The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-04-30
TnE ARMY OF THE DIsooNrENrED,"

"IHE ARMY OF THE DIsCoNTENTED,"
In this country, Ia certainly numerous
and formidable at this time, II Ia In
all respects melancholy condition.
The discomfort Ia on account Of lack Of
employment II is estimated that two
millions OF American worklngmen are
enduring aud suffering from iayOlun-
tary ldleness. This Ia an alarming con-
ditlon OF things, and demands the seri'
GUS consideration OF all good citizens.
We have seen for years millionaires be-
Ing rapidly made, and pauperIsm and
suffering increasing. Man was surely
placed on this earth for higher and
nobler purpose than TO toll and drudge
TO enrich few OF his fellow mortals.
That land is the happiest where wealth,
intelligence and leisureare most evenly
difiused.
or course, at such time numerous
remedies are proposed. These learned
doctors, however, seldom begin at the
right place. The preparatory step
should be to trace the cause or causes
that has brought about this result.
Rarely does one of them point out tat
governmental influence favoring the
few directly. or permitting that
few 10 help themselves, brings about
this result. This same round has been
going on from time immemorial. II
brought the toiling millions Of France
10 starvation In 1850, and precipitated
the Widest revolution this world ever
witnessed, In 1913 was u general COM
motion In Europe from the same cause.
In short, as q rule, governments are aud
have been instruments OF wrong and
robbery, rather than the agent Of the
people TO establish and secure justice
and equal rights TO all citizens,
A writer In the North American Ro-
view for May thus cataloguos,hls reme-
dies and we present them as matters for
consideration!
Permit me 10 catalogue few only OF
the remedies that some OF us believe
must be applied for an evil no great and
growing aud threatening, Before tho
army OF the dlscOntented can be dis
banded, thore must be; |, Land limita-
tl0n. This meane that no man shall
hold q single acre OF arabic land on
which he doea not live, and which no
does not cultivate; that non ultiyatlon
shall inyalidate land titlos, or give the
State the right TO force the non.tilling
owner TO sell H. 2, Prohibition OF
ground leases In cities. This means
That owners must build on their city
lots, or else pay taxes equivalent TO the
value OF improved adjacent lota, or else
sell their land 10 those who are willing
10 build up the city. 3. Prohibition OF
the ownerehip OF more than two lots by
any citizen within a clty's llmits. This
means that q house and store any man
may own, II no can buy or build; but
that we shall not oil live for the chief
end OF supporting our landlords. 4.
Abolition OF all laws for tho collection
Of debts, 30 that trade may be protected
| from paDics aud tho widespread bank
rnptciee whose total llnNl cost comes on
the whole industrious community.
When trust " dead, business will be
founded on tho solid rock Of aolyoncy,
and not I'LL then. b, Total prohibition
OF foreign manufacturing competition
In our markets, We should hold our
American markets sacred for our Ameii-
can citizen only. Protection IL a
coward's compromise. 0. A National or
State ownership OF oil the mineral
wealth OF the country not yet appropri-
ateb. We can spend our mineral riches
quite M well ae the b0nanza klDga. 7.
National ownership Of tho telpgraphs aud
railroads. y. Cumulative income taxa
tion. o. Abolition OF the monopolios In
banking, In transportation, In patents.
and In copyrights, whereby Tho State
shall secure, for the benefit OF oil tho
people, the great profits OF Aro and life
insurance, OF tho circulation OF repre-.
sentative money, and OF tho railroad
traffic; aud refuse no TO lend the power
OF the commonwealth that Inventions
which they protect shall DO transf0rmod
into instruments for Increasing their
burdens. Those are only n few OF tho
remedies that tho army OF thinking
meu In the Army Of Discomfort are pro.
pari ng 20 present for political dlecus
| elon. We do not mean robbery OF tho
rich, or tho conlscation OF their wealth,
but we do mean to endure no longer tho
oppression legaliz9d by glasses. on tho
constant reduction of oar remnnora-
tioD. We don't mean revolution, hut
wo do mean business.
JAMua Qpu.yigH