The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-12-25

received all the nations which history
speaks OF prior to this century, but that
the United States emerged from it less
than thirty years ago. In this class
were all the governments OF ancient and
modern times before this century. 1t
makes no difference what the govern
ment was called, whether monarchy or
republic, 1t was essentially the same
brutal, crafty thing, which chained the
people in slavery and made them stupid
with supcrstitions. Such was Rome as
kingdom, republic and empire. Such
was Athens, which had a. population OF
100000 slaves and 10000 freeman,
l am mindful thatany Statutory change
in our system OF government must come
slowly. 1t might be fatal to all govern
men, if we undertook to revolutionize it
radically and Immediately. We will
probably find it necessary to cut off the
powers and limit the scope OF our gov
eminent gradually. There are some re-
forms in that respect, however, which
aught to be ~inaugurated at once. For
instance, the general government OF the
United States, IS a greatconfusion, prac-
tlcally unlimited in scope, amazing, stu
pendous, p%erplexing and deceiving in ef-
feet. There are 65,OOO,OOO people IN
the country and it is not at all probable
that more than a thousand out OF the
whole number understand the plan Of
that government. 1t takes q lifetime OF
constant and diligent inquiry to become
fairly we'll acquainted with the depart
ments. 1t takes twenty or thirty years
to get a respectable reform inaugerated
by that government, If ever. 1t takes a
lifetime and sometimes two or three
generations to get a small but just claim
allowed by thatgoveanment. There are
over 100000 office holders who are
doing work which nobody understands
the purpose OF, connected with that gov
eminent. Now letus specify some reforms
First; let lis abolish the senate, or at
least make it elective. Personally l can
not see that there is any good reason
for its existence, but 1 will make no con-
tention on that point. What Is the
senate? AS at present constituted it is
a body OF mil ioniare special p~leadcrs.
who procured themselves to be elected
to that body to enable them to watch
and foster the special interests IN which
their millions arc invested. Stanford,
OF California. one OF the great railroad
magnates, by interest and force ofhabit
the advocate OF the most FAVORABLE
legislation for w~atercd-stock railroads
is there; Stewart, the special attorney
Tor the silver interests, is there; Far
well, the watchdog OF the clothing trade
and Il high tariff advocate is there
Washburn, the advocate OF all monop
olics, Is there; Sawyer, the pine lant
millionaire. whose fortune was made by
the enactment OF special pine land laws
is thcre-and most OF Them secured theil
elections by opening sacks in their state
legislature. How can you ever expect
to get eight hour laws, land laws, money
laws, railroad laws favorable to tho
people through such a body? How car
you ever expect such Il body to repea
the special laws already in the statute
books giving special advantages and
privileges to It's own members? How dc
wan ov,,aot man who uri ,.ipb fh,,n,,u1
the very legislature which you oppose
to abolish that legislation? If you want
reforms, reform the government and lol
off this unnecessary member. The next
the management of your affairs in the
hands OF those who understand then
best. For instance, there are in TIN
state Of South Dakota several million
acres OF public land, this land is bcst
understood by the people Of the state
but is managed by a government whose
officials reside 2OOO miles from the stat,
The land is sold for S1,23 an acre ant
the money goes nobody knows where
An immense number OF clerks are en-
ploycd in that distant locality wht
absorb a large amount OF the none,
realized by the sale OF the land, Now OBJ
serve the benefits which might flow iron
Il reform which would require the Unitet
States government to grant all public
land in South Dakota to the people O
the state. First; special lnducement.
would be given tie immigrants. Second
+ the control OF the land would be re
; posed in our ownpeople whom we coult
watch. Third; we could use the none,
) realized by the sale Of the land in irri
, eating the same. Fourth; If we though
best we could provide that, by sinking
an arteslan well and obtaining water, o
| subiecting land ito irrigation in any
other way any citizen could have
: title to 16O acres. \ \ \ have de
: sired to impress upou yonr minds a
! well us l could in SO brief Il space as i;
: at my disposal, these three truths
First; that the labor problem is in fac
+ and aught to be this; GLOW can tn
fruitful earth and the powers OF tn
human race be brought together wit
the best results?" Second; That s.
+ long as government is SO organized tina
. it may dispense special privileges OF an,
) kind, or interfere with and limit persona
liberty, there can be no real hope 10
labor; and that the United States gov
eminent is too culnbrous and is IN til
) possession and under the control G
: specialists who use it for their own ends
Third; That in order to diminish the cor
troll which specialists have Of the gov
eminent and therefore Of labor, it i
t necessary to limit tine power G
J government, in the management c
affairs which can best be manage,
by localities, Where is the danger j
: such thoughts? 1t is certainly not dar
gerous to reduce concentrated powe
within the limits that have proposed