The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1895-08-30
WHAT is OPPRESSION?
A SORT OF EVERYDAY DEFINI-
TION GIVEN.
1t Never Comes With the Mailed Hand
of Force. but With the Cunning Hand
of the Trickster, Through Schemes
and Flattery."

Oppression OF ones own people
never comes with the mailed hand Of
force, but with the cunning of the
trickster. The people are amused
and ilattered while the schemers de-
prive them OF property and use them
as servants anu slaves. If law were
put upon the statutes OF any state or
nation that the producers should not
leave their county or state, should
wear certain grade OF clothing, live
on certain grade of food,
the people would revolt and tear
down the oppressors. They could
read that law and realize its import.
If the law said they should work for
such wages AS their employers might
decide, they would revolt But the
invisible money power knows this.
Ihls power studies human nature. 1t
proceeds to blarny the people about
their great country, its wonderful
freedom, how much better off they
are than the oppressed and barbar-
ians of other countries. They put in
their heads strong words of how they
love the Independent farmer, the
honest laooring masses, the yeomaury
and bulwark of the nation. They
Halter and cajOle with such lies as
"honest money" protection to home
labor" Labor is honorable" while
they proceed to enact laws making
dishonest money, protect capital not
labor, and spurn honest labor as they
would pest. They create conditions
that so impoverish the producers of
wealth that they never get money
enough ahead to leave their
county or state, that they do have
to wear certain grade of shoddy
clothes, that they do have to live in
shanties or tenement hells, that they
do have to be satisfied with the poor
est food. that they do have to take
just what those who can use their la
Dor are willing to pay-and 60 around
and beg, humiliatinsly, to be accept
ed on those terms. These facts are so
self-evident that they go without say
ing. You see it is not necessary to
always make laws to oppress, to
get the labor OF others without do
ing any labor yourself, but it
is necessary to prevent proper
laws from being enacted or enforced,
that will protect those who are weak
and ignorant. The laws of omission
are as oppressive as the laws of COM
mission. And thus the people of the
United States are oppressed. At the
close Of the late war the people were
prosperous, happy and out OF debt.
1t was so stated by the great men
OF the times and those old enough
know that it was true. But by
laws of commission, laws giving
special privileges, and laws of ommis-
sion, laws that could have protected
the masses. our people are hopelessly
in debt. Nine million homes have
mortgages on them, all municipalities
have piled up debts, all corporations
have heaped up mountains of watered
debts for the people to pay interest
on, and we find the nation to-day on
the verge of some great social cata.
clsym. This is oppression. No peo-
pie ever had such burdens
put on them-for no other |
people ever had such product
i've powers ard resources. We find |
the wealth that belonged to the mil
lions few years ago now belongs to
the millionaires, and the people are |
poor indeed. This is all any tyrant |
ever wanted-the people to work
while they feasted. No nation in the
history of the past was ever reduced
to such dependence in so short
time. This is because the people
have been partisan. Wisdom weighs,
considers, knows. No wise man was
ever 5igot or an oppressor. II the
reader loves his family, loves his
country, loves his freedom, beg him,
even with tears, to think, to investi-
gate, TO know. The principles of
just government are as movable, are
as certain as mathematics. When
you investigate you will see it. 1t is
founded upon justice. upon the teach
ings of the lowly Jesus, and it cannot
err. None of us ask you to accept it
until you know, feel it is right. Is
that not fair? Only by Investigating
can you know. Ignorance has brought
you misery aud woe. knowledge will
bring You peace and Joy. Tennessee
City Coming Nation.