The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-01
The Battle Cry of the Masses
Against the Glasses.

We haye moved as far in one hundred
grandeur as a nation, and refinement in CIV
ilization as Rome did in a thousand, and
we have reached the borders of that most
dangerous period in the history of empires
when their decadence commenced. To be
sure our civilization differs in many respects
from that of the ancients. We have in
addition to their culture and learning, far
greater knowledge of science, and science
, applied to the arts. Our knowledge is
broader in many respects, and many old
errors have been corrected. We have got
rid of large measure of animal cruely, our
tastes are more subdued, of a gentler and
finer nature, but, the canker that destroyed
ancient nations is actively gnawing at the
heart of ours. The RIGHTEOUSNESS that fol-
lows closely the steps of unearned wealth,
and the greed of gain coupled with ambition
fo- political power are all springing up with
vigorous growth in our midst. The thirst
for military grandeur and dominion over
their fellow men, which brings out the rob-
bers and despoilers of the rights of the
ancient people, and emballned their mem
cries ir history as heroes, does not now show
itself at the head of armies on fields of
carnage. But the wealth which these rob
bers took by the sword is by more suttle and
refined arts, stealthily and clandestineIy
purloined by class in modern times who
are the types of the robbers of the ancients,
who have been handed down to US thro'
history under the title of kings and military
captains, with their following of licentious,
corrupt and soulless creatures, who aided
their masters 10 pluder and plot against the
liberties of the people. By force and fraud
they got the governments into their hands,
and as pride, grandeur, wealth and luxury
exalted the classes, poverty, ignorance,
famine and degradation crushed the masses,
till from its own rottenness the state fell
back into helpless baroarism. These
destroying influences are at work in full
vigor in our midst, and the course of mod
ern empire and civilization is shaping its
way the ancients travelled.
We have harnessed steam ane electricity
to our car and travel with many times
multiplied speed, and the only hope which
the human race of to-day have of safety
from the fate of the ancients is in public
education. knowledge is beginning to
fight the battles of the millions and the
printing press is furnishing them the power
10 WELD this element of strength which
public school education is placing within
the reach of all. But with all these aids
the power of destruction VIII ich is imbedded
in wealth like the canker worm in the
heart of the apple, is grasplng with a des-
perate clutch the throat of the nation. 1t is
intimidalipg the men whom it cannot bribe
who have been placed in power by the peo-
pie, till they are bewildered in the perform.
ance Of their plainest duties. The press
which the people have been taught to rely
upon, as a faithful sentinel on the watch
towers, has been converted into an engine
to aid the strategic movements of those
ravishers of the peoples substance and
liberties. We are within sound of the
picket firing that preudes the battle of the
masses against the classes, and it is the duty
of every American to prepare for that con-
test, to give up his old idol worship of party
which is more degrading than Egyptian
bondage, and prepare to stand up in his
manhood shoulder to shoulder in the army
OF the masses.