The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-15
THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATION

During the past week have heard and
read great many expressions of opin-
ion as to the cause of the complete over
throw of the Republican party at last
Tuesdays election, but think your ex-
PLANTATION in Sunday mornings EAGLE
the more nearly correct Of any. 1t Ger
tainly exhibits a wider knowledge and
more intelligent and comprehensive IN
derstanding of existing social and politi-
cal conditions than any explanation COM
ing under my notice.
1t is not so much the Mckinley bill,
per Sc, although it is an anachronism in
legislation of the present day, as the rec
ognition among the people of the under
lying fact that any legislation in the
special interest of classes must be as
much of any injury to the remainder of
the people as it is of advantage 10 the
classes in whose interest it is made:
that special legislation breeds unequal
conditions, deprives a portion of the
people of equal opportunities and makes
distinctions unrepublican and alien to
democratic government. Special class
legislation always opens Pandora's box
reaching and injurious, if not corrupt
ing.
But you strike the key note when
you say, ''the protest of Tuesday was
not against corporations per Sc, but
against the status of things, and the
inequalities and burthens which have
come to the people through a failure to
limit and control such powers sufficiently
and properly, to the end or rather to the
death of all the combines and trusts that
now control all our markets as against
the producer, and outof which organiza-
ton grow all the abuses and stealings of
corporate stocks, that In turn absorb the
wealth of the country-faster than it is
produced in some tines-by systematic
watering, and by option gambling
whereby market values are depressed,
and the future discounted"
The wage-earning millions are dis
satisfied with existing conditions,
and have manifested that dis
content, in the only lawful way
they can register an emphatic protest in
a Republican government. Year after
year they find a larger per cent. of their
earnings are absorbed by the class "who
toll not" and their condition grows
worse instead of better. When they read
Of an option dealer spending $4,000 on
a supper, and coal barons raising the
price of coal $1.25 per ton by paper
resolve, they think it is time TO protest.
They also think If the present so-called
statesmen are too indifferent, careless or
duIi-witted to find legal methods to ar
rest, change and alter the present condi-
ton and tendency of things, that they
should be turned out, and new men put
in their places.
With President Harrison personally,
they have no quarrel. He is an honor
able, manly man. His administration
is clean aud decent, and credit TO any
party. But the economic principles he
represents are Anticipated, outworn and
oaigrown by the country. Under their
fostering care legitimate industry has
languished, and struggles for mere ex-
istence, willie speculation and gambling
thrive every here. Wealth rapidly con-
cen,rating in the hands of the few, while
grinding toll and deprivation of many
comforts are the sad lot of the many.
Would it not be wiser and more hui
name to let the rich take care of them
selves for awhile, while we do some
legislatng for the poor: Let Us at least
once try TO help those who are unable TO
take care of themselves properly. IN their
unequal struggle against corporate
greed, trusts and combines, and for once
administer our government upon the
theory that IAN injury to one Is the con-
Germ of all.
In behalf of one al least of the Pro-
testers thank you for making public
your explanation of the cause OF our pro-
test. Il. 4. SANKEY.