The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-07-15
MAN AGAINST THE
DOLLAR.

evolution OF republican or popular
government.that the American people
have met n their onward march to a
higher manhood and nobler form OF
government The first was a protest
against and defiance of absolute king
rule. The second was protest against
and resistance to armed efforts of slav.
cry to found an empire of class and ar
istocracy in one half of the empire that
had been dedicated to liberty, to re-
instate the old monarchical rule which
had been driven out, under a new name
and form on the soil of the new world.
That effort also failed ingloriously, be-
fore the aroused might of the instinct
of liberty which slumbered in the
American breast, too often and long
lulled into repose till the very walls OF
its citsdal are attacked. when the slum-
bering giant awakes and springs with
terrible might upon its nsidious foe.
We are now at the threshold of the
third effort of this devilish enemy to
liberty, which approaches from another
quarter and under various DISCUSSES
and pretences. 1t is through corporate
privileges and the assumed rights of
capital that human liberty is again
threatened. Tyranny has ever attacked
liberty under the guise of law. The
tyrant and foe of liberty has ever and
always had the law on its side. When
King George attacked the liberties Of
the colonies with armed men he had
law on his side and the patriots of the
revolution had to become law breakers
in self defense. When the same spirit
of conquest against liberty arose in
arms in the slave holders rebellion the
same claim of legal justification was set
up. 1t was States rights and the
decisions OF the supreme court of the
United States that were invoked as a
justification of their acts. This deeper
ate, implacable enemy of liberty Slways
manages. and plots, and schemes and
brides till it gets law to favor its pre-
meditated outrages on the rights of the
people before it makes its attack anc
when its insidious movements are dis
covered and resistance is made, it hold
up the sacred majesty of the law as it
charter for the wrong it is attempting
This is precisely the condition whicl
confronts the American people today
They have de6ed kingly rule and over
threw it, They denied and defed elias
privilege founded on slavery and van
pushed it. Again this old enemy t
liberty has appeared, entrenched O
the highway Of human progress in tn
shape of corporate power, supported b
monied aristocracy and class priv
ieges, pleading its legal rights to OBJ
struct the way and exact tribute @
every son of toll. A gain this old enem
of man holds in its hand the charter Q
law, which it has procured by decep
ton, sophistry and fraud, and claimin
that this places it above the "inalien
able rights to life liberty and the pur
suit Of happiness" which the men o
'76 declared were above all and ever
statute that the selishness Of tyrann
aud the greed of power could invent.
The two old enemies are again fac
to face, glazing defiance at each other
ready to seize the brand and decide 70
the third time on Freedoms soil Q
America whether an aristocracy @
privilege and wealth shall be subol
dinate to or superior to the rights Q
thu citizen, In short, whether the ma
or the dollar shall he the first consider
alton of our civilization.
The battle of Lexington ushered i
the great seven years struggle of libert
on American soil for the rights of ma
against kingly dominion. The Sunda
morning gun fred on Ft. Sumter her
aided to the world the message that tn
same aristocratic enmey had again ap
peared in arms under new guises an
pretences to contest supremacy witt
liberty on American soil Once NOR
in new role, we fnd it resortin
to blood shed and battle in tn
peaceful valley of Homestead Ger,
porate power claims under its oil
shield of law that the dollar has tn
supreme right of way while that of tn
citizen is secondary.
Frick, the manager or leading spiri
in this armed effort to crush the right
of the protesting citizen puts forth tn
following plea in defence of the claim
of corporate power and wealth privilege
ave do not propose 10 reduce tn
earnings of our employees below thos,