Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-03-07
A Live Issue.

The United States comprises in area
about one fifteenth of the land surface of
the globe, one-twenty-fift of the popula-
ton and one-sixth of the accumulated
wealth, or more than the whole world,
with half its present population, pos
sessed less than a hundred and fifty
years ago, and this the product of
century, Ye croakers consider this and
reflect what must be the condition of
humanity where men toll under broil-
ing sun from its rising to the going down
for two pence and live upon the pittance
drawn therefrom. Contrast our own
country with those conditions and seek
happiness and consolation. What though
there have arisen here and there among
us men who are able to "grasp the situa-
ton" of an unparalleled example in the
history of nations, and possess themselves
of millions while surrounded by multi
tudes who, from idleness or profigacy,
sink into pauperism and others whom
adverse fortune, and force of circum-
stances have held in want or driven to
the most absolute state of restitution and
suffering, surrounded also by toiling
millions who struggle for existence, and
contribute their product to the princely
fortunes of the more avaricious. Yet
even in this day and age the contrast be-
tween the rich and poor is no greater and
the gulf no wider in proportion than in
times past. Croesus was so wealthy that
he was able to support and pay the army
under his command, although it repres-
ented one-third of the legions of the
broad Roman empire, the greater part of
the civilized world. My friends, I mean
all who belong to the laboring classes,
we are no poorer, our lot no harder, even
in this seeming great concentration of
capital in few hands. Is this a para
dox? It is true nevertheless There
never was a time when the product of
labor represented as much of the neces-
saries of life as now, saving perhaps
isolated cases under an inflated currency,
of articles whose value did not respond
as readily as others to the varying cir
cumstances of war and imitation conse-
quent thereon. Capital in few hands is
a necessary evil productive of good. The
incentive of its possession is that which
makes activity and promotes industry
and civilized development. It is that
which builds railroads, establishes COM
mereial enterprises, operates factories
and gives employment to labor of all
classes and description. And this vast
increase of wealth is that which is pro-
duct of labor which capital employed
and paid. One great difference between
savage and civilized nations is that
savages never accumulate and all are
poor and starve together at times. Prior
to the beginning of the nineteenth cen
fury the world did little more than to feed
itself and leave few useless monuments
of its existence. Then came an era Of
invention and discovery. The great
saving of time and labor allows oil
greater works and accumulated wealth
1t removes from the agricultural world
large numbers and places them N the
factories because not so many are needed
: to raise the necessary food. It gives i'm
petus for a time to manufactures o.
articles that the world was hitherto toC
poor to purchase and hence unmarketable
1t creates railroads and carries into I'M
: known regions the products of othel
| climes which were beyond their reach be
fore. 1t opens a market for our owl
products In regions once beyond on
reach. These works could not tax,
7 place we're it not for the concentration
: which we consider so dangerous. Nov
while the world is united as never before
calamity falling upon one portion O
the country reacts sooner or later npol
? the rest.
ITO be continued