Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1888-12-15

pie that III the exercise OF its functions and
powers 1t will deal with the body OF our citi-
Gems In manner scrupulOusly honest and fair
and absolutely Just II has agreed that Ameri-
can citizenship shall be the only credentiai nee
essary TO justify the claim of equality
before tho law and that no con-
dition in life shall give rise to
discrimination IN the treatment of the poo
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 feld for individual endeavor. His tribute
to the support OF his Government was meas
ured by the cost OF its economical majnte-
nance, and he was secure In the enjoyment
OF the recompense OF his steady tribute and
contented in II, In those days the frugalty
OF the people was stamped upon their Govern
ment, and was, enforced by the free, thoughtful
and Intelligent suffrage OF the citizen. Combna-
tons, menopolies and aggregations OF capital
were either avoided or sternly regulated and
restrained. Tae pomp and glitter OF govern
ments less free offered no temptation and pre-
sented no delusion to the plain people who.
side by side In frien lyi 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.
A century has passed, oureites are the abid-
ing places of wealth and luxury; our manu-
factories yield fortunes never dreamed OF by
the fathers OF the Republic; our business
and immense aggregntions OF capital outruh
the imagination in the magnitude OF their un-
dertakings We view with pride and satisfac-
tion this bright picture OF our countrys growth
and prosperity, while only closer scrutiny de-
velops somber shading. Upon more careful
inspection we find the wealth and luxury OF
our cites mingled with poverty and wretehed-
ness and unremunerative toll. A crowded and
constantly increasing urban population sug-
gests the impoverishment OF rural sections and
discomfort with agricultural pursnits. The
farmers son, not satisfied with hiR fathers
simple and laborious life, joins the eager chase
Tor easily-acquired wealth. We discover that
the 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. ard are largely built upon un.
due exactons from the masses OF 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 totling poor While We view the
achievements OF aggregated capital, we discover
the existence Of trusts, combinations and mo-
nopohes, while the citizen is struggling far in
the rear, or is trainpled to death beneath an
iron heel. Corporations which should be the
oarefully-restralned creatures Of the Law and
the servants Of the people. are fast becoming
the peoples masters. Still congratHlating
ourselves upon the wealth and prosperity OF
every incident OF change inseparable from these
conditions, 1t is our duty as patriotie citizeHs
to inquire, at the present stage of our progress,
how the bond OF the Governments made with
the people has been kept and performed. In
stead Of limiting tho tribute drawn froHn our
citizens to the necessities OF its economical ad-
mtnistrution, the government still persists in
exaeting from the substance of the people
millions which, unapplied, are useless and lie.
dormant IN its treasury. This tiagrantiniUstioe
and this breach OF filth and obligation add ez-
tortion TO the danger attending the diversion uf
the currency OF the country from the legitimate
ChQnUnlg buginpqa Hinder a
which these results ore produced the Govern
ment permits many millions more TO be
added 70 the cost OF living Of
our consumers, which unreasonably swell the
profits OF a small 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 inordinately burdened beyond any
useful public purpose and for the benefit Of Q
favored few, the Government, under pretext of
an exercise OF lis taxing power, enters gratuit-
ously into partnership with these favorites
jury Of vast majority Of our
fSSh fore the law. ~ The existing situation is in
furious to the health OF our entire body politic.
1t stiles Ia those for whose benefit it is per-
mitted oil patriotic love of country and substi-
tutes in Its place selfish greed and grasping
avarice.
Devotion to American citizenship Tor its own
sake, and for what II should accomplish as
AnOhNC 10 uut NhllOuo uuNauCtlHtHb duu tuo
happincss.of all our people, is displaced by the
assumption that the Government, instead OF
being the embodiment OF equality, Is but an in
strumentalty through which especial and
individual advantages are to be gained.
The arrogance Of this assumption Is
upconcealed. II Rppears in the sordid dis
regard OF all but personal interests IN tho re-
fusal 70 nbate for the benefit OF others one iota
of selfish advantage, and Ia combinations TO
berpetuate such advantages through Efforts to
control legislation and improperly influence the
sudr0ges OF the people. The grievances of
those not included within. the circle Of these
benefciaries, when fully realized, will surely
arouse irritation ana discomfort. Our farm
ers, long-suEering and patient, struggling
In the race Of life with the hardest and most
unremltung toll, vii not foil to see, In spite Of
misrepresentation and misleading fallacies,
shat they arc obliged TO accept such 2 riees for
their products as are fixed "a foreign markets
where they compete with the farmers Of
the world; that their lands are declining in
value. while their debts increase, and that
without c0lppensating favor they arc forced BY
the action. Of the Government to pay for the
benefit Of others such enhanced prices for the