Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1891-07-09


found expression, and so this country
was denonnated can asylum for the
oppressed Of all nations" This noble
sentiment has been most sadly abused.
lie hired herders Of steamship and
other companies have scraped, dragged
and strained al Europe to find inmates
for this asylum, the result is most la
mentable. A large number OF people
have been brought here from no worthy
motive, whose thoughts, habits, aspira-
tons and opinions are at total variance
with the spirit of American liberty.
Yet SO powerful have some OF these
classes become in certain quarters, and
sueh has been the trucking of pothouse
politicians TO their leaders, that it is
actually come to this-that the Ameri-
can flag is mentioned, on occasions with
an apology. This is goodly season for
the celebration of healthy American
spirit We can say to all corners who
come in sincerity and truth, "come with
us, we will do thee good" and to all
OF ers, "Get under the flag or get out"
great principle was supposed to have
been settled here by the American re-
bellion; the doctrine OF taxation without
representation. But to-day, after one
hundred and fifteen years of life, we have
not reached even reasonably perfect
representation. In some great portions
OF the country the people are not per-
mitted to exercise their franchises, and
in others men do not vote in the proper
meaning of the word, but deposit ballot
in consideration of certain dollars bear
| ing the inscription, "In God we trust"
For the man who thus barters what
uld b, the dearest right Of en-
American, there cannot be enough tax
alton, nor too little representation. The
purchaser is little better, although it is
possible to buy votes with good motive,
which can scarcely be affirmed Of the
second party Of the bargain. Both are
engaged in practice nefarious and rep
rehensible. 1t strikes at the very root of
our system.
But there is another class whose rep
resentation is not commensurate with its
taxation, and that is what is known as
he great middle cass-the citizens who
have something, and whose intelligence
eally produce the wealth and pay the
expense of the nation. These grievances
are real, should be met with, discussed
and dealt with periodically. Their true
interests should not, however, be given
over to the hands OF usuary schemers
whose wild and impracticable ideas, if
permitted to prevail, would work ruin
inv living all classes. Nor should it be
forgotten upon whom the heaviest taxi
ition falls, and that too much Of the time
Of the representatives is taken up with
plans for personal gain and continu-
ance of official position, rather than
honest work, in behalf of the people.
There is disease rapidly becoming
popular, which might be called Corpora
mania" 1t manifests itself upon the
mention or appearance OF anything like ii
corporation. An indiscriminate attack
upon all col porations is held by some I'M
thinking ones to be mark of devotion to
the people. Nothing could be more mis-
taken. The man who INDUCES in this
sort Of thing insincerely is hypocrite,
and is to be feared for his dishonesty,
the man who breaches this doctrine sin
cerely has not the brains to be a good
citizen of any country, and is to be feared
for his foolishness. This disease must
find its cure in the good hard sense Of the
American citizens.
On the other hand our liberties are
threatened by disposition among men
to associate themselves in corporate
capacity to perpetrate such wrongs upon
the people, as would weigh down upon
the conscience OF the individual, unless
he were a monster Individual respons-
Utility is thus avoided, and the fruits of
wrong obtained. Many Of the private
and public liberties OF the peonle are in
serious danger from the ungodly greed of
these rapacious aggregations.
We have been guilty of uncertain
spasms of public virtue, rather than a
steady and reliable preference for law.
Herein lies our most serious danger.
Were the laws of a king disregarded the
reflection would be on the power of the
king to govern his people. When the
peoples laws are violated, the reflection
is upon the power of the people to gov
ern themselves.
These are some of the dangers that may
yet be SO changed as to make us a freer
and happier people They will be averted,
for by the spirit that has animated the
patriots Of two centuries we have the
"leaven that leavens the whole lump
We are criticised by foreigners as having
no reverence for government. Per
haps not, in the manner that bows to
royalty. We are commercial country.
Here, business is business. People who