Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-11-10
Suicidal Policy.

lNG .'EH tl l4u-lIsss
There are thousands upon thousands
of farmers, mechanics and labOring
men in this country who work hard
year after year. their children growing
up without education and their families
enjoying none of the luxuries of life.
There is nothing bright Or enticing in
the future for them and their pOsterity.
They are being robbed of their hard
earned substance by politicians and
demagogues Of both old organizations.
During the "Off-years' in politics they
labor like slaves, perfectly passive as
to the plans and plots of their masters,
the politicians. When the canvass
comes on, these same hard-working
men are called together in crowds and
taught the programme in which they
are to play a part--not a prominent
one, but the most necessary Of all
that of the voters. The grand final
comes on election day, when they
march up to the polls, throw up their
hats and split their throats yelling for
the party leaders. They call them
selves free men. americans, descend.
ants of patriots who fought in l176 for
liberties they now enjoy. 10 these
men we desire to address ourselves
particularly. DO you not know that
there are leading men in both parties
now who want TO take the ballot from
you? There are several states now in
which poor men, who are neither idiots
nor criminals cannot vote and in nearly
every state efforts have been made to
take the ballot from them. Even in
Texas, the banner Democratic state of
the Union, many of the leaders openly
advocate the same laws, and if we mis-
take not, bills have been introduced in
the legislature for this purpose. The
poor men Of Texas are already disfran-
chised in some things. They are not
permitted to vote in elections held un-
der the hog and fence law. They are
compelled to work ten days every year
on the public roads, but are not per
mitted to even petition the county
court for a change in them one way OF
the other. Most of them have child.
ren to educate but under the law theiI
mouths are sealed whenever it comes
to the levying of special free schoo
tax, Thus are your privileges narrow
ed down, poor men, and unless there is
a change in the tendency of affairs, the
time is not far distant when a property
qualification will debar you entirely
from exercising the right Of suffrage
which you now value so highly. YOr
are threatened with disfranchisement
by men of both parties, unless you sub
nit to their dictation. How lohg viii
you submit to these wrongs, perpe
trated not only against you, but against
your children also? Two-thirds of tht
wealth of this government pays III
taxes. This policy so overburdened yOl
that you could not pay your taxes
hence you are to-day landless. Fo
this reason the millionaires who are ex
empt from taxation, say you shall no
vote. Don't claim to be trte Ameri
can freemen while you persist in vot
ing for and keeping in power men VIII,
are robbing you of the fruits Of you
labor, and propose to take from yol
your vote for no other reason than tina
you are poor, and made so by their ras
cality. If you have no respect 70
yourselves you should at least hav
some for your fore-parents, who Tough
seven long years to give to you ant
your children the rights of American
citizenship. Will you let men rule yol
who have not one spark of patriotism
in their bosoms, nor one doop of tn
milk of human kindness in their souls
who would betray their country fo
money and the love o. pOwerP TIL
two old parties today are one and til
J same, and the leaders are actuated b
: the same motives. We defy any on
to indicate the difference between then
on any live issue before the people @
} the country. We believe now, and a
: ways have believed, that the rank an
file Of both parties are honest, and ]
it was not for the tricks and scheme
of politicians, the people would hav
been at perfect peace long ago.