The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-06-20
SHALL WE HAVE AN ARIsToCRACY?

/
doubts the right of every able-bodied
person in the country to go to Europe
| if they pay their own expenses, but do
they?
We need not be told that 1t is the
wealthy class alone that can indulge
In foreign travel. The farmer, the
mechanic, the laborer and the small
tradeSman never dream of such lux
uries. Among the latter class we find
most Of our population. 1t is the few
who enjoy the luxuries. 1t requires
money to pay these tourists bills, and
how do they get it? Making proper
allowance for exceptional cases, it is
fair to say most of it is acquired by
sanction of laws which favor the rich
and Cypress the poor. There Is an az
lection of righteous protest when the
claim is made, but it is a fact neverthe-
less. The cry that genius and enter
prise are not to be hampered in this
country is well enough, so long as toll
and industry enjoy equal privileges.
The one favored son of genius should
| have full sway to exercise his gifts, so
| long as there is no encroachment on
the rights of the ninety-nine who are
equally deserving, but have not the
mental acumen TO compete with genius.
In certain sense, all have an equal
chance to try, but hundreds fail where
few succeed, through no fault of
their own, but simply because they
| have not the ability to cope with the
| favored ones.
How does it work? Laws are enact
ed, we say, by the peoples representa-
tives, but who are the representatives?
| Not the men of sound integrity nor
average ability by any means. Here
again, is the place for exceptions, but
| the rule is-and we all know it-that
| it is Mr.. Schemer, with native ednOw-
ment above the average, and COM
mon integrity far below the normal
standard, who works his way to legis
lative halls. The one deficiency sup
| Elements the other most admirably.
Not hampered by scruples, he plies his
native wits to perpetuate himself in
office, and to rake in the emoluments.
/ Here is the vulnerable point in the
business of law making. Naturally the
query arises: Why is the remedy not
| applied? Well, it is sometimes, but
| from sheer incapacity and careless
ness On the part Of the masses, the
| willy leader and manipulation in poll
| tics directs the campaign and controls
the vote. The exceptions TO this class
of legislators are seldom in the major
ity, hence laws Of the grade and color
which we might expect.
Here is the opportunity to use money
in legislation. Has it been done? 1t
is a traverSity upon the truth TO ask it
The coadjutor in shrewdness-the man
who figures-is on hand with his thous-
andS in ready cash. He knows where
and how to use it. The sign is con-
spicuous, as though displayed in black
type at the members desk. A vote for
sale! For particulars apply at the
lobby. Can good laws come from such
compact? These are the methods
which produce laws authorizing trusts
and combines. 1t is by such means
that railway corporations are allowed
to use valuable franchises, granted by
the people, TO fix arbitrary and ruin
Gus rates, and thus impoverish their
patrons. 1t is by the sanction of such
legislative bodies that the gamblers in
option and counterfeit margins are al
lowed to manipulate the price of our
staples, fixing the profit Of the pro
Queer TO Il cent. 1t was thought this
diabolical agency that half the money
metal Of this county was demonetized,
leaving the other half so easily subject
to manipulation by 4 few millionaires
who have the means to handle il. 1t is
such legislation that fosters and builds
up the colossal fortunes which admits
of foreign travel.
1t is a fact which admits of no two
Interpretations. that right in the midst
of these days of depression and whole
sale bankruptcy, there has never been
such useless and profiigate expendi-
ture of money by the wealthy class
since the beginning of history. The
humiliatinS and portentious feature Of
it IS, that it is done under the forms |
and sanction of laws. The people be-
ing the creatures of lawmakers. are
not blameleSS. IL is 4 tribute TO the
cunning and calibre OF their represen-
tatives that they should clothe them |
with such privileges. II is Indirectly |
striking at the forge, and welding the |
chains that bind them II is the one
effectual measure Of contributing Of |
their rightful earnings toward sum- |
mer vacations foreign travel. costly !
entertainments and even greater than |
oriental luxury in and around our great |
cities II dinlinishes by so much the |
profits Of labor, which might be ex-
pended in education and common COM
forts. and concentrates Il in the hands /
OF the few who commit TO worse than !
waste in foreign lands. Is this indeed !,
4 popular government? DO the people |
rule? Is there fair distribution OF the I.
profits of labor and natural resources
Are We building al aristocracy that IS (
TO degrade Us to the level Of feudal ser /
vice: Does the voter see whittier we
are tending:
TIE ToRRENS SYSTEM
Illinois has By legislative act done