Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-10-09
Fl. Martin Williams at lronton.

Hon. II. Martin Williams, of 81. Louis, de-
Iivered three speeches in Iron county last
week, one at Graniteville Wednesday even
ing. There was u good turn out ct Gran
iteville and " orkmen's Hall was weli-flied
but the attendance -at both the Ironton
meetings Was very small. Mr.. Williams has
given the tariff question much study and
thought and his remarks were very interest
ing.
T. Williams began his speech Thursday
afternoon by referring TO the gravity and
solemnity OF the problems which confront
the American people, expressing the belief
that free institutions and representative
government were undergoing crucial test,
and that the liberty and rights of the people
were menaced by greater danger than ever
before in the history OF our republic.
He then gave 4 brief resume Of the prin-
cipes on which our government was estab-
lished, and declared that the dangers which
threaten the existence Of a government OF
the people were tra ceabe to the ignorance
and Indifference the people with reference
to the self-eyident truths proclaimed by the
fathers Of the republic, that all men are ere
ated equal and endowed by their Creator
with certain inahenable rights. This theory
Of equality Is the basic idea upon which all
free, Democratic or Republican governments
have been established. 1t was the growth Of
Inequality, and tie subversion of the prin-
ciples Of justice that caused the destruction
of the Greek dcmocracies and the Roman
Republic. TIE same causes which destroy
ed those countries are al work III this coun-
try and unless the honesty, courage and love
OF liberty now apparently dormant in our
people. soon assert themselves, their fate
will be ours.
Under the conditions which existed for
more than haf century from the founda-
tion Of the government, wealth was equiiably
and justly distributed; there were none
enormously rich and few miserable poor;
the masses Of the people were prosperous,
coutenfed and happy.
But during :he last thirty years, inequality
produced by class legislation. has supplant-
ed the conditions Of equality, and to-day we
see TWO hostile classes-tbe rich and The
poor-&rrayed against each other. The rich
are growing richer and the poor are growing
poorer. Thomas q. Shearma0 Of New ! oTk
has shown that u 800 persons own thirty
one and one-half billions OF dollars or one
half the wealth OF this country, and that
three fifths Of the wealth i'll the United
States Is in the hands Of $1,000 persons 1t
Is only possible for one man to acquire mil
lions, ut the expense Of those who produce II.
This inequitabe distribution Of wealth has
been accomplished through the enactment
and operation OF class legislation which has
given TO It's fsvorites special privileges, and
by q svstern of taxation which places all the
burdens Of government on the wealth pro- |
ducing classes, and enables the privileged
few to tax labor for their enrichment.
This alarming condition OF affairs ls largely /
the result Of our senseless aud unjust meth /
DDS Of taxation, local, State and federal, by /
v hfch the burdens Of government are shift /
ed On to the farmers and laborers, and an |
additional tribute is laid on them to enrich /
s. few manufacturers under the pretense OF
developing and building up home industries,
protecting American labor and creating a /
home market for the farmer. That there are
other causes contributing TO cause the de-
preston and hard times which everywhere
prevail among the industrial classes, is not
to he denied. but the continuance Of war
taxes Is the potent factor in the neIaTloUs
" ork OF despalling labor everywhere of Its
inst and prouer reward. For the reason that
the protective tariff Is the present active