The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-06-22
Coxey's Army.

American, of good reputation, and
far above the average in ability.
His army is composed of working
men. 1t is as free from the tramp
element as such a company can be.
1t is a fairly representative body,
and this is all that is claimed for it.
The army is conducting cam
paign of as arduOus and heroic a
nature as was ever undertaken.
Divested of all the pomp and gilt
ter of war destitute of equipment
and supplies marching in the rain
and sleeping in the mud: despised
of man and forsaken of society, its
progress is march of despair to
the victory of defeat. It's victory
is just such a one as old John
Brown won at Harper's Ferry
about generation ago. The organ
ization of this little band marks
the beginning of the war between
the workingmen and their oppres-
sOrs. Theirs is the kind of a cam
paign that has marked the begin
ming of many other wars-the
campaign of martyrdom and misery.
The object of the army is purely
unseltish and noble. They ask not
for themselves but for all.
Grant these men their largest
demands, and they will have re-
ceived a chance to work. Think of
it, Americans your brethren in
armies, seeking as the highest boon
a chance to work for bread aspir-
ing to the privileges of cattle
longing for the hard condition of
slaves. Is this the goal towards
which the Declaration of Indepen-
dence pointed, or have we got off
the road?
The Coxey army is a sample of
the three millions of involuntary
idlers in the United States. They
propose definite Object-that the
idle be set at work. They also pro-
pose a definite plan of operations
to issue enough lawful money to
employ the men in building good
roads. The scheme is sound and
feasible. The nation is in distress
from lack of the money which it is
proposed to create. Millions are in
distress from lack of the employ
ment which can come only by
means of supply of money, and
the good roads-heaven knows how
badly we need them.
Perhaps this is not the wisest
thing to do, but something needs
doing, and there is nothing to pre-
vent any one proposing something
better. Congress would, doubtless,
propose some measure of relief had
it not fallen into the habit of look
ing. 1t has, nowadays, to learn
what will not be vetoed before it
can proceed. The Roman Senate
got into similar condition quite a
while before it was abolished.
The issue between plutocracy and
humanity is now fairly Joined. On
the one hand is the gold standard
currency, which means less and less
money, more wealth for the rich,
more idleness, poverty, wretched-
ness, and misery for the people.
On the other hand, is the demand
for more money, which means en-
plOyment, independence, education,
and comfort for the masses, and for
the rich all the chance to grow
richer that an honorable man can
desire. The peculiar damnation of
the contraction scheme is this The
working class are impoverished to
satisfy creditor greed, which gets
absolutely less than it might'obtain
from their prosperity.
Men must now take sides.
What think ye of Coxey's army
is a crucial test of character and
purpose. Men will range them
selves ON the side of humanity so
far as they have any real love for
God or man in their hearts; those
who have not will try to be neutral,
and piously hope that the right
will prevail. The demand for more
money must be met and either
granted or refused. If granted,
then the hard conditions will be