The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-03-18
WHITTIER DRIFTING.
There IL NO Excuse for the Oppression OF
tho American Laborers.


ton, as Chauncey NJ, Depew calls IL
into which the American people have
been irresistibly crowded is supremely
doubtful. The avenues OF escape
have been cunningly blocked by tho
chosen few" delegation which has
been doing duty over the American
sheepfold for several years back.
The laborer has been blindly entering
barren pasture; he has been too
eagerly lured with fruitless promises
and nice strings OF rhetoric and fact
assembling speech. The bars are
now closing behind him, and in the
full realization of his position. at last
he stands aghast at the sterile end Of
his political path. Lo! Ashes for
gold, despair for plenty, and the grim
prospect now confronting the Ameri-
can iarmer and wage-earner in place OF
glowing pictures of prosperity dertly
painted by silver tongued policy
builders
Whittier are we driftingP asks a
writer in the National Economist
When the French revolution burst
from thousand social craters, the
clergy OF France owned one fifth Of
the land. the nobility one-afth, and
the king one-fifth, leaving two-ffths
of French soil in possession of the
third estate the 26. 900 600 people of
the stricken land. The two-tifths
consisted in the hills highlands,
valueless and unproductive lands,
while noble and clergy and king
owned the chosen tracts, the vine
yards the wheat lands, the rich and
productive fields and luxurlant orch
ards, the villas. cathedrals, temples
the ancient households OF state, rich
and magnificent laden with treasure
and jewels-all these the upper class
owned; but did the volumes of wealth
represented by church and nobility
support the burden of government
Let the French peasantry and laborer
answer. No! The rs, 000 900 peo.
pie OF France with two-ffths OF the
soil, supported the government and
held up the $780, 900 church and no.
bles, with their two-flfths OF all the
prosperity and land-what RESULT
From the barren corniieds and from
the outskirts OF every city and town
came the irresistible host OF artisans
demanding justice at the hands OF
their prolligate rulers, and claiming
rights the church and nobility and
king had denied common people
rights that belong to flesh and blood
despite the device of mammon-full
reward of toll
Whittier are we driftingP
The stqtistician of the United States
brings forth some amazing figures in
regard to the condition (the superb
condition. as Mr. Depew called it in
England when questioned in regard tc
tho situation in America) of our peo
pie. Notwithstanding the misleading
statesmen's suggestions and report
and above the reports OF radical party
organs throughout the length ant
breadth OF our lands, there exists
condition OF affairs in America that il
appalling when considered from
right standpoint; 200, 900 individual
in the United States own 70 per cent O
the entire wealth OF the nation leav
ing 81, 800, 200 of the third estate il
possession of 80 per cent OF tn,
national wealth. Superb" indeed
OF the upper class 100 would have
yearly income of $l20 900, 900, Will,
of the third class comprising rs pc
rent Of our entire population (propert,
owners), 100 would have an incom,
of $50 900. Superb for the uppe
ones, indeed! No wonder the socia
mountain of America is smoking from
a million craters. No wonder th
third estate is reused from its thral
dom.
1t has come to a point in the pro
gress of fortune making when there
is actual oppression and want follow
ing closely upon the heels OF Dives
chariot The people have borne the
burden SO long that the virtue Of for
titude has become blank There il
no excuse for the oppression now bear.
ing down so heavily upon the Ameri
can laDorer's shoulders. 1t is born o
wanton and wilful greed and falls,
teaching at the hands OF men ant
leaders who had the influence ant
power and who had the meanness O
heart and thirst for gain that actuatet
the evil motives 1t is impossible u
receive PREPARATION or reform at tn,
hands of the old regime. 1t is thu
tolls OF Mammon. The latter day
progress and the needs OF the people
are not on its list II had its day,
full OF high rewards and fair laurels
and now comes the third estate. the
unheeded and unvoiced millions, Il
rule their own household.
The oppression Of the farmer IS OPP
preston to every laborer in the lane
hard times on the farm shut oil sup
plies, and the decreased demand at th,
factory and mine lessons the labor anC
lowers the wages OF those there EN-
ployed. 1t touches every nerve OF Ia
Dor in the land. Cypress the farmeI
and you take bread from laborers
children's mouths. Let him yield W
to oppressors and extortioners a more
than full payment for work done, Of
let him give up his products at les
than actual value and you stop thu
wheels OF factories and the hungr!
wage worker feels the shock a thous