Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-12-13

pie that the exercise of its functions and
powers it will deal with the body of our citi-
and absolutely just. It mas agreed that Ameri-
can citizenship shall be the only credential nee
essary to justify the claim of equality
dt;ion in life shall give rise to
discrimination IN the treatment of the peo-
pie by their Government. The citizen of
our Republic in its early days rigidly insist
ed upon full compliance with the letter of this
bond, and saw stretching out before him a
clear field for individual endeavor. His tribute
10 the support of his Government was meas
ured by the cost of its economical mainte-
of the recompense of his steady tribute and
ccntelted in it. In those days the fruga lily
ment. and was enforced by the free, thoughtful
and intelligent suffrage of the citizen. Combna-
tions, monopolies and agyregations of capital
were either avoided or sternly regulated and
restrained. TIE pomp and glitter of govern
ments less free offered no temptation and pre-
scented no delusion to the plain people who
for the ennoblement and dignity of man, for
the solution of the problem of free government
and for the achievement OF the grand destiny
awaiting the land which God had given them.
PRIVATE VS.. PUBLIC INTERESTS.
century has passed, our cities are the abid-
factories yield fortunes never dreamed of by
the fathers of the Republic; business
men are madly striving in the race for riches
the Imagination in the magnitude OF their I'M
dertakings. We view with pride and satisfac
ton this bright picture OF our cOuGtry'S growth
and prosperity while only closer scrutiny de-
velops somber shading. Upon more careful
inspection We find the wealth and luxury of
our cit es mingled with poverty and wretched-
ness and unremunerative toll. A crowded and
constantly increasing urban population sug-
gests the impovershment of rural sections and
discomfort with agricultural pursuits. The
farmers son. not satisfied with his fathers
simple and laborious life, joins the eager chase
the fortunes realized by our manufacturers are
NO longer solely the reward of sturdy industry
from the discriminating favor of the Govern
ment, and are largely built upon I'M
due exactions from the masses o, our
people The gulf between the employer and
the employed is constantly widening, and
classes are rapidly forming, one comprising
are found the toiling poor. while we view the
achievements of aggregated capital, we discover
the existence of trusts, combinations and mo-
nopolles, while the citizen is struggling far in
the rear, or is traaupled to death beneath an
iron heel. Corporations which should be the
the servants of the people. are fast becoming
the peoples masters. Still congratulating
ourselves upon the wealth and prosperity of
our country, and complacently contemplating
every incident of change inseparable from these
conditions, it is our duty as patriotic citizens
how the bond of the Government made with
the people has been kept and performed. In
stead OF limiting the tribute drawn from
citizens to the necessities of its economical ad-
ministration, the Government still persists in
exacting from the substance of the people
millions which unapnIied are useless and lie
dormant in its treasury. This fragrant injustice
and this breach of faith and obligation add ex-
tortion to the danger attending the diversion OF
the currency of the country from the legitimate
channels of busne Under the same laws by
ment PERMITS many pons ao to- be
our people. and to be taken from
cur consumers, which unreasonably swell the
profits of small but powerful minority. The
people must still be taxed for the support of
the Government under tne operation OF tariff
laws q the extent that the of
citizens are inordinately burdened beyond any
useful public purpose and for the benefit of a
favored few. the Government under pretext of
'ously into partnership with, these favorites
jury q a vast minority OF our
people. This is not equality be-
furious to the health of our entire body polite.
1t stiles in those for whose benefit it is per-
mitted all patriotic love of country and substi-
tutes in its place selfish greed and grasplng
avarice
Devotion to American citizenship tor its own
sake. and for what it should accomplish as
motive TO our Nations advancement and the
happiness OF all our people, is displaced by the
being the Enrichment of eouality' is but an in
strumen'ality through which especial and
TS dsVidn advantages hi, are to be gained
unconcealed. 1t appears in the sordid dis
regard Of all but personal interests ia the re-
fusal to abate for the benefit of others one iota
of selfish advantage, and in combinations to
perpetuate such advantages through efforts to
controi iegtSistoh aili improperly influence the
sunrages of the people. The grievances of
those not included within the circle of these
benehciaries. when fully realized, will surely
arouse irritation and discomfort. Our farm
ers. ong-sutfering and patient, struggling
in the race of life with the hardest and most
unremittng toll, will not fail to see, in spite of
Misrepresentation and misleading fallacies,
that they are obliged to accept such p rices for
their products as are fixed in foreign markets
where they compete with the farmers of
the world; that their lands are declining in
value, while their debts increase, and that
the action of the Government to pay for the
benefit of others such enhanced prices for the
things they need that the scanty returns of
their labor fail to furnish their support, or
leave margin for accumulation.
Our workingmen, enfranchised from all delu-
sion and no longer frightened BY the cry that
their wages are endangered. by a just revision
of our tariff laws. will reasonably demand,
through such division. Steadier employment,
cheaper means of living in their homes. free
doom of perpetual servitude, and an open door
to advancement beyond the limits OF o Ia
boring class. Others of our citizens whose
comforts and expenditures are measured by
moderate salaries and fixed incomes Will insist
upon the fairness and Justice OF cheapening
the cost of necessarics for themselves and
their families. When to the selnsnness
of the beneficiaries of unjust discrmina-
ton under our laws there shall be
added the discomfort of those who suffer from
such discrimination, We Will reailze tine iact
that the beneficial purpose OF our government
dependent upon the patriotism ana content
ment OF our people are endangered
Communism is o hateful thlngs ana menace
to peace and organized government. but the
communism OF combined wealth ana capital.
the ontgrowth of overweaninR cupla.y
and seIfshpe yhich insiduously under