The western sentinel., 1894-04-26
COXEY'S ARMY
An Interesting Editorial on the Army
of Peace.

of Peace.
Coxey's army is being literally
ridiculed. but just why the Republi-
can journals should expend so mucL
satire upon it is by no means clear.
General Coxey is simply trying to
extend Republican principles and
give them al once Il larger and more
spt cific application. He is marching.
at the head of what he calls an
Army of Peace" on the national
capital, and his objective point is the
national treasury. And if this is not
II Republican idea, then we do not
know one.
Crusader Coxey wants $500, ,O0O,-
600 appropriated forthwith for the
purpose of making good roads, all
of them leading to Washington, SO
that all the other tramps in the
country can hereafter get to the
treasury easily on their feet, or on
bicycles, as they may prefer. 1t the
central Republican idea is not pre-
cisely in line with Coxey's-to Or
ganize the entire nation into a series
of professions, all headed for the
capital and the treasury vaults
then we have misconceived the genius
of Eepu blicanism. Coxey is a mil
lionaire, and we surmise that his real
purpose, us he rides ahead OF his
army, is to give us q spectacular
parody OF the Republican order of
parade for the last thirty years, be-
cause it has been the fixed habit of
the Republican party to put the
millionaires at the head OF their line
of march to the treasury, and have
them lead the general procession of
pickpockets that followed on behind.
Nor can it be denied that this is III
logical and business-like arrange
ment. First come the millionaires,
representing the big monopolies,
riding like COXAy at the front and
demanding about So ,OoO, 900 600 a
year from the national pocket. to he
collected by the tariff -one dollar for
the government and tive for the mall
ufacturing CoXeys. All the little
tramp Industries tail in behind.
Collars and cuffs, tin-plate, buttons,
spool cotton, lead peucils, slate pen
cis and all the other little pauper
enterprises trudge along on foot,
each with his little dipper ready to
put under the spout of the high pro
lection pump us long as the sucker
will work and the treasury holds out.
Mex E comes the silver division OF the
Coxey amy, eager to do business for
the treasury and swap forty-five
cents worth of metal for one hundred
ce nts in gold. Following these noble
patriots come the glorious army of
pension hunters, ready to rally
round the flag, boys to the tune of
another $50, 900 ayear. After
them, hehoid the consecrated cranks
of education bowling for about
$10O, ,O0O,OOO q year more from the
national treasury ia aid of the
schools. Then follow the subsidy
brigades yearning for more millions
to start sugar plantations and build
and run steamships at the general
expense. And the rear of this hun
cry host is brought up by IL motley
array of little private interests, all
struggling along together toward
Pennsylvania avenue for the purpose
of entering into the Republican par
adiSe of plumber.
Why, then, should poor CuXey and
and his ragged followers be SD pitt
lessly pelted with sneers and jeers
Surely the Republican party might
recognize them as humble followers
of it's own teachings, and at least
admit them to the modest footing OF
poor relations. What has it done
Tor Il whole generation past but
preach the gospel of government pap
| for all manner of special interests
What is 1T doing At Washington ut
this moment but standing up ST Tout
ly and declaring that the first busi-
ness OF the government is to pour
| money iGto the coff, rs OF the wool
growers of Ohio. and the wooden
manufacturers of New England? L.
| it not insisting now, III always, that
! the treasury's 8 chief use and purpose
| is to secure the trusts in their annual
harvest of Dividends wrung from the
| pockets OF the people? Aud if all
| the iron and coal and railroad com
| bints, all the business enterprises OF
| the North and East, and all the
| silver and lead miners are to be wei
coined to Washington and cheered
on as they raid the treasury, why
shall not Coxey's proct s>ion moving
on to the same city, animated by the
| same zeal to get trifiing half billion
out of the general tax payers, be
'';iled with similar shouts of protec-
tive ent husiasm ?-BaltimOre Sun.