The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-06-14
A FREE TRADE NOVEL.
Dreary Picture of What Might Happen
Under Millionaire Monopoly.

"Tncle Sans Cabins" is the title OF
a decidedly interesting novel that was
put before the public few weeks ago.
Ii is IA story Of American life looking
forward century" by Benjamin K
Davenport.
The author has drawn a most horri-
BILE picture of American life. especially
farm life, after our protective tariff
system has continued one hundred
wears longer. lie continues the con-
centraton of wealth (Which began
with the introduction of protection
in 1859 and had given US 5000 million
aires and multi-millonaires in 1890
and millions of tramps. paupcrs and
tenant farmers) until in 1894. very
few persons own the whole country.
Public schools were abolished long be-
1 fore 1894 and but few farmers could
/ read or write. States have disappeared.
except that in some eases old state
lines mark the boundaries or districts
belonging to single proprietors, as, for
example. one proprietor owns the dis
trict of Ohio" The farmers live in
novels and in greater poverty and more
miserable conditions than was ever the
lot of the Irish peasantry. In all dis
tricts or states but Ohio the farmers
have already signed bonds of servi'
tude" which makes them slaves to the
proprietors. and the Ohio farmers are
compelled to sign away their remain
ing freedom soon after the opening OF
the story Because of the impoverish'
ment of the farmers and their inability
TO purchase goods of any kind. manu-
featuring and other industries have
declined until they are nearly extinct
A military despotism has taken tho
place of once glorious republic.
The imagination of the greatest pes
simist living could scarcely conceive OF
such poverty, degradation and hope
lessness as are here pictured as the re
suit Of 1870 years of protection" I'm
doubtedly most readers will say thai
the picture is overdrawn. Probably II
was nurposelv overdrawn. But one
thing is certain. the rapid concentra
ton of wealth that has been going on
since 1869 cannot continue forever
without impovcrishing the masses and
practically enslaving them-unless, al
is probable, they revolt and destroy
!. titles 10 property pciore WY "eeo''S
slaves. Since 1860 eighty per cent Of
our wealth has changed from the pos
session of eighty per cent Of our popu
lation To ten per cent. of it. This pro
cess continued few decades longer
will wreck our republic. Something
must stop it. A republic is safe only
when wealth is comparatively event,
distributed and when labor receive
its Just reward. Protective tariffs
special privileges. monopolics, trusts
millionaivcs, billionaires. mortgage
farmers, tenant farmers, paupers
: tramps slaves-ali of these are blu
mile stones on the road TO ruin.
! Even if Mr. Davenport is mistake
a. to the cause of the disease and rem
edy for it--as is probable-he has wri'
ten a book that will arouse carnes
thought in the minds of all patriot
y citizens as to the future of this nation
? Perhaps. however. the majority Of 1t
readers of Uncle Sans Cabins wi
take less interest in the discussions
: social problems than in the story
y love and marriage with the usual a
g compartments of villainy. murdc
q sclfishness, heroism and cowardice.