The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-01-22
Union Of Forces.
mr. GILBERT DE La MATYR.


The fatal desideratum disregarded IN
the declaration Of principles by the
Cincinnati Convention is plank
against the saloon. Any movement to
arrest the trend of the masses toward
utter poverty and its wretchedness that
ignores the rum traffic must be abortive.
That traffic constitutes at least one half
Of the mighty force in that trend,
When two currents merge, they In
tensify the power Of each, SO as to move
With far moro than double energy
Rum and monopoly combined are ruin.
ing this country with many times
greater rapidly than they could if act
ing separately. The robberies Of mo-
nopoly drive 10 drink, and drink makes
the victims Of monopoly helpless.
For six year after the war, q large
volume Of currency in circulation, with
recent uncovered and free resources,
caused great prosperity. Prosperity
lessened dissipation. Those years were
the golden time of morals. Prisons
were emptied, while church and school
buildings were multiplied and filed.
Full Of hope, the masses were securing
homes and sccumulating competency.
But q successful conspiracy was
formed, unparalleled in the evolution
Of sin, to absorb, by small number OF
capitalists, the amazing products of
that sober, intelligent, intense industry.
The currency, the life.blood Of produc
tive enterprise, was contracted. Prices
went down as rapidly as the currency
was withdrawn from the channels OF
trade. Investments in various enter
prises were dissipated. The men whose
brains and emery had started them were
bankrupt. The wage earners were cut
off from work, and by the million
tured into tramps. That state was the
occasion for the rum 6end. Multitudes
we're drawn by idleness and depression
to drink.
Then the two mighty forces combin-
ed, and both doubled their power to
impoverish and enslave. Since then
they have been "Siamese twins" that
must die together.
Their instruments are the Republican
and Democratic parties. They con-
jointly control the administration Of the
government by manipulating those
parties. Both are their obsequious
slaves. President Harrison, Presby-
terian elder, spreads on the National
table all kinds Of intoxicants. He de-
liberately allurcs to ruin the fashion
able throng that on festive occasions
grace that board and insults the moral
sentiment Of Christian people. He is
forced to do it. He could not have
been nominated, much less elected, il
he had not tacitly at least, pledged such
pefidity. At the same time he trayerses
the country, everywhere denouncing all
money not based upon gold as dishonest.
He has to do that. He pays the price
of his position BY being an obsequious
slave of the usury power. He is the
creature and servant OF rumsellers and
monopolists. Mr.. Cleveland was and il
just as FULLY their willing tool. Nc
man can be candidate Of either the
old parties for any controlling position
who will not do their bidding.
These two powers drain, in about
equal shares, the wealth created. They
have conferred in few hands more than
half the values Of the United States
Their annual income ia about 7,000,-
100000. That gives them power to
own the politicians as fully as in the
palmy days Of slavery Southern
planter owned his slaves.
Under their rule the people have
been trodden down until they begin to
revolt, and to organize for resistance
But unfortunately they are divided
into two camps. United they could
throw off the intolerable yoke, but d.
vidcd, they cannot.
The oppressors though in two sections,
are moved BY one head. Whenever il
is necessary, as now in Kansas, they
clcse up the space that seems to separate
them aud unite their lines, forming enc
political army in appearance as they
are 10 fact.
The Peoples Party cannot draw from
the rum forces, because they vote fol
money and their masters have the
money. The Prohibitionists canno,
draw from the monopolist forces for the
same reason.
Then, again, divided, there is nc
hops of elections, and all the power Of