The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-22

was over and that the Aliiance
had swept the country. He heard ths
roaring OF cannon, the rattle of drum.
and the shouting Of the muititudes a!
they passed in cheering lines, their
torcnes faring and suffering and THEFT
faces showing red in the light of the SLOW
hre carried at the head of-every column.
But they passed out of sight. and TIE
sound OF rejoicing ceased
he stirred IN his sleep. He knew even
as he dreamed thai something evil was
before him, but he could not waken
his head sank forward upon the table,
and the terrible suspense of the inter
mission OF his dream grew almost un-
bearable. But it was broken and the
dream went on.
he thought that he had stood in his
place IN congress and urged there the
things he had promised on the stump.
lie had attacked the protective tariff,
and the protective tariff was no more.
He had assailed subsidies to American
ships, and subsidies had been voted
down. He had joined with members
from the south in cutting down the PEN
sion list, and the pension list had been
abolished; for he had found that. if he
secured support for his pee
scheme, he must support the pet
schemes OF his southern brothers.
| He had denounced National banks,
and they had ceased to exist. He had
ciiampioned fiat money, and fat money
fllled all the channels of circulation. He
had urged the subtreasury scheme, and
subtreasury law had been passed. He
had demanded the purchase Of railroads
OF telegraph and telephone lines, by the
government and they had been pur-
chased. He had consistently supported
| every demand of the platform upon
| which he had been elected, and each de-
| mand had been conceded; and now he
| sat In his room at home, and looked
back over the record. How proud he
felt that every plank in the Alliance
platform had been made into a law, and
how he gloried in the work he had as
sisted and been largely instrumental la
accomplishing. He sat thinking of this
and turning uis the corners of the letter
he had been writlng-a public letter re-
viewing the werk of the Alliance and
praising those who had been leaders in it.
But as he sat strange feeling came
upon him. He felt that he was not
alone. but that the room was filled
with beings. At first he could
not see them, but gradually his light
seemed to darken, and as the rays grew
DINNER he distinguished the outlines of
many figures, ali grim, gaunt, threaten
ing, gazing at him with looks of anger
and reproach. bThey stood about him, all
around him. Not one stirred, not an
eyelid fluttered, not finger twircned.
Their looks SO steadily fixed upon him
disturbed him, anu he sought % move.
He could not stir. Every muscle had
suddenly become rigid, yet his mind
was active. He tried to speak. He
could not, at first, but at length he mall
aged to cry out: "Who are you? What
are you:" he exclaimed.
1--WE are ghosts" they all replind, in
tones so terrible and mournful that he
trembled III his heart. Their eyes seemed
to pierce even as deep as that, for they
cried out again, together:
''Ha, ha!'' they said, 1--WE like to see
your heart treinble. You should have
trembled before you slew U.s." And
they laughed wild, exulting laugh that
seemed like that of imps and demons.
''Look at US" the leader erred. The
calamity congressman raised ais head
and looked about the room. Every inch
''Look at us" their leader repeated.
As he spoke they swiftly formed them
selves into long line and began to move
He tried to turn his head away, but |
whichever way he looked he met their
stern, cold eyes. On, on they moved
around him.
''For Gods sake, what are you? What |
do you WANT" he cried.
"You slew us all, yet do not know u.s."
the leader answered solemnly, taking |
his place by the congressmen's chair.
"You slew u.s." echoed the ghosts, as
they passed on in an interminable pro-
cession, land you shall know U.s."
''You slew u.s. shouted the foremost.
s'We fell when protection fell. We
were the factories of the land, but we
are dead. You slew w." And they
passed on.
''You slew us. We were American
wages, and we fell with protection.
Take our curse. The ghosts of Ameri-
can wages are pauper wages, and they
curse you and curse the land. You slew
us. And they passed ON.
The Calamityite trembled more and
more, and his heart beat rapidly as he
Still they came on with noise
less tread and reproachful looks.
1--WE were markets of the Nation, and
you destroyed us, We gave you rich re-
turns for all your products, We you
wrecked us. Do as you can without Us,
our fall was by your Deeds" And they
passed on.
Il am the ghost OF honest money, that
died because of you. The blighting
curse of fiat is on you and on the land
And this forhidding specter stalked by
him with appraised and threatening arm
from which he sbrank in dread.
1--WE curse you Cor our downfall, and
The land is cursed by it. Viewer happy
homes in city and on farm, but you de-
,troyed us. You slew our happiness,
md our curse is on YOU now"
How many of these last there were.
1t seemed the ghost of happy homes he
md his party had made ruins would
never pass; and all the time he heard as
N the distance the weeping OF the peo-
pie as they cursed him and his laws.
1.-The ghosts of Union soldiers curse
rou for their last hours denied the
necessities of life because of You. Your
uggiery and false economy left us to
lie in want. We curse you and the land I
$ cursed by you. You viii go down
egetber and there wi.l be not one TO
,ity or regret" And they passed on. '
How many of them, too. He had not
bought there were such numbers of {
hem.
81 was your navv, but your parsimonv
uined me. | gave you strength and
,ressige on the sea, yet you spared me
lot. The time viii come when vou will
iced me and cali for me. but | viii MT {
ONE You struck me down forever. s
hough nav strength, might have saved ,
he land Dasuatr for yoiIr overthrow