The Washington times., 1894-04-23
Who're Once There Was RidicuIe.

To the Editor of THE TINES:
1t is amusing TO notice how circumstances
alter cases, and it appears TO make all the differ
ence in the world whose OK is gored- Now that
Coxey's army is steadily approaching this city,
and bands of unemployed people from all parts
of the country have actually started for the
capital of this great and free republic, some OF
the Washington newspapers are beginning TO
cry out that something must be done" Really,
is il so bad as this How long since these same
papers heaped ridicule upon the movement, in
dulged in all manner of gibes and iests, set off
their shooting stars" and assured the public
that il was all joke, that no poor men out Of
employment would come to the city of Washing
ton-sacred to the enactment of bad laws and
the doIngs of the world Of society"
II would seem that only those are welcome In
this city who can stop at the Arlington or at
least at the Elsmere. As Don QuiXote once
said, "All things 10 not fall out the same way"
We have had the comical spectacle OF Major
Moore rushing over the boundary and houTishing
his club in the lace of the advance guard of the
commonweal army from Texas, but IL transpircs
that up to date we living under Constitu-
tion which permits even poor people TO come to
Washington; and now, much TO the consterna-
tion of the big editors, people are actually think
ing of coming from California and Colorado, and
Boston, and New YORK, and Pennsylvania, and 1t
is intimated that many are lurking about Rock
vile ready to plunge into this city, actually
walk on Pennsylvania avenue, and perchance
go to the Capitol and sit in TIE galleries Of the
House, and watch the party which has 100 ma
!ority frantically endeavor to get quorum.
something must be done. Let us have an
"emergency Drip every night at the Center
market: let us inspect the Marine barracks and
visit Fort Myer. lot of poor, unarmed, de-
fenseless men coming to town: men who
have been crushed TO earth by the legislation
done right here in Washngton: American citi-
zens, ye gods, who simply beg for a chance to
livel Even the women are organizing to come
to Washington. There may easily be 100 600 half
starved people here. II might be 100000. And
yet there are Congressman who say there is no
distress in the country: that the hard times are
exaggerated; that striking down silver and OPEN
ing our ports to free goods from Europe Will
bring prosperity The evidences of it are last
accommodating. When our streets are filed with
lamentation and weeping when they swarm
with hungry men and women, it may be that
even Congress will open its eyes.
Meanwhile, let us prepare to receive these
poor people in aChristian-like, brother-like sem
sible manner.
A burden to the District indeed How long
Stree the District burdened itself TO the tune of
$4,000 or more to entertain the well-dre5sed,
well-fed Grand Army? Who opposed that ex-
penditure. Let us erect barracks the White
lot for the poor and unfortunate; let us open our
churches for soup kitchens and lodging houses
If need be- let US ring the bells and run up the
flags The people are coming up to Washington
to save the land, TO down the money kings, TO get
Just and equal laws. Amen.
JAMES B. TAYLOR