The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-05-04

place of assemblage because it is the property of
the people, and if be that the right of the peo-
pie to peacefully assemble upon their own prem
ises and with petitions has been abridged by the
passage of laws in direct violation of the consti
tuition, we here to draw the eyes of the entire
nation to this shameful fact.
"Here, rather than at any spot upon the CONT
nent, it is fitting that we should come to mourn
over our dead liberties and by our protest arouse
the imperiled, nation to such actions as shall
rescue the Constitution and resurrect our liberty
| Upon these steps where we stand has been spread
carpet for the royal feet of a foreign priucess
the cost of whose lavish entertainment was taken
from the public treasury without the consent or
approval of the people.
Cup these steps the lobbyists of trusts and cor
porations have passed unchallenged on their way
| to committee rooms, to which we, the represen-
tatives of the toiling wealth producers have been
denied. We stand here today in behalf of mil
lions of toilers whose petitions have been buried
in committee rooms whose prayers have been
unresponded to and whose opportunities for
honest remunerative productive labor have been
taken from them by unjust legislation, which pro-
tects idlers, Spectators and gamblers. We come
to remind Congress of the declarations of United
States Senator: That for a quarter of century
the rich have been growing richer the poor
poorer, and that by the close of the present cen.
fury the middle class will have disappeared as the
struggle for existence becomes fierce and
relentless
"We stand here to remind Congress of its prom
Use of returning prosperity should the Sherman
Act be repealed. We stand here to declare by on,
march of over 500 miles through difficulties and
distress, march unstaned by even the slightest
act which would bring the blush of shame to any
that we are law-abiding citizens and as such eul
actions speak louder than words. We are here tC
petition for legislation which will furnish employ
ment for every man able and willing to work fol
legislation which will bring universal prosperity
and emancipate our beloved country from finan
cial bondage to the descendants of King George
We have come to the only source which is com
petent to aid the people in their day of dire
distress.
1--WE are here to tell our representatives who
hold their seats by grace of our ballots, that thu
struggle for existence has become far too fierce and
relentless. We come and throw up our defenseles
hands and say, Help, or we and our loved one.
must perish We are engaged in a bitter and
cruel war with the enemies of all mankind-a wal
with hunger, wretchedness and despair-and we
ask Congress to heed our petitions and issue fol
the nations good, sufficient volume of the
| same kind of money which carried the country
through one awful war, and saved the life of thu
nation.
I'm the name ofjustice through whose impartia
administration only the present civilization car
be maintained and perpetuated, by the powers O
the constitution of our country upon which thu
liberties of the people must depend, and in the
name of the commonweal of Christ whose
representatives we are, we enter most solemn
and earnest protest against this unnecessary and
cruel act OF usurpation and tyranny, and thi.
enforced subiugation of the rights and privilege,
of American citizenship. We have assembled
here, in violation of no just laws, to enjoy the
privileges of every American citizen
"We are now under the shadow of the Capto
of this great nation, and in the presence of oul
national legislators are refused that dearly-bough
privilege, and by the force of arbitrary powe,
prevented from carrying out the desire of oul
hearts, which is plainly granted under the great
Magma Charta of our national liberties We have
come here through toll and weary marches
through storms and tempests, over mountains
and amid the trials of poverty and Distress to lay
our grievances at the doors of our national legis
lators and ask them in the name of Him whose
banners we bear; in the name ofHim who pleaded
for the poor and oppressed, that they should heed
the voice of despair and distress that is now COM
ing up from every section of our country, that
they should consider the conditions of the stary
ing unemployed of our land, and enact such laws
as will give them employment, bring happier
conditions to the people and the smile of content
ment to our citizens.
Coming as we do with peace and good will to
men, we will submit to these laws, unjust as they
are, and obey this mandate of authority and
might, which overrides and outrages the law of
right; we appeal to every peace-loving citizen,
every iberty-ioving man OF woman, everyone in
whose breast the fires of patriotism and love of
country has not died out to assist us in our efforts
toward better laws and general benefit"