The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-08-08
The People are Getting their Eyes Open

The People are Getting their Eyes Open.
Some republican politicians in
dulge in derisive smile when told
that the Campaign Of education" is
in full progress.
They know well enough that the
present high tariff is an unnecessary
burden, but are hopeful that the
masses will not find it out until some
time after the next Presidential cleo
ton. In other words they take the
masses tor asses.
But they admit if the people do
find it out, this party of protection,
falsely so-called, will require the SER
vices of an embalmer in the late au-
tumn of 1872.
The common people may be little
dull of comprehension on some sub
jects, but extortionate prices never
fail to set them thinking. The al
mighty dollar rouses dormant facul-
ties. As the pinch grows more Sc
we're, they become surprised, then in
dignant, then profance, and if they
go to the polls in that state of mind
nothing but the Intervention of Prov
idence can save the republicans from
utter defeat
The difficulty with that party is
that it has obstinately Disseminated
against the many in favorof the few.
When the few consolidate themselves
into monopolies and trusts and the
many stagger on the edge of starva-
ton, Mr.. Mckinley declares that the
country is prosperous.
A rock rolled from the higher story
of house to the lower, strikes each
stair in succession and perhaps takes
off an insignificant splinter, but when
it reaches the bottom it rests there
with its whole uncomfortable weight.
In like manner heavy tax ON the
necessaries of life hits the highest
classes lightly, and they scarcely feel
the extra charge, for they have plen-
ty and to spare, but it bears with it's
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full force on those who even in the
best of times find it hard to keep the
larder well stored.
The glory of such government as
this is. that it protects its working
classes, who constitute 1.-THE greatest
number" That is the radiant char
acteristic of republic, it's raison
d'etre. If it fails to do that it neg
lects its chief function, for failure to
legislate for the masses is equivalent
to the creation of an aristocracy, and
aristocracy under a popular govern
ment is not only an anomaly but an
omen of impending disaster. And
the party, by whatever name it may
be called, which adopts policy that
produces these results is essentially
un=American and opposed to the
spirit of our national institutions.
1t is not strange, therefore, that
the increasing discomfort among the
wage earners, 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 fortunes
while the millions find it difficult to
get bread?
That this condition of things ex-
lists is not to be doubted by any i'm
partial observer The farmers
throughout the country are in an ex-
tremely disgruntled state of mind.
They are the hardest working class
of people in the community, and yet
they find it impossible to lay up a
penny. They are not given to loose
habits, are not in the least extrava-
giant, and demand nothing but fair
opportunity to make living. If
they were revolutionists, extreme So
cialists, constitutionally disconten-
ted, that would be another thing.
But they are not. On the contrary,
they are temperate, conservative,
loyal and industrious.
Take for example the farmers of
Ohio. You can't find harder head
ed set of men on the planet or men
with more common sense, They were
promised by Mr.. Mckinley, who is
their neighbor that his tariff bill
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