The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-10-23

pTeSIucU dU Tie Eccttug ana lnIfO-
duced the speaker. whose speech was
enthusiastically applauded from re-
ginning to end. Among other things
Judge Trumbull, after referring to
the fact that he had spent much Of
his earlier life in public service. and
that now his only ambition was to
see his country in happier and more
prosperous condition, said:
What is the underlying cause of the
discomfort of tn, laboring classes:
is it not poverty and want they SITTER
by reason of the inadequacy # t e
pay they receive for tho labor giveno
They see around them in the posses
sion OF favored corp ,rations and the
pamrered few all the magnificence
and luxury which acc umulaled wealth
can hestOw. while they toll ana even
suffer for the means, the GCdgiven
right. to live. : it any wonder that
discomfort prevails among the masses,
and that they act in concert in the eff
fort to Improve their condition, when
such Il state of things exists The
hap niness Of people is the happines
of the individuals who compose the
mass. Laws which open the door to
large fortunes by devise, by inner
itance, Or by spe nlat'On have no ten
dency to promote the happiness of the
people at large. and often MT even the
happiness of thos., for whose benefit
they are made.
Why is it that TIE wealth OF the
coun;ry. ample for TIE comfort and
happiness of all, i, rapidly accamula :
ing in the hand of a f.w:: 1t is per-
haps partly due to modern inyc ton
H. 1, l,
labor. and enabled one man. by means
o. capital and machinery. t, do the
work f many. thus leaving the coun-
try filled with ia bore. nat unable to
find employment. a2d giving to oaDi
talists who are able to purchase ma
chinery the opportunity from the sur
plus # laborers to employ them at
their own prices.
But it is chief the law, of prop
ely which nave enabled the few to
&C Emulate vast wealth While the
masses i've il poverty. For many gem
era..Ons our laws have be framed
with Il vi-w 10 TIE aim, o property
rat" than he rights OF man. For ages
the money power las controlled legisla-
tion the world over. anu. | am sorry 10
say. has had controlling influence
in our own land for many years N he
language Of the Dec arati"n OF lnGe
pendence, ''All men are created e ual
anu endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienahle rights: tina, among
thes are life. iihert! and the pursuit
Of hap, inass. If man has an ina lem
able right "a life. then he has igh:
to the Inea 5 which sustain life. and
OF which he cannot b, Justly depri ed
by avs which permit one man, or set
of men. II so absorb c meas OF lie
as not IL leave -ui.icient 20 sustain the
lives Of all Ii man has an inalienable
right to liter;y, then he cannot be
. justly deprived Of liberty by another
who assumes tie right at his discre-
ton TO abr:dgc il. If man has An in
alienable ignt 10 the pursuit Of hap
pine>s. then he cannot be Justly de-
prived OF that right by laws interpo3ed
in the way OF its pursuit.
Do such laws exist? And i! SO. how
came they into existence:
In Great Britain. whence we have
derived most Of our laws of property
the policy is 70 build up great estates
Hence by the laws OF that country
land descends to the oldest son. T. the
exclu ion of the other children The
effect of this Is to limit the ownership
of land to few persons Thirtv-foul
pc sons in that country cwu ell ,uo
acres of land. he duke OF Souther