People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-07-04

from time to time TO the lowest pos
sible point, upon which they can
hardly exist, without any reference to
their earnings, or the ability Of
capital to pay. They are compelled
to work long hours, many of them
seven days in the week, their life
being one continual round OF drudg-
cry without any time for recreation
or self-improyemeut. To strike for
their rights is crime against the law
and treason to the government, and
punished with death by the bullet, or
arrest, Imprisonment, and the deadly
blacklist. To be known as labor
leader is to expose him to prosecution
and persecution, perhaps impriSoD-
ment; but toplunder the people brings
its sure reward.
To tramp the country in search Of
work is a crime against society. A
man can find no work and he must
not steal nor beg. The government
gives him the glorious privilege to
starve or commit suicide. Would it
not be more humaue to shoot all men
out of work, and their families? This
would furnish our national and state
soldiers with job so that they could
earn their pay. Sudden death is
better than starvation, hence, more
ethical, polite and respectable. Let
congress hurry up and pass law to
that effect.
Unjust legislation is the rule and
corruption rcigns supreme in high
places. The income tax has been
declared unconstitutional by the
supreme court. Any law passed by
congress in favor of the poor and
to compel the rich to bear a full share
Of the expense of the government
is unconstitutional; but any law pas
sed by congress against the poor and
in favor of the rich is constitutional.
Grand old constitution Three cheers
for the cOnstitution-On the mkt
Fourth of July! Hurrah for the flag!
'LOng may it wave over the land Of
the free and the home or the brave!"
The poor have no rights which the
rich are bound to respect. This is no
longer republic except in name. Our
fore-fathers fought, bled and died in
vain. 1t is now government OF bond
holders, by bOndhOlders, and'for bond
holders only. What England failed
to do by the sworu she has accom-
plished at last by bribery and gold.
Three cheers for Queen Victoria, and
three times three cheers for the
Prince Of Wales and Baron ROlhs-
child. Ye free-born Americans, but
now sold into slavery, take off your
hats to your lord and master, and kiss
the feet of your conQuerer. Long live
the king The fourth Of July no
longer has any meaning to US. The
mass Of the people are now denied
the right to life, liberty and pursuit
Of happiness" We are a nation of
slaves, owned and controlled by a few
masters. The republic exists only in
name. The increased army and state
militia has done the work for which
it was organized. Good-by liberty.
Farewell to freedom! The govern
ment instead of defending the weak
and helpless from the entertainments
of the strong. aids and assists the
strong in plundering the helpless and
defenSeless.
Will God take vengeance on such a
nation as this? l affirm that a gov
eminent which thus enters into a con-
spiracy with the wealthy classes
against the rights and liberties of the
people cannot long endure. We have
sown to the wind and we shall reap
the whirlwind. We are sowing the
seeds Of corruption, decay and death.
1t the same crime of the Egyptians
against the Jews iG my text. fear
that we are nearing revolution, ma
tiOnal disaster and blood atonement.
As patriot, as a man, am afraid of
it. wOul1 avoid it, but this can
only be accomplished by square deal
ing and righteous legislation in the
interests of the people. The legisla-
tiOn of the past twenty years and our
present conditions are enough to
make one weep who loves his fellow
men and to tremble for the fu ture.
Do you say that all is peaceful and
serene in our land? l answer, yes;
but it is not the peace of the grave
yard. 1t is the awful stiffness which
precedes the coming cyclone of the
western states. 1t is the apparent
stiffness which alarms me, when |
know that the fires of discomfort and
hate are burning in the hearts of mil
lions of men. This pent-up wrath
will explode by and by if there be not
a vent, and then may God have mercy
upon the plunderers of the people.
The elements of destruction are
within orr borders and all around uv