Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-11-26
LESSONS OF THE HOUR.
"IthurIel" Explains In Cincinnati Tele.
gram the More Significant Fcat-
ures Of tic Lnte ElectlOns.

Some time since ] set out TO say some
thing about what / considered the most
signifcent feature OF the late elections,
bu, so many other things of vital import.
ance to the innumerable readers Of the
TELEGRAM has called for comment, that l
have been compelled to forego the work of
warming the ears OF the workingmen with
my view of the 'lesson of the hour"
The simple and salient fact that i can
see il, that for the first time in the history
Of American politics, distinct line has
been drawn between the poor and the
rich, and tho poor, albeit they did not
elect their candidate, did achieve most
notable victory, and one that enables
them TO measure their strength for the
first time, and, on the basis OF that
strength, found their calculations for The
future.
have for years thought that the poor
men of any country where universal suf.
frage prevailed could control that country
by simply uniting on a platform OF pov-
eriy, so rs speak.
OF course, they constitute the vast ma
Iority In all communities, and hence hold
the absolute power which they can, by
united effort, exercise at any time.
The process, too, would be one Of the
simplest in the world. All that is neces-
sary to accomplish the purpose is for the
workers and wealth producers 10 forego
party allegiance, which profiieth them
nothing, ignore the so called "issues" in
vented for them 10 fight over by the few
who have, under the color OF the law,
tilched the greater share Of their earnings
since time began, unite on the common
platform Of poverty, and by purely legal
and constitutional means, go in and pos
sess the land and the fullness and fatness
thereof.
Their weapon, the ballot, has been in
their hands from the foundation of tins
government to the present time, and nolh-
ing but the lack OF sensible organization
on common basis has kept them under
the heel of the few who understand and
practice the old Roman military maxim,
"divide ard conquer"
The thing for The poor producers TO do
Is 10 enter the fight against the few rich
robbers; not rs trades unionisis; not as
Knights Of Labor; not as Socialists, land
reformers or anything else, save and ex-
cept poor men battling for the right to
regulate the Government they sustain by
their labor, and, in times of war, by their
blood.
Who fight the wars Of the country?
The ricli7
Not much.
Who make the wars?
The poor?
Never.
Who bore the bruni OF the fight in the
field during the War OF the Rebellion, and
the burden Of It's cost ut the time and
since?
The great body OF the poor people, and
nobody else.
Don't all OF the people, old enough to
think when the crisis OF the war came, in
1868, believe, after the first burst of pat
riotic enthusiasm, that at first filled the
ranks, had exhausted itself and the draft
came, how a benefcent Government, run
by rich men, provided that he who could
pay $500 to the drafting officer could Sc
cure papers Of exemption while lie who
could not raise that sum was forced 10
leave wife, children. family, frieuds, bust
ness, and all that he held dear, shoulder
his musket and become TODD for powder.
In other words $500 was the price fixed
by the rich mans government as the price
to be paid by an American citizen for his
liberty and life.
Later when the needs OF the Govern
menl became greater the price of human
bodies and human souls rose in the mar
kei, and $500 would not buy an exemp-
| tion.
So II came TO pass that many who had
managed 10 escape the first draft, by the
payment VI tnc Sooo, iou'u 'ueHpoc'Nef
unable TO meet the demands of "subsii-
tutes" at from 1000 to $4,000 apiece
and we've forced, instead, to go into the
ranks and get killed in order that society
might be saved. and the rich man who
could afford to buy human bodies at even
the most extrayagant prices, be proIec ted
in his rights of property"
"'rhe rights Of property !"
How hate that expression.
II ia only less hateful 10 me than thai
other "libbolelh OF oppression, the Di-
vine fright oi Kings"
Well. the poor uan having done most o.
the fighting regardless Of liIa differences o.
opinion on any and all subjects, why can't
he do most OF the voting, with the sam,
disregard for differences OF habit, taste or
opinion
lie can, II he will, and nothing but his
own stupidity prevents him from taking
possession Of hrs own heritage.
That heritage bought with his blood and
that OF his ancestors lies before him, and
the means are within his reach.
have been talking about tbs services
Of the poor man in war, but that ia only
one phase oltthe question.
What has been his services in peaceY
That OF the bearer OF the chief por-
lion OF the hitherto unheard Of taxation
hy mpana nf Which the an0rmOua dph
OF over two billions and more has beer
reduced nearly one half?
Who urged the repeal OF the income
tax-lhe faireSt eyer levied, Tor that I