the State Legislatures
hey are safe Let them take lesson from |
he fate of the Slave oligarchy. The
american people cannot be enslaved.
hey are prepared to endure much for the
AXE of peace, patriotism, and the integri-
' of the government; but they will not
ubmit to long continued oppression. The
1ling class may be potent enough to
lanage legislation, but they can't direct
ublic sentiment There is power in the
2ople, and there is power in the right.
ct the oligarchy not be too grasping, or
low too much contempt for the people,
st they kill their golden goose. There
no danger for them if they are just, but
icy should beware of putting on too
any turns to the screw.
We have submitted thse eremarks to show
here our sympathies are and how readily
Q would fall in with any party that could
We substantial promise for justice and
lief to the masses. And we desire 10 add
re that it is our deliberate conviction
at the so-called Greenback party is an
stacle to the success of the very measures
effects to be so zealously in favor Of So
as the South is concerned the develop
ents of the little squad of Greenbackers
Congress show that it is the very party
+ Conservatives and Democrats to avoid. y
ley have already shown their sympathy
r the Radical element, and faithfully CO.
crate with the authors of the financial !
il. In this State, if it, by any possibiliN
, could ever get following that gave it
y show for success it must come from
g Radical element Our people should 8
1t follow a shadow, and thus risk the
ance of being cheated out of the very
ing that they seek. We do not blame ,
EN- for desiring change in this para
zing system of finance which the govern
ent has pursued, but the Democratic ,
arty offers the only relief in sight for this
iii. The Democratic party is powerful
lough to give it, and let us cling to it, and
elp to strengthen its disposition to bring ,
lief. The Democratic party from its
up to this day has been the
arty of the people, and always re"
oected wishes. 1t is folly to break
& from it now, and stray among
1emies and impractibles. Let us hang
,gsther and place the party in con-
oil of the government, as we can do, and
lus give it chance to bring the relief
esired, before we condemn it. Absolute
nothing can be expected from the So
lied Greenback party in this State. 1t
ay elect county officer here and there,
ut it cannot and ought not to disorgan-
e the Democratic party. Its only hope
success is founded on the Radical vote,
ID it would be well to remember that the
lrty which furnishes the votes will also
,ntrol the organization. We urge Our
lends everywhere to stand by the old
emccratic standard as the only safety for
emselves and their State.