The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-10-23
DEBS FIRES A HOT SHOT.
Money Power Now Exerts Bar
barrie Sway.
IN NO COUNTRY ARE CONDI-
TIONS MORE DEPLORABLE.

conditions relating to the different
classes of PEOPLE excite little concern
as compared with the United States.
Here the most impoverished as we'll
as the most affiuent have the ballot.
Here all are sovereign citizens and
eligible to the highest official stations
in the government. In European and
Asiatic governments such rights and
privileges are unknown: the one or
Two exceptions to the rule need not be
mentioned since they do not, in the
liberty of their citizens, parallel the
rights and prerogatives conferred by
our constitution and laws.
In referring to the essential differ
ences in conditions it is proper to OBJ
serve that in the one case centuries
of despotism have created acquies-
cence. The rich rule and are content;
the poor obey and their obedience has
been long and SO cruelty enforced that
like dumb driven cattle they sub
NIT. In the United States we have
by constitution and laws the reverse
Of such conditions. Here we started
truth, that "all men are created
equal" We discarded titles and in
herited prerogatives. All were cloth
ed with divine right to rule. All the
polls the poor and rich met on a level.
Here we swept away everything re-
sembling caste. The pomp, and pride,
and arrogance of a titled nobility and
aristocracy we tabood In a word, we
started out with nation of free men.
More than 100 years have elapsed since
we began teaching the doctrine Of
equality before the law. These les
sons have been woven into the fibre
of American thought, into our laws
and literature, into our national
songs and anthems. The fathers
fought and bled for the truths they
embody, and multiplied thousands
have died for them. Here, and only
here, every man counts one, and no
man counts more than one.
ARE WE LOSING OUR BIRTHRIGHT?
The questions arise, are we insen-
sibly drifting toward conditions
which exist in less favored lands? Are
we relaxing our hold upon our birth
rights? Are we using our dearly
bought rights and prerogativeS in a
way hat shall eventually wreSt them
from our grasp? Is American libe rty
in peril? What is the condition Of
the rich and what is the condition of
the poor? Without exaggeration, in
words OF truth and soberness, what is
the trend of affairs? The rich are
growing richer. Fortunes mount sky
ward. We have produced an aristoc-
racy of wealth requiring eXtravagant
,.,l, i
are counted by thousands. They con-
stitute money power which has de-
veloped barbaric sway. 1t has grasped
every source of production and every
means Of transportation. it controls
the ballot and dictates legislation
1t blotcheS federal and state statutes.
1t debauches judges and jurors. 1t
bribcS congressman, senators, and
legislators, and to build higher it's
mountains OF wealth it turns footpad
on all the higWayS of labor and robS
those who toll and live by wages.
Such are conditions on the one hand.
No one denies it whose opinion is not
debauched.
What are the conditions of the poor
in the United States? | challenge the
record for a denial Of the averment
that in no land beneath the skies are
conditions more deplorable, and Presi-
dent Cleveland, in his message to Con-
gress. declared that these conditions
are the result Of congressional legis-
lation.' Here the poor are becoming
poorer. Here squalor and degrad alton
are spread out over continent Of
food products in fabulous abundance;
and in sight Of bursting granaries
men, women, and children starve.
What is to be seen more narrowing In
Europe or the lands Of the orient?
CRISIS IS NEAR AT HAND.
Can these conditions be perpetu-
ated? If so, by what means arc they
to be permanently established? If
we admit that they ought to be per.
petuated, no change In the means
which have created the caiam ties
need to be made. I do not believe
present conditions can be made per-
petual. l do not belere the means
| that have been employed to bring
about present conditions are to con-
| tinue. | believe crisis is near at
| hand. believe that the debauching,
crushing. degrading money power will
| be required TO take its hoofs off the
| prostrate millions-who are evincing
mighty unrest. | do not doubt that
armies, and courts, and all the ma
| cHlnery bic money power can CUiu-
| inand will be brought into the con-
test. I do not DOUBT that there will
! be traitors in the camps OF those who
are loyal to the eternal principles Of
| Justice, as there were tories in 1116.
Bat there is to come a battle Of bal
| lots. possibly battle Of bullets and
| bayonets, when Truth shall triumph
| because 1.-THE eternal years are hers
! take no stock in the "decline and
| fall Of Rome" theory. History. in
| that regard. will not be repeated n
the United States Of America. The
American people arc not like the
| Romans. A century Of freedom. in
| stead Of centuries Of slavery and op-
| preston, will bring forth fruits when
! the final struggle comes different
! from anything that ever rlpened IN
| the fierce heat Of battle. Loyal to
| law and obedient to its mandates, the
| time is coming when we, the peo-
ple," will declare that bowed forms,
! slaves garb, hutS, and pconagc are
| not Anne rican. and that the laws and
| systems which create such abOmina-.
| tlonS are not American, and then
| will come another reconstruction
period, and, PhnniX-like, Liberty, re-
| juvenated, will come forth from the
| ordeal to live and flourish and bless
| the world.
Woodstock, H., Oct. 9. 1895.
All public necessities should be public
| property.