The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-01-11
THE ENoROAOHMENTs OF CAPITAL.

The first 10 that portion of the capital
istic class which thinks any kind OF
combination, trust or agreement to
swell profits just, proper, and only an
indication of judlcious business thrift.
The seca - that large number OF
people who believe undue corporate
influence, combination and aggressive
ness are grave evils, but who In add;
ton think that money 10 so powerful
that nothing will tend to check Ing
over-reaching ~propensities but q revo'
luton accompanied by bloodshec
As to the frat class they ARE blinded
to the real danger which they are
invoking by q number o. causes.
"a } They are SO far yszpoysd, ss q rule,
from the eonsumaslt that sthey do not
know him BY 9 ti2ft. they have no
idea how hs 3es, what his difficulties
are, what ~ privations. They may
no1 bet.bad men, they may even be
! Ehriss ians, contributors to charities and
"a s1issions, but they have been brough,
up TO a Fetch worship Of money, 10
Q reverence for the sscredness OF
"investments" which 10 equal, II moi
stronger than their reverence for their
Creator. Co., They are arlstocratic'
Brought up amid the reflnements OF
wealth and ease, surrounded by works
of virtu and Of art, shelves flled with
books, walls and inches decorated with
pictures and statuary, they are out OF
sympathy with the masses. They look
upon the common people rs OF inferior
mold, they see them as through an
inverted telescope. they think OF them
a. OF . species Of peasaDtry--that por-
ton OF mankind born to do the work OF
the world, 10 DO up before day-bresk,
to do the bleaching and the baking, to
do the digging and the building, 10
make the bread and meat. to keep In
motion the wheels and cogs and
pulleys. They hear that among these
workers there 10 unrest and discomfort,
but they listen to this lightly as to the
rumble Of summer thunder In the
distance. They think 1t means nothing,
that it Is only g species of grumbling
which 10 heard to-day and forgotten to-
morrow. They are not In accord with
il, they pay little attention to 1t, and as
quickly as possible they dismiss II from
their mind.
As TO the second class they remind
us very much Of the Tories of the
revolution. Their awe and respect for
established usages are too great. They
are OF the people, they are among the
burden-besrers their sympsthies are
In the right place. but their fears get
the better of them. Sometimes they
are toadies. at other times they are
simply afraid. However actuated they
aggravate the trouble. as very often
they are intelligent people and good
citizens.
Sometimes the bravest may falter,
the most hopeful may lose heart
When we see q whole people meekly
bow the neck TO Q tariff robbery by
direction amounting to millions Of
dollars, and by indirection to hundreds
of millions Of dollars per snnum; when
we see trust after trust and combine
after combine, robbing the people Of
their hard-earned wages; when we
hear millionaires talking complaisantly
of the blessings Of protection; when
we see big men ready to defy the law
for gain who would be shocked at
little men rioting tor bread; then we
may occasionally be pardoned If we
fear that the march of the rich to be
richer, and the poor poorer cannot be
stopped.
But there is a balm In Gilesd; there
10 hope for better things; there is not
yet cause for despair. This American
people is q great people; 1t is an intel.
ligent people; II is 9 brave people. 1t
has long been blinded by the prejudices
of tie war 10 the monopolistic trend OF
the party In power; to the injustice OF
its financial policy, which has been
criminal In It's indeiensibility; to the
enormity of the incidental tax levied
upon the people by high tariff rates,
which goes, not into the treasury Of the
country but into the pockets OF the
manufacturers; to the trusts which are
the offspring OF this tariff, and to the
combines and agreements which have
grown up iostered by Its spirit Of I'M
fairness; but Il Is awaking. the great
body of the people 10 beginning to see
that there 10 something wrong. The
laborer sees that while worthy of he
does not receive his just hire; the far
mer Ii discovering that while the man
uiscturer 10 becoming o millionaire he
is not prospecting as he should, II
indeed he is prospecting at all.
The country IL rich, Its soil 10 virgin.
lts muscle is iron and Its energy is cleo
trio; II therefore sccomplishes much In
spite Of bad public policies; but the
demand now is TOR q fair chance to all
men In the race Of life, whether rich or
poor, whether learned or illiterate.
Nc one asks for class legislation. no one
envies the successful or the prosperous
the desire 10 that all, alike. shall have
a chance, by intelligence, by industry,
by frugality, not by the dead leveling
of communism, to share In . general
prosperity. The popular voice says
that Fictitious props to n class must
be removed; 1t emphatically asserts
that schemes and conspiracies TO
enhance prices, or in any way 10
impose burdens, must be broken down
and driven ont OF our methods Of doing
business. To accomplish this q revo.
luton is doubtless B~ecesssry-a greater
one than that which recently changed
Brazil from an empire into q republic,
but II the cspitalistic classes of the
country are wise, IL they will consult
the tones In their shelves for the lessons
Of history, they will not only forbear
opposition to reform, bnt they will
welcome It as their only safety for the
future. Unfair advantages must 90,
The people see that they exist, they
I'm un the nnwar and thav will acnnrna