The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-01-31
THEAMERlCAN DORKINC
written For American Press Association.

ILL 4AAI1L1U1V1l1N UUlCullVU
Written For American Press Association
Shortly after the Franco-Prussian war a
o1i.Dn oIncer wrote book in which an old
gentleman related to his grandchildren the
manner in which Germany, flushed with its
victor1es over the French, proceeded to invade
0reat Britain and reduced it to q tributary
province. 1t was called 1.-THE Battle of Dork-
ing, ana Its object was to show the lack of
British coast defenses and urge their erection
The final and decisive battle occurred at a
place called Dorking.
1t was in the year 1880.
Farmer Atritop's home was as COM
Portable as the average. But the aver
age was not near as good as that of the
farmer of SO years before. The chill
dren were crowding around GRANDPA
theirs easy chair in the corner of the
small room. An exciting thing had &C.
CURED that day, and it was the subject
OF conversation. Lord Scullion, the
proprietor of the country for many
miles around, had paid the cottage a
visit. He had asked for drink of wa
ter, but had prolonged his stay much be-
yond the time required to swallow it.
AMI on leaving he gave each of the
children number of small coins. This
had made them very happy. Their ia
Tiers earnings were too meager to en-
able him to do such thing even once
In year. And now they all felt as
rich as kings, though the younger chill
dren did not know that it was Farmer
Atritop's pretty daughter Hattie that
had attracted the lecherous landlord to
his tenants humble home and induced
him to be kind to her little brothers and
sisters
II think it's high honor to have
such great man call on US lowly
folks" said 16-year-old Jennie, who
had always admired the greatness of the
nobility.
IF you had lived so years ago, you
would not have said that" replied
grandfather Atritop. I'm those days,
before the United States were annexed
to England, we had nominal equality
before the law, and titles of nobility
as we'll as extensive landlords were not
in existence. But since our once free
country has become tributary province
to England things have changed
things have changed -
'Oh, grandpa" exclaimed little
Johnny Atritop, some time ago you
promised to explain to us how that
change was brought about. Tell us
now.
1T is not very long story. Fifty
voorS 600 fho T1pifo1 Cfo<oo xuoe &l,o
most prosperous, intelligent and pro-
gressive country in the world. No 9TH
er nation could boast of such natural
wealth, such we'll paid and independent
workingmen, such prosperous business
men or such we'll to do farmers. Now,
alas, all is changed. Our boosted lib
critics exist only in name, prosperity is
confined to a privileged few, who fatten
on the twin relics of barbarism, land
lordism and usury, while a profigate
king and tyrannical nobility have
robbed the American people of their
last vestige of liberty"
But, grandpa" asked his grandson
George, aged IA, how was it possible
for the British to gain control of the
United States without war? picked
up one of your old schooibooks in the
attic the other day, and l find it filled
with many patriotic sentiments and al
lusions to American liberty Judging
from the views expressed, would con-
clude that at that time the love of lib
erty among the American people was so
strong that nothing but absolute force at
the point OF the bayonet would induce
them to surrender their independence.
80 we supposed at the time. But
these patriotic sentiments were only
we'll, sentiments. The commercial spirit
of grab and greed had permeated many
of our people. The dollar seemed lar
ger to most of them than their country.
The Republican party, which had been
organized to abolish slavery, had &C
complished it's object. The Democratic
party was only a negation. Neither
having any definite principle, they de-
generated into officehunting machines.
Bribery and other frauds were openly
practiced, especially at election time.
Men who were guilty of such nefarious
things were looked upon as leaders in
politics and society. And so when the
money kings of the United States and
England had once made up their minds
to unite the two countries it was a
comparatively easy task.
But how could the money kings Sc
cure such pcwer?" asked George. 1T
must have required an immense amount
of money to bride the majority of the
voters.
Bless you, my child, there was no
need of bribing any; they owned them.
Let me explain. Even as early as 1898
the English ana other foreign syndicates
held the majority of the railway stocks
and bonds in the country; in addition
they owned the best and most produc-
tive mines, lands, factories, breweries,
water powers, street car lines, lighting
plants and other public and private i'm
provements. AS the railroads alone
were capitalized at over $40, 600, O0O,-
900, you can see that their holdings
must have been fully equal to that sum,
or $40, 200, 900, O0O."
But, grandpa, interrupted George,
''von told MS the other day. if remem-