Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-12-11

The word "county" should have
been country, at the close of the first
article in second editorial column of
last weeks issue. There is no social
or political dissatisfaction in this
county, but that which is perfectly
right and proper and for the best
interest of the people; but in this
country and every country, and es-
pccially in the populous cities, there
is wide spread spirit of dissatisfac-
tion that threatens future trouble
There is social dissatisfaction be-
tween the poorer and the richer
classes on both sides,-the poorer
envy and begrudge the rich their
wealth as an unlawful and unfair
division; and the rich have no good
feeling for the poor because of their
assumption to equality, their unwill-
ingness to be any longer servers in
their place, and their threatening at
titude towards caste and ownership.
Politically, it is hard to explain the
situation. The people are dissatisf.
ed with the dangerous privileges
and powers that corporate wealth
enjoys in legislation, in the courts,
and in politics. The representation
OF the people seems to be all on the
side of wealth, and legislation ac-
cordingly. The masses are working
people, yet it is hardly possible to
elect farmer, mechanic or laborer
to Congress, because of the want of
wealth to control the politicians and
the campaign machinery. If all the
working people in West Virginia, of
all parties, demanded a certain rep.
resentatige of their own in Camden's
place, they would he powerless to
secure his election, because for years
the fight has been made between
certain contendlng lines of politics,
in which the people were the lesser
factor, and what is wanting the poll
ticians at the close of the polls is
supplied by other means.
Though a government of the peo-
pie, ours does not know what to do
with the social problem. Anarch.
ism has free rein until it goes too far
and then the law hangs somebody;
labor strikes go OH until a confiic.
ton is eminent, then detectives are
hired to shoot the mobs, and the
troops are ordered ont to protect
them.
That much of the dissatisfaction
in this country, socially and politi-
cally, is without real cause, no one
can deny, and who does let him look
to the older and stronger govern
ments, where but fraction of the
people are landholders, and the ma.
jority are serfs, confronted with
prison, exile or death for the voice
they raise in opposition; and where
most of the land and property are
not held by right or title but by the
fortune of government. In this
country homes are open to industry,
and living to the humblest labor.
Politics may not be pure, but the
politicians are not alone the corrup.
tors. Social distinctions must and
will always eXist,-some worthy,
others unworthy,-lawful or unlaw.
full.
Those who have most studied the
causes of communism in European
governments, blame the powers
themselves, that have for ages set
an example of the rights of force in
confiscating and secularizing prop.
erty, in living in ease and idleness
upon the sweat of other brows, and it
is summed up in these words of the
French historian: "Does not the
storm approach hour by hour, and
may we not hear yet once more,
surging up to the gates of modern
palaces, the tide Of that multitude
which confounds all property, an.
Gent and modern, in common rep
rotation, and whose apostles have
declared that leisure was a crime
against society, and property a
theft" Governments cannot RENE
dy the evils of their own creating !;
religion may stem the current, but
revolution is the only ultimate out
LEFT.