The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-01-24

1
rtory, subdue it's people and divide
the spells between themselves; the
chief became king, the brigands no
bility, and the conquered people who
only the day before were happy pos
SCISSORS of homes, became the slaves
of this robber band who ruthlessly
wrenched from them their homes
and the products of their toll
Today the same two classes exist
as of old, not only in Europe but III
this America. which gave such glor-
ious promise of protection to its toll
ing people. True, the robber chiefs
of our times have not by physical
! force taken possession of our toilers
and the products of their labor; they
did not sWOOp down upon these PEG
pie with bayOnets and bowie knives:
Quered your country and you are our
slaves; all, no, the terms rObber and
| brigand are to harsh: civilization
has advanced, and these terms are
of the age The civilized brigand-
age of today is ashamed of it's an
cestry, but its appetite for plumber
is no less ravenous aud daring.
der more euphonious titles, and new
methods of robbery are employed
Instead of "robber king and "bri-
gand chief we have today the mon'
ey king, the coal king, the cattle
king, the railroad magnate, the tel
egraph monopolist and the lumber
| baron. Instead Of spoils and plum
! ders, we have interests, dividends,
| revenues and rents.
The sytcm of American govern
ment as instituted by our fathers
afforded little if any opportunity for
robbery and oppression. Having
successfully repealed their enemies
across the water their proves was
established. and the civilized world
stood in awe of the young republic
! Not crowned head of Europe aspir-
ed to clip the wings Of the young
American eagle, and for fOurscore
years the proud bird scared detiantly
through the American heavens. OF
! lowered above the sacred temple OF
our liberties. But. alas, in an evil
hour the tempter came, the guard
ans were betrayed, and the very
sanctuary Of our liberties became
the charnal-house of American free
dom, and the market place of Amer
lean honor.
Thirty years ago the American
laborer was a prospective lord. He
saw within his reach home of plen-
ty for his family, and an old age OF
comfort for himself The bright
picture before him inspired indus
try, economy and sobriety, and the
laborer was a peaceful, sober, re-
spected citizen. The condition Of
the American people less than half
a century ago is graphically por-
trayed by Chas. Dickens, who, visit
ing in this country in 1912, wrote
from Boston to friend in London
There is not a man in this town
nor in this state who has not a blaz
ing fire, and meat every day for din
ner nor would a flamng sword IN
the air attract more affection than
q beggar in the streets" But to-
day what is the outlook for the
Wage-worker Of this country? He
sees before him only toll, unrem,t-
ting, half-requitted toll; hope dies
out in his bosom, dependency takes
possession of his heart; and unless
sustained BY strong faith and a
giant will he breaks beneath the
waight Of oppression, seeks xelicf ia
suicides grave, or worse still at
tempts to drown his grief in the
intoxicating cup and finally drifts
into the great army of inebriates.
we are now led to the question
wherefore this amazing change il
the condition of the working classes
OF this country: There is a solution
to this problem. As I have before
stated uhe American system of gov
ernment afforded little or no oppor-
tunlty for robbery and oppression.
but the vast plains and tccming val
lcys OF this grand republic, with its
lnnumerable sources of wealth. and
ml.lions of industrious population,
was coveted prize long. sought by
civilized bripandape To obtain nos
session Of this vast wealth and re-
duce an intelligent people to the
position of slaves, was by no means
an easy task. But the promptings of
ayarice were not to be silenced.
and greed was on the alert for
an opportunity to seize the Gov
eted prize. The fatal opportuni-
ty at last presented itself. African
slavery had been a source of conten-
ton from the very foundation of the
rom hEin and 70