The advocate., 1890-09-03

ed us from being precipitated into gen
eral bankruptcy and revolution. But
even this cannot save us much longer.
The hope Of the republic IL in the homes
of the people. A government that will
not protect the homes Of her citizens is
unworthy Of the name Of republic When
the people lose their homes they lose re-
spect for the government that permits IT,
The whole tendency Of our laws Is TO con-
centrate wealth by robbing the produc-
ero. Hence the decline Of our industrial
system. Nor is the decline any less
marked in our social, moral and political
condition. Crime has increased with
wonderful apidity The quarter cen
tury beginning in 1865 is the most re-
markabe in the nations history. Dur
ing this period there has been 30 per cent
less pestilence, 20 per cent less war and
- per cent greater crops than in any
twenty-five years Of our history. There
has been more failures in business than
in any thirty-two years, more peniten-
tary olrenses than in thirty-eight years,
more murders than in forty-eight years,
more lunatics than in Grty-lour years,
more suicides than in sixty years and
more divorces than in seyenty-iiye years
Our national and state capitals are honey
cOmbed with social and political Corrup-
tion. There are more men induced to
commit crimes by the pangs Of hunger
and want Of employment than over before.
There are more women driven to lives Of
shame by desttution, poverty want and
neglect than at any time in the history Of
our country. There are more houses Of
prostitution in the city Of Washington
than any city OF its size in the world.
Members Of the church-proiessed chris
tians think nothing Of gambling at the
stock exchange or board Of trade. So
widespread is this social corruption that
the pulpit itself, in many instances, dare
not lift its voice against it or endeavor
to stay its deadly influence.
In the political domain matters are
worse, if possible. Offices are knocked
oil to the highest bidder Justice is sold
for price The leprous hand Of bribery
has permeated every department Of gov
ernment. The Now York W0rid, com
menting on some of these evils, says:
The purchase of senatorships Is the robbery Of
the people Of their dearest possession. Like br
berry In elections, IL Is u crime against liberty
which no honest man can look upon except with
lOathmg and u deadly righteous hatred Of It's per
petratOrs. The man or the party that consents To
Il is already leprOns To the marrow.
Senator Beck, in aspeech in the United
States Senate, in 1885, said
The great American agricultural industries,
which give employment To more than One-llalf
the workers for wages whose welfare Is held mp
tprOperly so) Ms the highest aim OF legislation,
and whose product constitutes at least 10 per
cent. OF our exports, receive no real consideration
here, and ARE not even ranked among the indus.
tries Of the country over which congress Is asked
or expected tO throw It's protecting arm.
II seems as though 10 was thought to
he the duty of congress 10 see TO II that the rich
be made richer by making the poor poorer
Hon. David Davis, formerly judge OF
the supreme court Of the United States,
says
The rapid growth Of corporate power and the
malgn influence which II eXerS by combination
on the national and state legislatures, Is wen
J grounded cause Of alarm. A struggle rs pendlhg
In the near future between this Oyergrown power,
with los vast ramillcat0nS all over the Union ana
hard grip on much Of the political machinery
on the one hand, and the people In mn unoIgal-
lied condition on the other, for control OF the
government. 10 will be watched by every patrlOI
with Intense anxiety Great corporations ana
b consolidated mOnOpOleS are fast selling the ave-
nues Of power that lead to the control OF lhe coy
crnment II Is an Open secret that they rule
states through procured legislatures ana cor,