Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-12-13
LESSONS FROM HISTORY.
HOW LONG CAN REPUBLIC ENDURE UNDER
OUR PRESENT CONDITIONS?

EDITOR ADVOCATE 1t Is TACT OF universal
history and experience that calamities overtake
nations aud men. Another fact of equal no.
toriety is that very few see the impending evil
TIL 1t strikes. 1t IS strangely true, also, that
the few VINO have seen the coming danger and
lifted their voices i'll warming have been de-
rided and prosecuted by the many 1t was so
i'll Noah's time and during all the prophetic
periods. 1t has been so in modern times
Fifty years ago the men who advocated the alb
clifton of slavery were prosecuted as disturbers
of the peace. Ministers who preached against
slavery and warned the people OF the coming
storm were denounced as political preachers
and driven from their pulpts But the storm
came. 1t has come in all ages. 1t will come
again
According to the census reports made by Re-
publican officials, there were million tenant
farmers in this country in $780, and a million
and half i'll 1890. In New York city, only
four men in 100 own their homes free of in
cumbrance. Do not these census facts show
that we are rapidly approaching period when
we shall be nation of landlords and tenants?
Is not the money of this country also rapidly
concentrating i'll the hands of few?
In a great speech delivered in the United
States senate on January "a, 1891, John ]. In
gals, critcising the financial policy of this
government, said: ga financial system, un-
der which more than one-half of the enormous
wealth of the country, derived from the bounty
of nature and the labor of all, is owned by a
little more than 10000 people, while one mil
lion American citizens, able and willing to toll,
are homeless tramps, starving for bread, re-
quires adjustment A social system which Of
fers to tender virtuous and dependent women
the alternative between prostitution and suicide
as an escape from beggary is organized crime,
for which some day unrelenting justice will de-
mand atonements and expiation.'
Since that speech was delivered to man.
thousands of homes in country and city have
passed from The possession of their owners in
to The hands Of capitalists under mortgage
foreclosure many millions of dollars, earned
by the masses, have passed into the hands of a
few money-euders, and more than two millions
of men and women have been thrown out of
employment 10 become tramps, beggars and
criminals Can the reader no danger to
this republic when 10000 of its $4,000, 900
people own more than one-haf of itsenormous
wealth and the residue OF its wealth, under the
present infamous financial policy, rushing like
a hood-tide into the hands of the few ? Can
you see any danger to this republic when three
or four millions of our citizens are unemployed
l,1- ,1,~-
long endure such conditions ? He blind who
cannot see a storm gathering.
Who, in the light of history and present
is more nearly correct, the man
who says, "There is no danger a plague up
on you calamity howlers you are the disturb
ers of the peace Of society you are socialists
and anarchists UNIV orthy of the respect of de-
cent people ~ or that other man who points
out these facts, warns thu people of impen ding
peril and declares that unless the old order of
Kings, under which the few have legally and
Systematically robbed the masses, can be speed
ly and radically changed, the republic is
doomed
Which vote in the ate election was cast in
he interest Of the perpetuity Of this republic?
That which helped to advance the Republican
party, party pledged to the old policy under
WEIGH corporate power has been enthroned, and
lnder which the wealth of the country has
,een rapidly concentrating in few hands for
quarter Of century or that other vote which
vas cast to advance new party that seeks to
nthrone new policy whose best recommend
ltion is that i; is cordially hated aud bitterly
opposed by all corporations and by the entire
money power of America and Europe? How
lid you vote? How will you vote in the flu
ure? Can you not induce some heighbor who