The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1893-08-12
HAS THE DECAY OF CIvILIZA-
TI0N BEGUN?
An Address Delivered at the Della
mar Silver Meeting August
IL, 1898.
FELLOW CITIZENS !:

4 FELLOW CITIZENS:
i When boy | was resident of one OF
thrill that ran through the entire coun-
try when the first gun of the rebellion
was turned upon Fort Sumpter. The
| firing of this first gun was caused by an
attempt of number of the states to per-
petuste an institution which humanity
and the public sentiment of the balance
of the civilized world had condemned.
\ ou all know the history of that ter
rible conflict, and doubtless every one
of you are now glad that ifs termination
caused the downfall of on institution
which enslaved race. More than 80
years have since flown past US, during
which this Nation Las increased in
wealth and productiveness with a. rap
idity never eqnaled in history. Civiiz-
alton the world over has ad yanced. The
arts and sciences have made strides in
these thirty years covering a space
| EitatCl ihob oby NCb''iy PASNSeO'H6. :.
Ou the borders oft southern point of
Lake Michigan to-day stands white
city, built in year, in which the Won
ders of the worlds progress are on ex-
hibition. That city is itself triumph
of human enterprise. In it, daily
viewed by people from every nation, IN
the world, are the trinmphs of skill, in
genuty and genius. Will the world
ever again witness such an era of pro-
gress? Well, that depends. Nearly
two thousand years ago in Rome and
history reached climax excelling that
of the present in the perfection of fine
arts and in luxury. We only excel that
era from the fact that modern science
has evolved new elements to contribute
to he convenience and comfort of man
kind. Steam and electricity and the in
ventive genius of man have placed
the masses of the people on a
higher plane of existence. The COM
forts and luxuries, in former eras only
within reach of the wealthy. are now
the common property of the masses In
deed many advantages now enjoyed by
all were far from the reach of the
wealthiest of our forefathers.
All ofthis is pleasant picture to con-
template could we not see indications
that the beginning of the end of it all
is approaching.
What, you may ask, are these indica-
tions?
My answer, in one sentence, is that
the true creators of the country wealth;
ofthe worlc's wealth and prosperity
the producers, the toilers-are daily be-
coming more and more under the DOM
ination of class of non-producers of
usurers, whereby, by controlling legisla-
ton, the rich are growing richer and the
poor poorer.
When the war of the rebellion began
this country had just started on stride
of prosperity, the impulse starting it be-
ing the discovery of gold twelve years
previously in California. From a slowly
progressive people, we were beginning
to be rapidly advancing people. The
increased supply of money started not
only our own nation at greater speed,
but all the world. Subsequently the
discovery of gold in Australia gave the
world renewed impetus. So rapid was
the progress that the greatest war the
world had ever known, while 1t imped-
ed, could not stop this nations advance
ment. During the progress of that war,
by what seemed almost an interpositlon !
of Providence to save us as nation, the !
great silver mines of Nevada and the
gold and silver mines of Colorado poured |
out their wealth. The immortal Lin
coin declared the Nation saved by |
the productions of the silver mines.
But that war left us owing mountain {
of debls hich, under just conditions,
we are amply abe to pay and have, in
deed, been paying at rate that has
surprised the world. The very rapidity
with which we have been able to pay
now threatens to be our ruin. The u.s.
urers of the world, getting the principal
of their bonds too rapidly to please
them, sought through legislative means
TO make the debt perpetual. First they
had the greenbacks issued under the
of the war, and which did
not bear interest, called in, and bonds
bearing interest substituted. They had
all the customs duties made payable in