Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-12-03

'''i''ilN anu UNJUST tlStllillllitlbil> s,
while others have been crushed hv the
| powerful combinations and mnnuuu-
| lies winch II creates and su>tains.
som" have pr"spcrcd III spite OF it. but
the sum of the peoples wealth, the az
grcgatr accumulation OF savings in all
branches "f industry, j. undoubtedly
| much less than it ought to have been
and would have been under IL more
equal revenue system and more ill.,
cral commercial policy \ few have.
hcc"nc very rich, but many have he
come very poor, and the gulf between
luxury and pcnury is growing wider
and deeper day by day. This unnatural
could not possibly exist in young
and rapidly developing country like
ours il the laws and regulations affect
ing the creation and distribution of
wealth Were just and equal in their "l,-
cratiun.
With n fertile soil and Il friendly eli
mate; with inrXhau>tiblr stores Of
coal and iron-thc two most powerful
agencies in our modern civilization :;
with Il vast extent Of unoccupicd and
undcvcloped territory; with free inSti-
tutions ana an intelligent, industrious.
and cntcrrrising population, W" ought
to be exempt from the social and po-
lltical diseases which aiilict the crowd
cd nations OF the old world, and We
will bc exempt from them when we
tax all alike and protect all alike
Living III such Il country, and sur
rounded 10y the marvellous achieve
ments of the most wonderful hali-ccn-
tury in the annals of the human race.
If the people continue unprospcrous
and discuntcntcd, il wealth continues
to accumulate rapidly in the hands Of
the idle few, while hunger and naked
ness increase III the very homes OF in
dustry, and if invested capital remains
uneasy and insecure, and labor dissat-
isticd, it will he burning disgrace to
the craftsmanship Of the age, and Il
terrible weight of responsibility will
rest upon those who reject all meas
urcs Of relief and cling with stubborn
tcnacity to the worst features of the
system under which these evils have
originated and attained
THEIR PRESENT PROPORTIONS.
But, gentlemen, no matter who may
desert or who may faltcr, the great
| fight for reform will go ON. This
country does not belong to either the
monopolists or the communists, and
people will save it from both. Be
tween the two there stands Il great
and powerful body of enlightened, con-
scrvativc and patriotic citizens, who
respect equally the rights OF capital
and labor, who obey the laws and pre-
serve the public peace, and who, in
spite of all combinations and conspira-
cics, will ultimately see that the true
principles of justice and equality pre-
vail i'll the legislation OF the country.
Even to prevent the continuance OF
long-cxisting and constantly incrcas-
ing evils they will not rush from one
extreme to the other but will proceed
carefully, deliberately and rcsolutelv
to correct inequalities, remove unne-
cessary burdens, and open the paths
| that lead to peace and prosperity
While free trade is impracticablc, in
dustrial and commercial emancipation
can and will be accomplished by wise
and moderate measures of reform,
without interfering with any private
enterprise or injuring any public in
tcrcst. To this some of us ut least
are irrcvocably pledged, not only by
| the traditions and declarations of the
| political party to which we belong,
but by sense of personal and official
duty which cannot he disrcgardctl
without bctraying the confidence re-
posed in us by the people. Whether
i'll public or in private life shall stand
by that pledge, and, to the extent of
abilities and opportunities, contribute
in every honorable way to the early
and complete triumph of revenue re-
form.