Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-10
THE coxEY MOVEMENT.

a half-hearted attempt to carry out It's
professed object, and failed as was ex-
pected by every one else, and perhaps
even by themselves. For FIVE weeks
it presented spectacle, really anus
ing, partly pathetic but in no wise
unaccountable; for it was composed
of men whose condition was such that
no change could be for the worse,
though it involved weary tramp for
hundreds of miles over hills and
mountains, through cold and snow,
through dust and sultry heat, with
reasonable prospect Of arrest on the
charge of vagrancy at the end Of it.
So rapidly do events move in our
day that this is already ancient history;
but the causes that produced it are no
less operative now, and the warning
which it embodies is worthy Of no less
consideration The industrial condi-
ton which made it possible has pro-
duced even more striking effects, and
there is no need to enlarge upon it to
a body of intelligent readers of news
papers. To deal adequately with its
causes and its remedy is too large
matter to be undertaken here. But
there are at least two important les
sons to be drawn Immediately from
this Coxey movement, viewing it SIM
ply as single manifestation of deep
and widely extended social and indus
trial arrangement.
One is Immediately connected with
the Republican policy of class legisla-
ton and favoritism. For years we
have seen the representatives of par
ticular interests besieging Congress
with petitions and demands for legis-
lation to put more money into their
pockets. What more natural than
that this example should cause hungry
men to ask why they should not ask
Congress to put bread into their
mouths? The various industrial
armies" enlisted and on the march
throughout the country show that
they have asked themselves this ques-
ton and have moreover proceeded to
give a very practical answer to 1t.
They have made it obvious that unless
a stop is put to class legislation and
something done in the true interest of
the masses, they will make demands
which it is impossible to grant, and
seek to enforce them by means which
are destructive of order and property,
if they do not menace the stability of
our government.
The second lesson is even more I'M
portant. 1t teaches us that there are
in this country thousands of men so dis
satisfied with their present condition,
that they are willing to follow any
leader who promises to better it, how
ever wild and visionary the means he
proposes. The dangers of such state
of affairs can hardly be over-estimated
if cranks and demagogues shall be
allowed to assume this leadership as
they have heretofore The obvious
remedy is to give them other leaders,
men who have the good Of the country
at heart and who can and will teach
them economic truths in place Of the
errors and false words which have so
long been poured into their willing
ears. There Is an imperative duty
upon every man who can think for
himself, can see things as they are and
tell intelligibly what he knows. 1t
is not to be discharged by writing
newspaper or magazine articles nor
by set speeches only; but it can be
done effectually only through personal
intercourse and frank and friendly
counsel as from man to man. When
the rudiments of sound economics and
political knowledge are thus dissent
mated through the body of voters, the
dangers of populism and socialism will
no longer threaten us, but Democratic
policies will secure a final triumph and
the Democratic party be given perma-