The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-05-28
Present and Past Ceudalism.

LIE silent work OF revolution tlaI
is going on all over this country,
breaking down the barriers that con-
stitution and law entrenched about
the rights of the citizen causes
thoughtful men to tremble for its
future. The feudal system that pre-
vailed throughout all western Eur
ope enyironed the feudal barons with
an army Of followers ready to CON-
init any manner Of crime at the insti-
cation of their chiefs. No question
OF right ever entered into their con-
quests, and those with whom they
waged war to-day might be their al
lies in destroying the rights of others
tomorrow. Each chief was followed
by retinue ofarmed retainers whose
vocation was murder, and the plum
der of their fellow men for the bare
pittance Of maintenance, the power,
and authority and gain resulting
therefrom being for the exclusive
benefit of their rulers. Cities, towns
and provinces were laid under trib-
ute by the mercenary hoqdes that
followed the fortunes Of their mill
tary leaders, and they in turn with
their most trusted adherents helped
those to whom they owed allegiance
prey upon and plumber those who
might be objects of envy, hatred or
fear. Thus the entire system of law
and government under those rulers
was one of spoilation, outrage muir
der and robbery.
In adopting our form Of civil gov
eminent, the preservation of the pub
lie peace, in the towns and counties
was wisely confided to the civil mag
istrates and sheriffs of the respective
counties, authorizing these officers
when necessary to call upon the civil
authorities Of the state to aid them,
when with the assistance of the posse
comitatus they are unable to suppress
disorder and strife. When the strife
is too formidable to be controlled by
the military of the state under the
direction of its militia and their CON-
mande-s, the Governor is authorized
to appeal to the President as com.
mander-in-chief of the army and
navy and likewise as the civil magis
trate at the head Of the government
and the conseryator of the public
peace for aid in suppressing disorder
and restoring peace. And SO jeal-
Gus were the founders of our govern
ment of the rights and liberties of
the people that the Chief Magistrate
Of the people, the President, would
be in danger Of impeachment should
he, unasked, invade State with
an armed force.
And yet in violation of the letter
and spirit of the constitution, every
state in which labor troubles have
occurred has been invaded by an
armed horde of private mercenaries,
there to do the bidding of corpora
tions or individuals In the organiza-
ton Of the republic primogeniture,
and feudalism We're especial objects
OF aversion to the patriot fathers.
Primogeniture through the various
corporations made easy in most of
the states, instead of being rooted
out, is established and perpetuated.
The employment of armed private
mercenaries is always lawless, and in
derogation of the constitutional
rights of the citizen.
1t is part of the feudal system Of
waging private war, and whenever
resorted to will cause strife and blood
shed from two reasons, the exaspera-
ton caused by the threat implied in
the presence of professional murder
ers, and also from the fact that only
the most desperate and worthless
characters will accept service as the
professional butchers of the corpora
tions. New York, Ohio, Pennsylva-
MIA, Illinois, and but recently Wash
ington, have been the scenes of law
lessness and violence caused by the
presence of hired assassins, employed
to do the very work for which a
State Militia is provided, maintained
and paid.
The millionaire owners of the mines
railroads and protected manufactur-
ing plants of the country think it
cheaper to use force against the dis
contented toilers than to consider
their just claims under the laws of
their country,an their obligations
under the moral law, and instead of
conforming their acts to the establish
ed institutions Of the country are
the most obnoxious fea-
ture Of feudalism.