Graham guardian., 1895-03-09

The Spirit of the Times.
Communicated

| itbioh NtAhblAN.---NS tnC HIS
issue of the GRAHHM GUARDIAN is
about to appear before the public
and desiring its success asa county
paper, hereby contribute a few
lines for publication. Could |
know the contents of this number
| would have given you something
diverse from other articles, as |
am very fond of variety. A sub
ject that should be of interest to
all is the tendency of the present
times.
Can the student of history call
to mind any time in the history of
the world when such conditions
existed so universally ;nd 50 OPP
pressively as they do to-day
People octually starving in Il land
of plenty; going lily clad when
there is II cry of overproduction;
great sea city of money when there
are millions locked up in the banks
of the world, and great amounts of
bullion waiting to be coined and
put into circulation. One class of
people combining against the other;
capital against labor, and in all in
stances the wealth power has a
strong grip on the government of
all countries and in every instance
it is the national law maker or die
tator Of the laws. | ask again,
was there ever time in the his
tory of the world when these con-
ditions did so universally exist as
they do at the present time?
There was time in the history
of England when King John claim
ed to be the owner Of the souls
and bodies of his subjects and also
the lands and properties that they
used and lived upon. In a time of
difficulty with the Pope of Rome
he yielded the souls of his subjects
to the Pope but retained their
bodies and properties as his own.
Yet in this time of extreme slavery
the song of "Merry England" was
heard throughout his realm. None
were lacking for bread and all
were we'll clothed. Such distress
as now prevails was not then
known. In 1861 when nearly all
civilized Nations of the world had
abandoned slavery and held it as a
relic of barbarism, ourown Nation,
desiring to be foremost in civiliza-
ton, light and liberty, took it in
hand to abolish slavery and no
longer hold the negro in bondage.
Yet the Negro of 1861, like the
subjects of King John sang the
song of mirth and in most instan-
ces were happy, well fed, clothed
and housed. 1t was to the interest
of their masters to see that they
were well cared for and kept in a
healthy condition for.daily service.
But who is there in all Gods crea-
ton that cares for or provides
food, clothing and shelter for the
white slaves of to-days The sol
omn sequel to this question returns
to us, none. The Negro has been
freed, but the white man has gone
into deeper servitude. The inhu-
man money autcrat has continued
to increase his wealth by oppress-
ing the hirling in his wages, and
when they are insufficient to sup
ply himself and family with food
and clothing there is no overseer
to gee that he mas enough to eat
and good place to sleep; that his
body MAJ be strong and healthy.
Far more is the system of servi-
tude of to-day than it was thirty
years ago, both for the colored as
well as the white servant; not be-
cause food and clothing is harder
to produce, for this is not the case.
1t is produced with less labor to-
day than it has been in the past.
What then is the cause of the dis
tress that prevails throughout the
country? Wealth and the power
of wealth is the cause. AS men be-
came wealthy they grew cold
and unfeeling for their employees,
and soon began to cut their wages
until at last the laboring classes
were obliged to form unions for
self protection. Yes, more than
this; when encroached upon by cap
ital, labor was obliged to order
strikes for their wages were those
of starvation. To live in this way
they would have to scrimp their
for their wages were not
to supply them with the
actual necessities of life.
What were the laboring classes
to do? Become outlaws? The
wealth power of the country had
so framed the laws that in some in
stances labor had to submit to
or become such.