The Russellville Democrat., 1888-12-13

pie that Tn the exercise of it's functions and powers 1t will deal with the body Of our citi- zeus in manner scrupulously honest and fair and absolutely just. It has agreed that Ameri- can citizenship shall be the only credential nec- essary to justify the claim Of equality Sfaon Sel0rs th9 n life n shaIi sn giye r rise % to discrimination Tn 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 to the support of his Government was meas ured by the cost of it's economical mainte- nance, and he was secure in the enjoyment Of the reeompense of his steady tribute ana contented in 1t. In those days the fruga lity of the people was stamped upon their Govern. ment, and was enforced by the free. thoughtful and intelligent suffrage Of the citizen. Combina- tions, monopolies and aggregations of capital were either avoided or sternly regulated and restrained. Toe pomp and glitter or govern ments less free offered no temptation and pre- sented no delusion to the plain people who, side by side in frien ly competition, wrought 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 aoid- ing places of wealth and luxury our manu- factories yield fortunes never dreamed Of by the fathers of the Republics; our business men are madly striving in the race for riches and immense aggreBattons or capital outrun the imagination in the magnitude or lnelf un- dertakings. We view with pride and satisfac- ton this bright picture of our countrys growth and prosperity, while only closer scrutiny de- velops a somber shading Upon more careful inspection we find the wealth and luxury or our cites mingled with poverty and wretched- ness and unremunerative toll. A crowded and constantly increasing urban population sug- gests the impoverishment Of rural sections ana discomfort with agricultural pursuits The farmers son, not satisfied With his iather simple and laborious life, joins the eager chase for cfl fly-aaunirn1 wealth discover the fortunes realized by our manufacturers are no longer solely the reward or sturdy industry and enlightened foresight, but that they result from the discriminating favor Of the Govern ment and are largely built upon un' due exactions from the masses or our people, The gulf between the employer and the employed is constantly widening, and classes are rapidly forming, one comprising the very rich and powerful while in another are found the toiling poor. While we View the achievements of aggregated capital, we discover the existence Of trusts, combinations ana mo nopohes, while the citizen is struggling far in the reaI, or is trainpled to death beneath an iron heel. Corporations which should be the fully-restrained creatures Of the law ana the servants of the people, are fast becoming ourselves upon the wealth and prosperity or our country, and complacenty contemplating every incident Of change inseparabie from these conditions, il Is our duty as patriotic citizens to inquire, at the present stage Of our progress, how the bond of the Government made with the people has been kept and performed. ln- stead or lnltiug the tflDute ufaWn iTpm citizens to the necessities of its economical ad- ministration, the Government still persists in exacting from the substance Of the people millions which, unapplied, are useless and lie dormant in it's treasury. This nagrant lnlushce and this breach Of faith and obligation add ex- torton to the danger attending the diversion or the currency Of the country from the legltimate channels Of business. Under the same laws by which these results are produced the Govern ment permits many millions more to be added 10 the cost Of living of ANlH our consumers, which unreasonably swell the profits Of a small but powerful minority. The people must still be taxed Tor the support ont n the Government under the operation of tarin laws But to the extent that the mass of our citizens are inordinately burdened beyond any useful public purpose and for the oeneht of favored few, the Government under pretext Of an exercise of its taxing power, enters gratuit- ously into partnership with these favortes to their advantage ,anior,tH and to the oar ln fore the law The existing situation is in furious to the health Of our entire body polittc it stities in those for whose beneht tt is per mitted all patriotic love of country and subsu- tutes in it's place selfish greed and grasping avarioe.
 sake and for what it should accomplish as a motive to our Nations advancement and the happiness of all our people, is displaced by the assumption that the Government, instead or being the embodiment of equality is but an in- strumentalty through which especial and individual advantages are to pc gained: unconeealed. It appears in the sordld dis regard of all but personal interests tn the re fusal to abate for the benefit Of others one iota of selfish advantage, and in combinations 10 perpetuate such advantages through efforts 10 control legislation and improperly Influence the suffrages of the people. The grievances or those not included within the circle of these benefciaries, when fully realized, will surely arouse irritation and discomfort, Our farm CTS, long-sunerng and patient, struggling in the race Of life with the hardest aud most uuremitting toil will not fail to see tn spite or interpretations and misleading tallacies, that they nre obliged to accept such ? r1ces Tor their products as are fixed in foreign markets where they compete with the farmers or the world; that their lands are declining in value, while their debts increase, and that without eompensatng favor they are forced by benefit Of others such enhanced prices Tor the things they need that the seanty returns Of their labor fail to furnish their support, or leave no margin for accumulation.
 Our worlKnRmen, enirancmseu rom all delu- sion and no longer frightened by the cry that their wages are endangered by a lust revision of our tarih laws Will reasonably demand, through such division, steadier employment. cheaper means of living in their homes, free- dom for themselves and their children from the doom Of perpe tual serVltudc aud an open door to ndvanccment beyond the limits ot ia- boring class others ot our citizens whose comforts and expenditures are measured by modttate salaries and bxed incomes wlll Insist ap0n the fairness and lusuee Of pbeapening the cost Of Eeeessaries for Themselves ana ghelF families. When 70 the sehshness ton under our lays there shall be aadcd the dsc0rieut ci those WAn suuer lronl such diserlninat ti0u we Wlii realize tAs faet ihat the beleeeldl pnrpose ci cuf Gogepmelt dependent upon tha patriotism and cpHteal- usent of our people age eaeaussFeL