Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-03-23
poverish men just rs completely as that

OF 6h0 Russian.
The manufacturers of electricity have
formed a com bination which controls
capital of $50. 900. 600 and a proper
tionAte mum Der of wage serfs. There
II no tariff on electricity. What has
congress to say about this iniquity?
The railroads of the United States,
representing billions of dollars, have
no tariff to protect them They do not
stand in dread of foreign competition,
yet they tax the American people al
traffic will bear. They levy tribute
each year to the tune of hundreds o1
millions of dollars. The people pay
this tribute. They are the self same
people for whom you shout tariff on im-
ports. Why do you lack the states
manship, the foresight the honesty to
introduce bill to prvent the railroads
from raising tariff on the people and
place these public highways under the
control and ownership of the govern
ment? The telegraphs are on the free
list We do not dread the competition
of a foreign line of telegraph. One
line has monopoly. It levles tariff
amounting to millions each year ON
the American people Where is the
free trader in congress with his bill to
cut down that oppressive tariff b7
placing the telegraph under the con-
troll of the government?
Billions of dollars are raised each
year from the people who pay taxes on
lands. Other and richer men are on
the free list so far as being taxed is
concerned Land is on the free list-it
- H. lse@ oA lnA III s,1o
anyway. Why do the democrats, who
are opposed to tariffs, not shout for
free land in this nation?
The importers of man-made articles
and the transporters of God-made men
have thrown the tariff bone before
congress, and the dogs, who yelp at the
sound of the voice of the master, nib
BILE at the bone while tho meat is being
stolen from the children of the land
There is tax on money. 1t is mo-
nopolized. Its manufacture is so pro-
tected that few men have it in their
power to contract the currency when
they please and increase 1t as will suit
their interests. Paying for the use of
money at both ends, the manufacturer,
workman, merchant and farmer are
taxed for every dollar they earn. Why
do we not hear the voice OF the democ-
racy rising above the strife for parti-
san advantage in a demand for free
money?
Each one of the issues I have raised
stands pre-eminent above that of the
tariff; each one comes nearer to the
people of the nation; each one is closer
to the interests of the masses than the
tariff, but that old, time-worn thread
bare coat of many colors is before the
house of representatives who mis-
represent the people. The tariff
was an issue when Washington lived;
it was an issue when jackson was
a baby, and he died before it ceased
to be anything else; the tariff
was an issue when Grover Cleveland
was born. and it will be an issue when
he is dead. Under tariffs and without
them the people went on and prospered.
Those opposed to either side OF the
question did everything short of trea-
son, many did not stop at that to
spread misery throughout the country
in order to demonstrate that their posi-
ton was the right one. There never
was time in the history of the United
States, whether under tariff or with
out tariff. when those who opposed
the prevailing condition did not do
more to injure their opponents and the
country than to act as loyal citizens of
the republic. When Washington died
and when Jackson was born there were
no railroads, no anthracite mines, no
telegraphs, no electricity, no steam
ships. with capacity of fifteen
hundred passengers to the steer
age, no land-grabbing as there
is to-day; no trusts, no monop-
olies. no millionaires- To-day we have
all of these things, and in addition
have a class of statesmen who are liv-
ing in a by-gone age, who are drifting
along in the rut that Washington be-
gan in q stage coach and jackson trav-
eled in, rather than trust hi ;nself to the
steam car or any other new-fangled in
vention. Congress hears the puny wall
of alleged statesmen whose tariff
speeches were written before the war
of the rebellion began, whose ears and
eyes are closed to the rush and roar of
events which crowd each other
so fast that they drive men and
systems so hard that each day
witnesses a new departure from con-
ditions which were not known to our
fathers and with which we became
familiar but few years ago. Legis.
1ating for past age are our states.
men who ignore the great questions
have mentioned They should give
way for men who know the needs an
wishes of our people. of the people who
live and move and have their being in
the awful present and not in the dusty
and almos forgotten past
God, give US menl A time like this demands
Great hearts, strong minds, true faith and will
ing hands;
Men whom the lust of Office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy;
Men who possess opinions and will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie.
For while the rabble with their thumb-worn
cFeeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds.
Wrangle in selfish strife-lol Freedom weeps.
Wrong rules the land, and waiting Justice
sleeps.
II. V. Powderly, in Journal Of Knights