The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-01-25
THE ROOT OF EVIL.


A great man once declared money to
be the root of all evil. How true that
that is the history of the world bears
witness. What misery has its blasting
touch not wrought? What crimes has it
not caused? What sorrow has it not in
ficted?
1t is used as a scOurge to the poor, a
tempter to the weak, as shackles to the
helpless. Tt has purchased the souls
of men and the purity of women. 1t
has contaminated government, national
and state, it controls the institutions
Iof learning, rules the circles Of society,
and has invaded the sacred precincts
of the church It has destroyed the
brotherhood of man. dug deep trenches
at the boundary lines of poverty and
wealth. It has subsidized the courts
made a mockery of justice. Tt has made
poverty a felony and restitution
heinous crime
i Tt is only when money is yoked with
human aYarice and unwise legislation
that it becomes a monster.
"a The financial laws of a country de-
eide how much blessing how much
curse money shall be. They determine
the standard by which the brain and
Drawn of a people are measured and by
(which the wealth of the earth is valued.
q If the laws are equitable and just
there will be no excessively rich, no
exceedingly poor. AS these laws are
reversed so are the conditions of the
people reversed.
Under this latter condition crime be-
comes rampant, misery, want, suffering
and restitution the rule, and not the
exception, and the safety Of a govern
ment imperilled. The breach between
the classes widen, and at last the ire
pressible conflict breaks forth in grim
yisaged war, and a government is over
thrown.
2 The United States is confronting
.such a condition today. The money
power has forced contraction Of the
currency and consequently increased
the purchasing power of the unit of
value in proportion Such contraction
has concentrated wealth in the Golfers
'Of the rich, causing a stagnation of
business thereby throwing thousands
out of employment-thus increasing
the hardships of the toiler and produc-
er TIRES fold Contraction of the cir
eulating medium is invariably followed
by decline in values. The United
States is now suffering from such a de-
probation, which has ruined thousands
and made tens of thousands of home
owners tenants. The same cause has
transformed millions OF industrious
and honest American laboringmen into
homeless tramps and wanderers
On every hand is wealth demanding
and forcing tribute from those who
toll, and even the bare necessities Of
life are taxed under an iueongruent
law that was framed for the purpose Of
protecting the ones it now robs. The
freedom American citizen now fills
the position Of a serf without the care
+ OF. comfort which, from meFoenary mo
tiyes, would be enjoyed under ohattel
ownership.
The makers Of this law which has
brought such dire results upon a once
prosperous people committed a crime
for which no punishment would be too
severe They pandered The welfare of
a nation, battered Che inslienable
rights Of free people and sold into
bondage unborn generations.
Any attempt TO right this mighty
wrong has met With such stubborn and
successful opposition that expectation
fer relief from tbs parties new In power
has ceased and nope became q ehimera.
There IS q mighty murmuriag ameng
the masses. They have been driven 70
the extreme. Of poverty while the
moaeyed aristosracy Of the land heve
reyelied "a the wealth that vas created
By bhe humble t0iler. Theg afe de.
Lnaaalns their oNR and the demand IS
as. people Of The natioa must SOM
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