The herald., 1894-04-02
LETTER BAG.
[The HERALD under this heading prints COM
munics tions. but does not assume responsl
billty for the sentiments expires ci
0avernm,nt nespouslbllltr.

OoNeFHhenN RNdpouSiHAttIs
EDITORS HERALD The cry OF dis
tress. hunger and starvation is heard
from one end of the union to tho other.
Suffering OF human beings in every
state. Three mlIliona OF men are tramp
ing over the land from north TO south,
from eaet to west, and, according to
Bradetreet's reports, the centers of i'm
dustry contain three more millions of
men who are thrown out Of employment
and long for work to enstain their
wr5tched existence. Fortunes are
wrecked. mortgages forscloaed and miA-
lone OF families are made homeless.
What is the cause of all this distress
and misfortune? According to THAR
political views Democrats claim die
cRuae is the high protective tariff. " litle
tho Republicans claim tie cause TO be
the threatened Wilson bill with partial
free trade legislation. Neither party is
right. High tariff or free trade is almost
OF no Importance compared with other
economic questions burning iato the
heart OF the nation. The queations of
land and transportation are OF thousand
times more importance than the tariff.
Oar misrepresentatiyes have sold out or
given away for mesa OF pottage our in
heritance on public lands and forests to
powerful corporations cr aliens, and
created English landlordism in the land
OF tho free.
Empires OF land have been donated to
railroad companies, and the natural re-
eources OF income through railroads, tel.
egrRphs, express, telephone, mining ct
al have been given to private parties
who now tax the nation more than any
tyrant ever did who conquered foreign
nation.
But more disaetrous to the common
welfare is the financial policy OF our
government. This policy, planned and
outlined by foreign money power,
and adopted by corrupt legislation in
1873, has been continued under every
administration since. The present gov
ernment seems to be determined to
strike this death blow to tho welfare OF
the nation and enslavs the people
through the most detrimental financial
policy in the world. The veto OF the
seigniorage bill is tho latest blow from
the executive officer of the nation.
National banks and stock gamblers
are sucking the life blood of the people,
and there is no prospect for redress in
view.
The price OF gold has risen manifold
and the price OF labor declined at the
same ratio. Who is responsible for the
present dietresn? The responsibility
reste with the men in the halls of con-
gress, elected by the people, and still
more with those who form the admin.
iDtration. Those mon are responsible
for the present evils; they are reHpon.
sible for all the suffering and distress;
for suicides and crimea; they are re-
sponsible for the financial ruin of this
country and the stagnation which has
taken place in every branch OF indus
try. Our laws are defective and should
be changed; our constitution is in
effective and cannot restrict the power
of monopolies, and therefore should be
amended. Where is the remedyP
The remedy lies in complete change
in the system OF our regulations in re-
gard to laws and government. National
banks must be abolished; the govern
ment must appropriate the means OF
communication, as railroads, telegraphs,
etc., and laws should be passed limiting
the ownership of land to actual use.
In order 10 give immediate relief to
the etarving millions OF idle people. at
least $500, 100000 of greenbacks should
be iasued and the idle men employed to
make good roads all over this broad
land; to plant forests on our waste land;
to construct an irrigation system in Our
western states and territories; to rcyu-
late the Mississippi river; to construct
the Nicaragua canal; to make deep wa
ter harbors where necessary, end other
needed improvements upon the national
domain.
Our reformers have seen the diaester
coming, and they also know the reme-
dies but it is gratifying that even some
men among the privileged classes. like
Mr.. r. M. Widney. H. t. Hazard and
others. publicly endorse our reform
work and our demands.
The distressed people know their
wants better than the so-called states
men in Washington. 1t is time now
that the gentlemen at the capital make
themselves acquainted with their re.
sponsibility as makers or executors OF
k~