The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-08-01
Not Communist. bat a Philan-
thrOpfst!


Grant parish as communist. / regret
very much your non attendance pom my
lecture In Collar and that you were forced
to frame your verdict upon hearsay testi-
mony. Such testimony is not admissible
under the most favorable circumstances.
and less 80 when coming from vanuuish-
opponent. 1t was not surprising to hear
Mr.. Hunter make such an accusation. as
he evinced q noctambulist condition when
ne came to the stand, and didn't know
what else to say. But am little aston
lshed to see this remarkable assertion
heralded by our impartial public educa-
tor, through the columns of his journal.
l therefore beg to adopt this method of
setting myself right before You, Mr.. Edi-
tor, and the many readers of your excel
lent journal. In discussing THE Social
Problems" for this is the point upon
which Mr.. Hunter accused me of teach
ing communicate doctrine, observed:
That it was the purpose of the Former of
our bodies and Father OF our spirits that
| all men should enjoy alike the fruits of
the earth. That in the early stages of
civilization the people usually manufac-
tured for Themselves the necessaries OF
! life, and therefore formed one grand in
dustrial army. That they placed values
upon articles produced in proportion to
the amount of labor required to produce
them. That they traded by rude barter
system, requiring and giving value re-
ceived for each article exchanged. That
even under this rude system the people
were more prosperous than the laborers
OF this boosted century. That this early
system had, however, the great draw
back OF being unsuited to exchanges Of
unequal values. That the philosophers
sought out something which could be
used to make up the differences sort
of small change" for trading operations.
That this lead to the coinage OF money.
which lead to the accumulation OF for
tunes. That this finally lead to the mod
ern curse Of humanity, sInterest." That
this baleful usage came about as soon as
the governments began to coin money.
That it finally developed into plutocratic
distinctions in the social circles and
that pomp and splender would dazzle the |
eye IN our cities and towns, (the city of |
Coifax being an honorable exception) and |
poverty and ignorance would increase in |
the rural districts. Finally, that this was |
caused by an unequal distribution of |
of wealth.
Now, Mr.. Editor, this is, in nut shell. |
the communicate" doctrine taught In |
my lecture at Colfax. Now, / pray your
indulgence while / offer some proof that |
the doctrine is philanthropic rather than
Communistic. 10 the thoughtful mind |
IT is easy to discover the tendency of the |
affairs OF this nation to Capitalization.
The legislation for thirty years has been
OF q class to concentrate the wealth of
this country into the hands Of few.
History attests that such Capitalization is
the surest road to the establishment of an
on the one hand and depend
ent slaves ON the other. Our Republican
institutions, based upon pure doctrine of
Democracy, which You will find in blazon
letters upon our Peoples party flag, are
last merging into plutocratic institutions,
and will in very few years. unless God
[avors the arms OF the oppressed, fasten
rule engrafting titles and
arlstOcratlc distinctions upon our social
order. Some philosopher, whose name 4
have forgotten, prophesied such tendency
Q ali Democracies. Now, don't believe
F'ls to be the national tendency of Demo
'acies. but, to very great extent, it has
oeen the case with the purest of all DEM
,crrcles. Now, Mr.. Editor, is proof of
his statement possible? think so, and
Deg OF you to go with me into q calm, :
,0ol and unprejudiced investigation of it.
mere was time in the early days of our
government when we had no extremes of 1
wealth and poverty. The people were
'dgcateds prosperous and happy. We
! quotation from Charles Dickens. He
'isited America in 1892, aid wrote back | {
rom Boston to his friend in London: ,
There is not man in this town. nor in
his State who has not a blazing fire and J
neat for dinner every day in the wear. / {
Tor wonld q flaming sword in the air at. !
ract so much attention as q beoOar in {
he streets" Alas, America thou hast !,
alien; the Gold Craft and the National (
Banks throttle thy Goddess of Liberty t
nd your people suddenly turn to beg I
ars Observe now, what some of the |,
sading journals have said-New York !,
lines, OF August IL, 1887: There seems
0 be but one remedy. and that must
ONE, change OF ownership Of the soil: 6
hat is, the tenant farmers on the one Z
and and the land lords on the other. like !
hat which has long existed in Europe y
nd our own State California. Every n
hing seems ripe Tor the change, half the q
arms in the country are ready to he sold !,
buyers would only appear" Indian
polls Daily Journal: sThere is too much o
'eedom in this country rather than too s
tile The Daily News, same city: "If s
orkingmen had no vote they would be =
lore amenable to the teaching Of hard :
mes" The Richmond State: "The 3
lost wealthy must govern in every State, 81
nd sciH, regardless OF any attempt to de- v
rive them Of their right" A learned I
enator says: I'VE need stronger gov 4
'nment; the wealth of the country has y
bear the burden of government and a
'aH control" Many other such quota "
ons might be added from the press Of !,
n country. Now, il this expresses the !
SEPARATION OF the age, our proud Repub- - y
, is fast following IN the footprints OF Il
ngland during the years Of Victoria's b
ign. History teaches us that at one n
me in England there was farm owner :
r every thirty seven Of the nomination, | "