The advocate., 1894-10-31

limitations would Genu TO discourage nOb
honest enterprise or industry, but stock
jobbing, trlckery and other questionable
methods of acquiring vast fortunes.
We have already abolished prlmogeni-
ture, by which the eldest son, to the eX-
clusion of all other children, lnherits the
entire landed estate of his ancestor, and
no one in this country at this day would
think of restoring that right, although 1t
still obtains in England. If limitations
should be put upon the disposition Of vast
estates by will or descent, future genera
tions would look upon our present laws,
which allow such estates to be perpetuated
In certain families with the same disfaVor
with which we now look upon the laws OF
primogeniture.
EVasions of law limiting the amount OF
property to be devised or inherited by con-
veyances during life could be prohibited
in like manner as cOnveyances In fraud
Of creditors are now prohibited.
But how are these laws Of property to
be modified or ohangedP They are the re-
suit of centuries of organized injustice.
VIII the money power which now exer-
clses such a controlling influence in ma
tional and state legislation consent to o
modification or change Of the laws OF
property by which great estates have been
accumulated and perpetuated, and which,
as rule, are detriment rather than a
blessing to those to whom they descendP
A young man of 81 starting out in life
with S100, 900 at his disposal Is better of
and more likely to become useful mem
- nnH n hnnnfk tn
mankind than If left at the same age with
$1,000, 900 or $40, 900, 900 at his disposal.
A daughter when arriving at age with
a sufficient income to support her comfort
ably through life Is better off than II left
with millions at her disposal, to become o
prey to some adventurer, or with which to
purchase title from some pIohigate scion
Of an effete nobility and then divorce.
Must Remove the Cause.
Neither strikes of the laboring classes,
which array against them the money pow
or and the governmental power which 1t
controls, nor the governmental control of
the great railroad and other corporations
will remove the existing conflict between
labor and capital, which has its founda-
tion in unjust laws, enabling the few to
accumulate vast estates and live in luxuri-
Gus case. while the great masses are DOOM
cd to incessant toll, penury and want.
What is needed Is the removal Of the cause
which permits the accumulation Of the
wealth of the country in few hands, and
this can only be peaoeably brought about
by change of the laws Of property.
The suppression Of the recent strikes by
governmental forces has aggravated rather
than alleviated the discomfort Of the labor
ing classes Whether the strikers were
justly responsible for the riots and the de-
struction Of property which followed their
abandonment of work or not no doubt
many OF them sympathized with the law.
less element who committed outrages.
The men OF toll have no better friends
than the governor Of Illinois and the
mayor of Chicago, and yet In the discharge
OF their bounden duty in suppresslng riot
ers engaged in the destruction Of property
they were compelled to array themselves
on the side of capitalists and corporations
whose property was being destroyed.
The wanton destruction Of property by
lsWless mobs cannot be tolerated, and tht
cause of honest labor suffered much bJ
the lawless acts which followed the recent
strikes. Tho condition OF the laborer il
not to be improved by acts that lead t
lawlessness and deeds of violence.
Our fathers, denying the right OF th'
British crown to levy taxes upon then
without representation, at the end OF
bloody war, after years Of suffering ant
priVation, made good their redemption
from the exaction Of the British crown
The laboring men Of this country ar
driven to such extremity. They still haV
left the right of representation in the leg
islative bodies Of the country. They ar
more numerous than the millionaires, ant
II they will but cease the strife amonl
Ehemselves IL il in their power to contro