The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-03
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Major General United States Army.
Tho Building Up of Clnssea.

1t is one of the anomalies OF the present day
that in the United States, one OF the newest ma
tons, rich in resources. mounting up rapidly
until we represent over sixty billions OF wealth,
producing annually more OF the staple products
than is necessary to feed our people, and, ca.
pablo OF feeding tho world, we should find two
or three millions OF tramping laborcrs not able TO
find employment and millions of wives and chill
drcn clothed in rags. But such is the picture
that in this last decade OF prosperous century
confronts us.
The average partisan politician IS accustomed
10 aScribc the reason for this to want OF thrift,
inicmpcrance, ignorance and want OF economy,
all OF which can be readily designated as the re-
suits OF an economic system. The true reason
or reasons for this direful condition OF things
is clear 10 every patient unsclilsh student of
economies. 1t is true that you cannot lcgslate
money into peoples pockets or lcgislate moral.
ity but it Is nevertheless Il fundamental princi.
pie that an economic condition is the result OF
legislation. We can lcgislatc possibilities for a
comfortable existence, condition which ut
the present time IS denied large bulk OF our
population.
Tho moment that our government ceases TO
have pets, and cnacts just wise and impartial
laws, the day star OF our prosperity will rise.
II Is an established principle in economics that
nations prosperity consists not in the accumu-
lGtion OF wealth, but In the proper distribution
Of that wealth. This principle can he made
operative only by legislation The history of
legislation. for the past twenty-five years. how.
ever. Is one series OF cnaetmcntS favoring the
corporation and against the people. During the
last ten .carS-ycars OF greatest hardship 10 the
laborcr-wc have added twenty-five billions to
our national wealth. Into whose pockets has
ii dropped? Tho largest percentage OF il has
gone 10 the railroad magnatc the banker. the
stock broker, the grain gambler. the mine
owner the land syndicate and the favored man.
ufacturcr. This will. therefore. point the line
OF legislation for tho future The people nre
tired OF building m classes NJ the expense OF
The masses. Legislation must begin III the mu-
nicpaliy and extend In The national capital
The central aim or the tailoring popula lion In
the future will DO to prevent the granting OF
franchises by legislation. Corporations might
aS well begin now 10 adjust their sails tor the
Coming breeze. The following programme will
bc faithfully carried out:
First In towns and cities laws will he enacted
providing for the ownership control of gas
plants, electric light plants systems Of water
supply and street railways
second. In The state. laws regulating taxa.
ton. rates Of interest transportation banking
and other corporations.
Third In the national congress- laws will be
enacted touching the banking interests. rail.
roads. telegraph companies. tarir laws and all
other Institutions which fattcn 1T the peoples
expense.
The uprising among the laboring populate
OF the country Is not prompted by n spirit OF
lawicssness or revenge. II is in the line rather
u: justice and fair play that the ma ton should
prosper by the toll OF millions and that the
fruits OF toll should be so distributed that q
comfortable home should be within the proba-
oilitics OF every honest laborcr.