Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-09-16
The People Are Getting Their Eyes Open

The People Are Getting Their Eyes Upen'
Some republican politicians indulge in q
derisiye smile when told that the "cam-
paign of education" is in full progress.
They know well enough that the present
high tariff is an unnecessary burden, put
arc hopeful that the masses will not find 1t
out until some time after the next Presl-
Dental election. In other words they take
the masses for asses.
But they admit if the people do find it
out, this party of protection, falsely -oall-
ed, will require the services OF an embalm-
or in the late autumn of '92.
The common people may be little dull
of comprehension on some subjects, but ex-
tortionate prices never fail to set them
thinking. The almighty dollar rouses
dormant faculties. AS the pinch grows
moro severe, they become surprised, then
indignant, then profane, and if they 60 70
the polls in that state of mind nothing but
the Intervention of Providence can save the
republicans from utter defeat.
The difficulty with that party is that 1t
has obstinately Disseminated against the
many in fovor Of the few. When the few
consolidate themselves into monopolies:and
trusts and the many stagger on the edge OF
starvation, Mr.. Mckinley declares that the
country is prosperous.
A rock rolled from the higher story of a
house to the lower, strikes each stair in sue
cession and perhaps takes off an insignif-
cant splinter, but when it reaches the bot
tom 1t rests there with its whole unendura.
BILE weight. In like manner a heavy tax
on the necessaries of life hits the higher
classes lightly, and they scarcely feel the
extra charge, for they have plenty and to
spare, but it bears with its full force on
those who even in the best of times find 1t
hard to keep the larger well stored.
The glory Of such government as this
is that it protects it's working classes, who
constitute 'sthe greatest number" Tina,
is the radiant characteristic Of q republic,
its raison d. etre. If it fails to do that il
neglects its chief function, for failure to
legislate for the masses is equivalent to the
creation Of an aristocracy, and aristocracy
under popular government is not only an
anomaly but an omen of impending disas-
ter. And the party, by whatever name II
may be called, which adopts policy thai
produces these results is essentially I'm.
American and opposed to the spirit of oul
national institutions.
It is not strange, therefore, that the in
creasing discomfort among the wage earn
ers, on the farm and in the shop, gives rise
to sundry misgivings. Is it the square
thing to show such commercial favoritism
that few hundreds can reap colossal for
tunes while the millions find it difficult tt
get bread?
That this condition of things exists il
not to be doubted by any impartial observ
or. The farmers throughout the country
are in an extremely disgruntled state o
mind. They are the hardest working clas
of people in the community, and yet they
find it impossible to lay up penny. The,
are not given to loose habits, are not in thu
least extravagant, and demand nothing bu
fair opportunity to make living. I
j.; they were reolutionists, extreme socialists
constitutionally disconnected, that would b.
another thing. But they are not. On tn
contrary, they are temperate, conservative
loyal and industrious.
Take for example the farmers Of Ohio
, You can't find harder headed set of mel
on the planet or men with more common
sense. They were promised by Mr.. McKin
ley, who is their neighbor, that his tarii
bill would protect them, create deman
: for the wool they raise, and consequent!
afford them higher prica for their prod
cot. No man ever made more solem
s pledge than did Mr.. Mckinley. He wa
honest, too, when he made it, and believe
what he said; but he was mistaken.
turns out that the farmer must needs pay
! higher price for all his utensils and for bi
household goods, while the price of his Voc
has dropped. He is. therefore, greatly en-
barrassed and finds it hard to make bot
u ends meet.
;; So the Campaign of education" is pre-
crossing. The pocket of the nation
u touched, and that is sometimes more effeoi
Q ual than touching peoples consciences
- Mckinley may be elected Governor of Ohit
y but be has the hardest job on hand he eve
undertook. Whether elected or not, th
70 whole country is thinking seriously on thi
!. subject of heavy taxes, and by next yea
70 yelopments.- stN. Y. Herald"