Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1894-05-18
The Farmers Leader
A CRITICAL SITUATION.

Conservative men now admit what the
Independent has long foreseen and fore
told, that this nation is on the verge of
an impending revolution. 1t may now
be too late to avoid the awful conseQuen-
ees Of thirty years Of oppression and rob-
berry, but it is the duty of every lover of
his country to arouse himself to the grave
dangers which confronls us, and do
everything IN his power to make this
revolution a peaceable one. No thinking
man need be surprised any day 10 hear
that the match has been applied to the
explosives which have been accumulatlng
during the past thirty years, and which,
when exploded, must carry death and
destruction to the present order of things,
if not to civilization itself.
The very principles of the Declaration
of independence have been perverted and
overthrown. Let any man examine that
immortal instrument carefully and see
how much of 1t is left under present con-
ditions. How much Of the fright to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are
left to the masses?. Let them examine
the charges therein preferred against the
British government, and see how aptly
they apply to the tools of plutoeracy now
exercising the functions of government
in this country. And while examining,
let him not forget to read the following:
But when long train of abuses and
usurpatlons, pursuing invariably the
same object, evnces design to reduce
them under absolute despotism, it IS their
duty to throw off such government, and
to provide new guards for their future
security
This movement now on foot in Il dozen
states TO present the peoples petitions in
person may be the last peaceable demand.
1t is to be hoped that failing at Washing
ton they will present their petitions at the
ballot box in a manner that may not be
overruled. To refuse, ignore or insult
the American citizens who are now
marching upon Washington with only
peaceful intentions is to invite u march
of a totally different nature. Let eur
legislators read Cromwell's speech in dis
missing the lang parliament, and they
may realize the temper OF the next march
that may be undertaken. 1t is not in a
spirit Of threat we say this it is in a spirit
of prophecy. Wise statesmanship alone
can avert the horrors which lurk in the
near future unless speedy action IS taken.
We have reached point in history where
tariffs, taxes. temporary makeshifts, and
evasions are no longer possible. We poss-
ess the richest land with widest possibili-
ties on earth. We must proceed to open
the natural resources now locked by
monopoly, we must revoke the franchises
and private grants which keep millions
of our people in idleness when nature is
waiting for their labor to develop bound
| less wealth for all We must once and
| forever throw off the power Of usurers
and stock gamblers in our halls Of legs-
lation. A power more arrogant than the
slave power of 1860 holdst the government
lin its tolls. A lack Of wisdom in grasp
ing the situation will bring retribution
more terrible than 'G1-G4 Statesman
ship could have averted that struggle.
Selfish private interests and partisan
bitterness smothered craftsmanship.
Another crisis iS npOn us. Will history
repeat the blunder Of thirty years ago?-
Deadwood Independent.