The Labor enquirer., 1884-06-07
FOURTH OF July oRAToRY.
A Few Thoughts Suggested BY a
Comment On the Memorial
Address.
Editor Labor Enquirer.


about S O'Clock p. M, Friday, May 80, a
!, patriotic speech was made by gentle
man from Iowa, Mr.. Stuart. That this
man dared to ventilat the presente social
condition Of this republic is such sign
of the times that it may be justly pro,
claimed clear case Of moral improve
ment. And yet there were men sitting
around and behind this young speaker
calling things by their right names,
who snarled at his remarks and called
them untimely.
Judge symes said to me, distinctly
that notwithstanding Stuart made a
2 good speech, bis remarks upon the socia
condition Of the country were out o.
place at the time, and that the gentleman
from Iowa would find plenty of time
during political campaigns to ventilate
{ his Individual views of the questions by
him brought up. 1t being memorial day
he ought not to have. gone into politics
largely" =
,7 Good Very good / This proves that
our gentlemen with the kid gloves on
their hands are beginning to see the
amene, meme, tekel upharsin" upon
the walls of the times. Keep.the masses
in contracted liberty trance, and lead
them away from the tragical facts OF
their misery and poverty, their thrall-
dom and dependency, and all will 60
we'll for awhile at least, and capital can
yet rule and dominate.
Such is the fell purpose of all those
who are so much interested in uphold
ing their rule and power oyer labor and
the poor struggling masses. Yes, on that
memorial day, last Friday, it was just
right and eminently in place for the ora
tor of the day to ventilate the condition
of the" "ci devant" tree people OF this
republic. The memorial day has been
set aside for the purpose of annually
decorating the graves of the men who
fought and died for the preservation of
the Uuion and for the abolition of hu-
man slavery. And it is eminently
proper to look forth and remark upon the
present condition of the people, and call
forth the facts of to-day, that liberty is
but mere farce and painted falsehood
Slavery, human, chattel slavery, surely
was abolished by the war power. This
owning of labor, which carries with il
the physical care of the laborer.yes, il
has been abolished, and those brave
men for whom this annual memorial is
held throught the length and breadth OF
this republic have fought and died he,
roes for humane cause. But their he
roic deaths did not emancipate laboring
humanity at all.
Capital still controls labor by control.
ling wages. This is done by the control
of the money of the country. The great
debt which the nation had to contract
for the preservation Of the republic and
the utter destruction of human chattel
slavery, capital uses to-day as means tc
control the volume of money. This il
being accomplished by the nationa
bonds beinI3 used as the banking basis
Thus the country is ruled, controlled and
enslaved by the banking power to-day
and the poor masses must be held in
"dulce jubilo" dream of liberty and far
cical freedom, or they might stumble
onto their real condition.
If the national banking system was
abolished entirely; if all national bonds
were Calledin and paid for in an ire.
deemable national currencv to-day; Il
the nation would allow but one legal
tender system, based upon the national
credit of the republic, the great over
bearing and tyrannical money power
would soon cease to rule the masses by
the iron rod it is welding over it merci
lessly this moment. This puts the rea
issue between capital and labor clear a!
the rays of the sun. The great robbery
of labor by capitsl is accomplished by
and through the control capital wield
with the m 9dium of exchange.
The greaN national political parties o
the republic, the republican and demo
cratic, have one interest in common
to keep in their ranks the great none.
power of the country. They need thi
power to manage their party machinery
The masses are e;rsily held within thei
respective ranks by the taffy and spread
eagleism of the canning orators of tn
respective parties; and so soon as on
of them steps over the hair lariat of tn
party whip he is denounced as trifing o
talking foolish, for. he is unwittingl
opening tho eyes of the. voting cattle, t
the real Questions at issue. Farcica
liberty therefore must be kept up; flag
must be hounced and carried ON high
patriotic music must be furnished i
plenty and spread-eagle stump speeche
delivered and Jack kept happy, blin
and obedient. E;ut Jack is shedding hi
eye teeth and beginning to think on hi
own hook. He is becoming aware {
moral slavery and is quietly but steadil
creeping higher higher !"
Down with all national banks Ii
the national bonds be paid at once b
the government in legal tender, Estat
lish government clearing houses in ever
city of the land. Allow no bank to ia