Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-10-26
THE NATIONS BLIGHT
GROVER CLEVELAND ON THE CURSE
OF PLUTocRACY.

He Mocks the People Who Propose That
the Government Shall Protect the Rich
and That They i'm Turn Shall Care for
tie Poor.
No more searching analysis of existing
American conditions was ever made than
that made by Mr.. Cleveland in his clos
ing message-that of December, 1855
without doubt the ablest state paper in
American archives. ''Plutocracy' IN
America means tie control Of the gov
ernment: the enactment and the enforce
ment of laws through the power OF
money. No intelligent American will
deny that such a plutocracy exists, and
that the issue now to be determined Il
between plutocrat and popular gov
ernment. sUpon careful inspection,
writes Mr.. Cleveland in summarizing
the causes which have raised this issue,
1--WE find the wealth and luxury of our
cities mingled with poverty and wretch
edness and unremuneraiye toll. a
crowded and constantly increasing
urban population suggests the impover-
ishment of rural sections and discomfort
with agricultural pursuits.
eve discover that the fortunes re-
allied by our manufacturers are nc
longer solely the results of sturdy in
dustry and enlightened foresight, but
that they result from the discriminating
favor of the government and are largely
built upon undue exactions from the
masses of our people. The gulf between
employer and employee is constantly
widening and classes are rapidly form
ing-one comprising the very rich and
powerful, while in another are found
the toiling poor. As we view the
achievements of aggregated capital, we
discover the existence of trusts, COM
binations and monopolies, while the
citizen is struggling far in the rear or Is
trampled beneath an iron heel. Cor
porations. which should be carefully
restrained creatures of the law, are fast
becoming the peoples masters.
"The existing situation is injurious to
the health of our entire body polite. 1t
stiles in those for whose benefit it is per-
mittcd all patriotic love of country and
substitutes in its place selfish greed and
grasping avarice. Devotion to Ameri-
can citizenship for its own sake and for
what it should accomplish as a motive
to our nations advancement and the
happiness of all our people is displaced
by the assumption that the government,
instead of being the embodiment of
equality, is but an instrumentality
through which especial and individual
advantages are to be gained. The ar
rogance of this assumption is uncon,
cealed. 1t appears in the sordid disre-
gard of all but personal interests in the
refusal to abate for the benefit of others
one iota of selfish advantage and in
combinations to perpetuate such advan-
tages through efforts to control legisla-
ton and to influence improperly the
suffrages of the people.
Communism is hateful thing and
menace to peace and organized govern
ment. But the communism Of com
bined wealth and capital, the outgrowth
of overweening cupidity and selfshness,
which insidiously undermines the JUS
tice and the integrity of free institu-
tions, is not less dangerous than the
communism of oppressed poverty and
toll which, exasperated by injustice and
discomfort, attacks with wild disorder
the citadel of rule. He mocks the peo-
pie who proposes that the government
shall protect the rich and that they in
turn will care for the laboring poor.
Any intermediary between the people
and their government, or the least dele
CATION of the care and protection the
government owes to the humblest citi-
zen, makes the boast of free institutions
a glittering delusion and the pretended
boon of American citizenship a shame
less imposition"
Since Mr.. Cleveland wrote this the
plutocracy has dictated a great increase
in taxes and in the expenses of govern
ment. 1t has inaugurtted a policy of
paying out millions annually in subsi
dies and bounties direct from the treas
ury. It has forced the agricultural
states deeper and deeper into debt. 1t
has asserted a right to employ mercena-
ries for use in private wars against la
Dor. 1t has demanded complete control
of elections through force bill provid-
ing for returning boards and supervisors
to take the places Of judges and officers
chosen by the people. And after all this
il comes once more before the people
asserting its right to control them and
to subject their inherent manhood rights
to its assumptions of money privilege.
And on this issue Of popular govern
ment against plutocratic government
Grover Cleveland is once more at the
front of the Democratic party, challeng-
ing the judgment of every enlightened
American on the justice Of its cause
st. Louis Republic.