The advocate., 1890-05-21
TouERs OF AMERICA, ARISE!

pletely Crush the shackled Forms Of the
1Ollcrs, Over Which the Chariots Of Those
Made Rich by Legislation May Pass IN Safety.
From journal Of the knights Of Laborl
"Forewamed forearmed,' - seems 10 DO
the motto upon which the non-produoing
rich are acting. With their keen fore
sight they have seen the columns Of dust
arising over the hills and valleys Of this
land az the producing millionaire march
ing on 10 rescue their rights from the
iron grasp Of these legaliled con6scators.
There has lately been introduced into
congress bill to "increase the efficiency
Of the militia" It's effect Is TO enroll all
abe-bodied men into the ranks Of the
militia Of the several states. Nearly II
not all Of the states now have regiments
Of state militia armed and uniformed
and more or less well drilled and dis
ciplined. Besides the cost Of arms, uni
forms and other aCcoutrements there ls
the further expense Of a yearly encamp-
ment Of one or two weeks All these
heavy expenses have TO be raised by tax
alton, which, like all other taxation, falls
heaviest upon the farmer and laborer, in
proportion to their wealth. The effect of
this bill will be to add millions more, to
be raised by like taxation. Another
effect will be to provide a host Of offices
for the constantly increasing number Of
army officers which the military school
at West Point is annually grinding out.
Then, after all the officers are provided
for, will follow annually increasing appro-
priations for the support Of this gigantic
military establishment We can form
some idea Of the burdens that this bill
will fasten upon the tax-crushed people
Of the country, as we view the situation
In transatlantic governments, where vast
standing armies are sapping the life-bIood
Of the laboring producers. But these
burdens Of increased taxation are by no
means the worst feature Of this new
scheme Of plutocracy. The ostensible
object OF this new scheme, they will tell
you, is to prepare us against possible
foreign invasion. The real purpose, how
ever, is TO provide means to hold down |
thealready shackled toilers Of this free CD |
land, Plutocracy, through It's gold |
trimmed glasses, has lately read the hand
writing on the wall, written by Jehovah |
in the fresh blood Of the bleeding toilers
Of America. They see that the sherifT's
posse will be an insufficient protection
should the impoverished victims Of their
Unsuitable greed arise in vindication of
their right to the blood-bought boon Of
life, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness,
which, alas, has been sold to the highest
bidder, through the perfdy of the con
gress Of a free (?) people. In short, the
object Of this bill is to lay the already
forms Of the toilers of this land
in rows, to form a causeway over which
the chariots Of those made rich by the
favors Of sympathetic lawmakers may
pass in safety Possibly you may think
these conclusions are evidence Of an un-
founded halluclnation, but you have only
to view the increasing enormity of the
class legislation in the past to be con-
vnced Of the possibilities in store for the
future. The only escape from these pos
sible catastrophies is immediate, incisive
action within the lines Of complete uni
versal consolidation Of all industrial