The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-12-04

property OF the people; making 1t possible
for the money-power to control and CEN
tralize the wealth Of the nation.
This go1d-standard is void of patriot
ism; 1T has no moral principle; it embod-
les spirit of extortion If the life Of
our government was in danger as it was
in '61-5 it would strangle the government
and loot her securities at 35 cents on the
dollar, as it did in the late war;
The sword cannot rob the, American
people of their sovereignty. But this
gold-standard is more subtitle and mighty,
for 1T has strangled the prosperity and
political powers of the American people.
The money power, in absorbing the
wealth of the people, fetter their indie
pendence, and places a political halter on
the neck of sovereignty to be led to the
ballot box and through the fields of servi-
tude.
The gold-standard advocates who kneel
to the influences of Great Britain, have
used the functions Of the government to
deprive silver of it's legal and constitu-
tional right. They have placed upon the
gold dragon Of Europe the absolute power
to drive its avaricious fangs into the
heart of American industries. Is it the
mission Of a good government to elevate
the gold of the money-kings above the
welfare Of humanity? Must the toiling
masses of this republic be reduced to a
condition of want and hardship that gold,
the property of few, may increase in
value and become a tyrant to suit all
property with a blight of depreciation !?
Is it the mission Of a free government to
bolster up the financial plague that is
paralyzing our country? An army of
free-booters in the unholy work of loot
ing the wealth of the nation could not
surpass the gigantic spoilation that has
resulted from this sngle-gold-b bug stand
ard.
Every hamlet in our land has felt it's
sting of oppression They see their
property go down in value sacrificed, and
mott away under it's influence and power
The hands of industry ask for relief
Their protest against this unjust and
blighting system of finance pierces the
blue dover of heaven. It's echo is a
warning. 1t admonishes the public con-
science that the vested rights Of the peo-
pie have been strangled.
That the moral and divine law will
hold the people Of this republic RESPONSE
bic if they fail to use their political power
to overthrow this wrong power and re-
form the government.
Webster says that a free people will not
long retain their freedom when the ten
dency of the government is to centralze
the wealth of the nation in the hands of
a few.
The political sovereignty of the people
can only be retained by uniting the di-
vided MASSES that in the past have been
warning against their own interest and
the principles that would better their
conditions.
Unconsciously blind to the political de-
vices used by the money-poWer to keep
the people divided between the old par
ties and worshipping false gods.
The masses have been led to rally
around the old party platforms that have
been skillfully framed to court the polit-
ical mind, and artfully worded to catch
votes. It's true character and interpre-
tation being held in the background with
the people through the ballot box deliver
themselves up to their political BOSSES
Then the curtain of deception is raised
The character of the platform becomes
transparent; the people have been decoy-
ed into a political trap, that will hold
them as subjects of prey to a money
power. Like the moth that flies in the
blaze of the candle they have been charm
ed by the political arts of their party and
roasted. 1t is said that burnt child
breads fire.
But we find men so partisan that you
can blister them from head to foot and
they will hang to the old furnace that is
roasting them.
Washington speaks Of this partisan
spirit as a dangerous flame. Instead of
warming it consumes. ~.
F. E. DAVIDSON.
Appleton, Mimi.
CTo be continued)