Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-03-03

upper classes grow more Indifferent to tho
foundation ON which they rest--of throbbing,
uagonizing human flesh. Not satisfied with
She terrible natural distinction between
lwealth and poverty, they invent codes of
zmanners and devise elaborate systems of
what they mincingly call etiquette Mar
Nriage with the poor is inexcusable. Even
familiarity with inferiors-a great breach of
fspropriety' they call it. They ask not is q
yman honest and true hearted, is he kindl but
lis he wealthy or did he ever soil his hands
pwith works Not is woman beautiful, is
kshe modestG these are of little account; but is
\she well-that is richly-connected If her
ffather cheats others she may be admitted to
Ntheir circles; if he is unfortunate enough to
BE cheated, never All, the shame of it, that
tmakes no account of hundreds of millions of
Thurman creatures of untainted blood, of I'M
Aclouded intellects, except as mere beasts of
wburden; to deny them social privileges, and
awhip the boldest Of them back into the dark
mess of ignorance and contempt All the
| eS lights of knowledge must burn for the
u few alone all the soft influences of culture
and the elevating pleasures from art and
+ e genius are for the few alone.n He folded his
| & arms over his broad chest and threw back
Il his head in one of his grandest movements
Sand how have they earned the right to
X Gall themselves 10 ufluK alone at
the fountains of knowledge and inspiring
beauty, with never a share for the millions
NSweating under the burdens their white
m hands have put upon thems No carpets of
Y ltmiceless web are too fine for their lovely
fwomen's feet, rubies are not rare enough for
Their Jewels. Music beats out its heavenly
vharmonies for them alone, with its treasured
B}meaning of uncounted centuries Painting
r'avishes their eyes alone with the pictured
Irealms of inspired fancy. Literature scrapes
hand cringes before them, with its stores of
wisdom
Then he threw out his arms and came for
lward to the edge of the platform, for one
Last personal appeal A hundred that could
mot understand all he said, thrilled to vague
lrevolt under his irresistible magnetic force.
'Your bodies, whose only pleasure is sleep,
Whose only qualification is to still the daily
recurring necessary hunger, your bodies
Acould enjoy every luxury and beauty; ah,
and the common Christian comforts would
kbe sweetest luxuries to you, which have
APPALLED, on the stated senses of the rich. Your
lIninds and souls could grow fine and broad
land calm in the education their pampered
children scott at; and the world progress
)rnore in year than in centuries before. And
Ayou are a thousand to one; the joys and
kcomforts, the blessed possibilities of thou
Sand lives against the insepsate greed of one
tnan Tor more, and more ne cannon eat, or
drink, or enjoy. 1t is his madness that they
fo not confine such as he, who sets the world
lk)ack ten years for one he lives But when
Re opens his great vault tomorrow and sits
Aown to count his i'll gotten gains of the yes
trday, LET his heart sink within him; he has
kefused his workmen the common rights of
humanity, and they will leave his mills to
Tot in idleness.n
He took his hat from the table and strobe
Town the aisle amid the excited applause of
us audience and went out, not even once
boxing back. An awkward silence followed,
tut it was several moments before Philip
Traced himself to do what, perhaps, was his
Vuty Every eye was fixed on him as he
lade his way forward, not one there but be-
feved he was their friend Had he not put
IN the fire escapes out of his own money in
spite of his fatherl Many whisper of com
nendation brought an answer of hearty good
ceiling. One or two of the women in the
galleries actually said he was handsome
"Aty friends he began, but somehow he
lid not care to lift his eyes to meet the kind
ook in the trustful eyes, 81 don't think there
3 any occasion, mean, friends
What did he mean, he knew better than
hey what occasion there was. How dare he
ask them to wait and hope for when had a
torporation heart for mercyl He knew
better than they, that tomorrow would be
he last day when strike would be likely
If any effect. They might defeat his fathers
cheme if nothing else, scheme that would
make them servants no longer of man, but
II pitiless business principle.
He looked about the room at last; he read
fright the confidence in the eyes of the com.
any. He believed he might make them
yait, but had he right to ask it, Here
we're q thousand souls in the mills impatient
It injustice, as they thought; he could offer
hem no hope, not one straw; his hands
would be forever tied after tomorrow. Had
|e right to restrain thema
"Friends, / know not what to advise you,
fnce l am so weak to help YOU" He sat
q Town and cheer rang loud and hearty to
he roof, but he felt himself in an agonizing
POSITION. On the great questions at issue be-
ween the employers and the worl1nen, the
ich and the poor, his mind was slow in COM
Ig to a conclusion He admitted most that
rem Curran said, while he listened, but how
help it was the question he ever asked him
r IL. Surely nobody was profited by flying
the face of great economical laws. But
hen, what were, laws, and what We're falla-
ess Wen, if he did not know what was
light, could he not follow his fathers urgent
Fishess Was he making generous return
] on the love his father had lavished on him,
he should disobey him now? AS he sat
\ here his vivid imagination pictured the COR
pration in operation. Some little injustice
Yas being done, and he mentions it to tho
y Averseer. "Thenls orders; you must
!. ne the superintendent" He could
be it all so plainly. He knocks at
ghe superintendent door and is re-
Aeived with the attention due the chief
kockholder's son; he sees his bland, smiling
bce, his sleek, well paid smile He speaks
Af the rule which perhaps works to rob some
Particular set Of hands wholly without their
&ault '"But have no authority to change
Il, though it does seem hard; better see the