The Springdale news., 1888-12-07

pie that Tn the exercise of it's functions and powers 1t will deal with the body of our citi- zeas in a manner serupulously honest and fair
 and absolutely just. IL has agreed that Ameri- can citizenship shall be the only eredental nec- essary to justify the claim of equality before tue law, and that no con dtion in life shall give rise to discrimination Ill the treatment of the peo- pie by their Government The citizen of our Republic Tn It's 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 endeayor His tribute To the support of his Government Was meas sured by the cost of it's economical mainte- nance, and he was secure in the enjoyment of the recompenSe of his steady tribute and tcontented in it In those days the fruga lity sof the people was stamped upon their Govern meat, and was enforced by the free. thoughtful and intelligent suffrage of the citizen. Combina- tons, monopoles and aggregations of capital were either avoided or sternly regulated and restrained. Tae pomp and glitter of govern tnehtS less free offered no temptation and pre- seuted no delusion to the plain people who. side by side in frien ly competition wrought Tor 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- ing places of wealth and luxury: our manu. factories yield fortunes never dreamed of by the fathers of the Republics our business men are iaadly striving in the race for riches and immense aggregations of capital outrua 0ae mag nation in the magnitude or their un- derfakings. We view with pride and satisfac- ton this bright picture of our country growth and prosperity while only closer scrutiny de- yelops somber shading. Upon more careful inspection we find the wealth and luxury of our cit es mingled wth poverty and wretched- Tess ana gafemunefat5Ve toll. 4 crowded and constantly increasing urban population sug- gestS the lmpovershment Of rural sections and dlSe0ntent with agricultural pursuits. The &aTnhers son. not satisfied with his fathers simple and lab0riOuS life joins the eager chase for easilY-acquired wealth. We discover that ghc fortunes realized by our manufacturers are no longer solely the reward of sturdy industry and enlightened foresight, but that they result from the discriminating favor of the Govern ment. and are largely built upon un due eXact'ons from the masses of our people. The gulf between the employer and fhe employed IS constantly widening, and classes are rapidly forming one comprising the very rlch and powerful, while in another are found the toiling poor. While we view the achievements of aggregated capital, we discover 9he existence Of trusts, combinations and mo nOpolles, while the tizen Is struggling far in 1he reaI, or is trllnped to death beneath an Iron heel. Corporations which should be the carcially-res trained creatures of the law and 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 inSeparabic from these conditions, II is our duty as patriotic citizens Co inquire, at the present stage of our progress, how the bond of the Government made with the people has been kept and perform sl. In stead of limiting the tribute drawn from our
  ministratlon, the Government still persists in exacting from the substance of the people m ll}ions which, unappled, are useless and lie dormant in It's 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 business. Under the same laws by which these results are produced the Govern ment permits many millions more 10 be added to the cost Of living of our people, and to be taken from our consumers, which unreasonably swell the Srotts Of sc.au but powerful minority, The people must still be taxed for the support of the Government under the operation Of tariff laws. But to the extent that the mass of our citizens are lnordinately burdened beyond any useful public purpose and for the benefit of d favored few, the Government, under preteXt of an exercise of its taxing power enters gratuit- ously into partnership with these fayorites ln.s Of vast majority of our 3e0ple This is not equality be- fore the law The existing situation Is in- s"rous to the health of our entire body polite. II stiles ii those for whose benefit it is per mittcd all patriotic love of country and substi- aVarice
 Devotion 10 American citizenship tor its own sake and for what it should accomplish as q motive to our Nations advancement and the haBplnesS Of all our people, Is displaced by the that the Government, instead Of throGSh which especial and ind tvidual advantages are to be gained The arrogance of this assumption is uheoneeaied. 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 Q" ein'h aa'an''s0' anu 'D '0~O'Aa''0"' -