The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-05-12

peacefully assemble upon their owr
premises and with their petitions
have been abridged by the passage
of law in direct violation of the
Constitution, We are here to draw
the eyes of the Nation to this
shameful fact.
Here, rather than any spot upon
the continent, it is fitting that we
should como to mourn over our
dead liberties, and by our protest
arouse the imperiled Nation to such
action as will rescue the Constitu.
ton and resurrect our liberties
Upon these steps where we stand
has been spread a carpet for the
royal feet of foreign Princess, the
cost of whose lavish entertainment
was taken from the public treasury
without the consent or the approval
of the people. Up these steps
the lobbyists of great trusts and
corporations have passed unchal-
lenged on their way to committee
rooms, to which we, the representa-.
tives ofthe toiling alth-producers,
have been denied.
We stand here to-day in behalf
OF millions of toilers, whose petit
tions have been buried in commit
tee-rooms, whose prayers have been
unresponded to and whose oppor-
tunities for honest, remunerative,
productive labor have been taken
from them by unjust legislation
which protects idlers, spectators
and gamblers. We come to remind
Congress here assembled of the dec
laration of q United States Senator
that for a quarter of a century the
rich have been growing richer, the
poor poorer, and that by the close
of the present century the middle
class will have disappeared as the
struggle becomes more fierce and
relentless"
We stand here to remind Con-
gress of its promise of returning
prosperity should the Sherman act
be repealed. We stand here to de-
clare by our march of over 500
miles, through difficulties and dis
tress-a march unsustained by even
the slightest. act which will bring
the blush of shame to any--that we
are law abiding citizens, and as such
our actions speak louder than words.
We are here to petition for legisla.
ton which will furnish employment
for every man able and willing to
work, for legislation which will
bring universal prosperity and
smancipate our beloved country
from financial bondage to the de-
scendants of King George.
We have come to the only source
which is competent to aid the
people in their day of dire distress.
We are here to tell our representa-
lives, who hold their seats by grace
Of our ballots, that the struggle for
has become too fierce and
relentless. We come and throw up
our defenseless hands and say,
Help, or we and our loved ones
must perish"
We are engaged in bitter and
:ruel war with the enemies Of all
mankind. A war with hunger,
vretchedness and despair, and We
ssk Congress to heed our petitions
Ind issue for the Nations good a /
sufficient volume Of the same kind
# money which carried the country
trough one awful war and saved
he life of the Nation. In the name
# justice, through whose impartial
administration only the present
can be maintained ana
'erpetuated by the powers of tAe
Constitution Of our country, upon
which the liberties of the Eeople |
must depend, and in the name of |
be Commonweal Of Christ, whose |
representative We are, we enter q
most solemn aud earnest protest
Igainst this unnecessary and cruel |
ct Of usurpation and tyranny, and
he enforced subjugetiAn Of the
lights and privileges of Apesican
;iti1eps.
We are under the shadow ordhe !
;apitol of this great Nation, add. |
n the presence Of our natiouaN
legislators, are refused that dearly |
fought privilege, and BY tho force
y arbitrary power prevented from