The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-12-09
The Progress Of PIutoc.acy.

~ w. ~ ~
Our Financial System Controlled by
Gamblers and RobberS-The Struggle
OF the People Against Their Cypress.
ors.
EDITOR MANNING TINEs:-Yor will oblige
me by publishing the enclosed article, The
Progress of Plutocracy.' I have read it
with interest, and hope your subscribers
viii all read it carefully, rs think there is
much food for thought in what it teaches.
Very truly, J. q. KEELs.
st. Paul, December 1st, 1881.
Il is all very we'll to look on the bright
side, and take an optomIstlc view OF the fu.
ture. but the situation promises no change
for the better,
As The New York World puts it. the mid
die class is struggling vainly against its fate
: Under the present system it IS doomed to
death. The pathetic appeals OF the farmers
for justice and equity, the protest OF the
laboring classes against the tyranny OF capl-
tai, snd the revolt of every section OF the re-
pubEcagainss the domination Of Wall street,
show The threatening nature Of the oppres-
sion fastened upon US by plutocratc rule.
Heretofore the great middle class has been
the hope and mainstay of cur country.
From its ranks have come the men whose
ability, patriotism, and clean methods have
given tone to our society and strength to
our government. The prosperity of this
class was at one time such a potential factor
of our civilization that Charles Dickens, on
his first visit to the United States, looked
about in vain for beggars and tramps. He
found everybody well-fed, well-6ressed, and
comfortably housed.
Within the past thirty years new power
has grown mp among as, and for want OF a
better name it is called plutocracy. This
power controls our legislation and shapes
the destnies of political parties It abso-
luteiy owns the government and manlpu-
lates our financial system in the interest of
favored few. Slowly but surely the mid
die class is disappearing, and we are sp-
preaching the time when our people will be
divided into only two classes-the very rich
and very poor. The small producer, or the
man who goes into any industry or line Of
business with limited capital, is pushed to
the wall, and forced to become hireling or
tramp. The government is in league with
the plutocrats, and our banking system, our
tariff. and our internal taxes are made to op-
press the poor and build up the fortunes Of
the rich.
Already, the stranger among Us can see at
glance the drift of things. The America
Charles Dickens saw is memory of the past.
In .he city and IN the country there are
hosts Of beggars and tramps. Men Of mod
crate means no longer hope to hold their
own or accumulate fortune. Everything is
against them. They are swallowed up or
crowded out, and they see no future outside
of the slavery Of the wage-worker or hope
less pauperism. Thirty years ago people of
the middle and wealthy classes did not differ
widely in their mode Of living. Now, the
difference is apparent even in their dress.
The gulf between the aristocracy in England
and the masses is no wider and deeper than
it is in this country between the plutocrats
and the people.
Under.the circumstances, is it any won
der that our farmers in their reform crusade
sometimes propose extreme and almost rev
oluhonary measures The fact is, twill take
something very like a revolution to redeem
the republic, and restore good government
and general prosperity. Our government
is becoming Hussianized, and our people
are becoming pauperized. IF this state OF
affairs continues another generation this
viii be the worst country in the world 4or
poor man. Fortunately, reform is still 8
possibility. but 8 few years from now it will
be oeiv q dream, and a peaceful revolution
win beout Of the question. Next year the
people win have fighting chance in their
struggle with the plutocracy, which now
speaks and acts through the Republican
party. The only obstacle In the way is the
fact that some of the most active plutocrats
are in the Democratic camp.-AaGr'tG Co'ssts-
J7Hsn7a