The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-08-27

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1t is much the same with wealth. The
greater the amount and rapidity that it is
( showered upon nation, the greater the
number and larger the size of the puddles
and pools that it gathers into. But in
this country estates are not entailed, and
II the second generation does not do So,
the third almost certainly sees it disap-
pear to be again scattered among the peo-
pie. And this method has its uses as well
as abuses. Before pointing out some of
their uses, | wish to reiterate that the
touchstone OF prosperity is the employ
ment OF labor and whoever or whatever
| increases it, confers benefit to the labor
ing community. In this way the million
aire is benefit. His house, costing a
thousand times the amount of yours or
mine. may not shelter him the better nor
yield more comfort, but the building of it
call for a thousand days work where
yours OF mine calls for but one, and the
same in its furnishings. In the care tax
ing of his buildings and grounds it may
employ fifty persons or more while yours
and mine call for none. He is both able
and willing to pay an exorbitant price
for horse that meets his fancy that you
or | may have raised, but could not afford
to retain at hundredth part of the price
He may require yacht built that calls
for ten thousand days work, that except
ing for his wealth could never be given to
labor So you see that by reason of this
wealthy class large demand for the EN-
ployment of labor is created in class of
work that otherwise never would be
given.
| am not saying that millionares are
unalloyed blessings. | only wish to show
Nh 9t thpyT Of yaI 4
! wish it to be inferred that more even
distribution of wealth is not to be desired
and while millionaires may not be desir-
able, country where it is possible for
them to grow is desirable; for too much
rain is preferable to drought and where
wealth does not exist, it is impossible for
it to gather in pools. To equalize wealth
in this, or any other country. or to make
it remain equal could it be done, is Just as
impossible as it would be to make heavy
rainfall remain of equal depth over the
surface OF the earth while that surface
remains in hills and hollows
If you recollect, in 1892, one of the
great cries made against the Republican
party was that by their building up those
industries that employed our wage earners
and created a market for our farm pro
auctions. they were creating favor
ed class that was getting rich out of the
labor of the toiling millions. and the
Democrats proposed to smash this favored
class and release those toiers from their
bondage
Power was given that party to do so.
but owing to the refractory disposition of
their senate, they We're only enabled to
accomplish about one half of what they
undertook to do. But they now come
forward under Blyan's lead. and promise
II again given power that they will fully
complete the job that they will not stay
their hands until every vestige of protec-
ton is swept away.-untii every slIackle
has been stricken from the cramped limbs
of labor, and they shall stand free,-fr
TO contend even handed with every pau
per laborer of Europe, Asia and South
America.
My friends, the results from this par
tlal destruction of our industries YOU
have experienced, and how much better
off do you deem us to be than we should
have been had those wicked corporations
kept right on getting itch until this
date? | will leave each one to figure out
on the ratio of benefits received for the
last three years. and sum up what our
standing would be four years hence. after
eAio Pa tiolIN SOlllpicleu JOD VI ieSlIuClIOn
to our industries is fully accomplished,
and after what remnants of labor would
be left to us is generously paid in fifty
one cent silver dollars.
on will observe that the two roads by
which prosperity is sought widely d.
verge. Where the one seeks to tear down.
the other seeks to build up. The one, in
its blind endeavor to tear down and des-
troy the wealthy class, overlooks the fact
that before 1t can accomplish its purpose,
they must utterly crush the life out of the
poor; while the other, without expecting
to make every man rich, does seek to
place opportunities within the reach of
all, so that by industry and prudence
every oDe may raise himself to a moderate
competence. While the one appeals to
your passions, your envy and your greed,
the other appeals to your reason, your in
tegrity, and your honor.
1t is in vain to deny that through the
warp and wool of this free coinage of
silver scheme there runs a thread of dis
honesty. You may detect it by the very
subtilties aud sophistries by which they
seek to disguise it. 1t is fed by the hope
of getting something for nothing, by the
hope of getting something never earned
by the hope that through the aid of the
sophistries used you may convince your
self that you can pay your neighbor fifty
cents to-day in repayment for the one
hundred cents he loaned to you yesterday,
and still remain an honest man. Can it
be possible that in these closing years of
the nineteenth century the very pith
and marrow has dried up and disappeared
in the old adage, Honesty is the best
policy?'
Can it be that any great numbers of this
country,-a country Wanting itself as
pattern in all that is great, noble and pro
observation-disclosures determine to be-
queath to their descendants for all time a
reputation as defaulters and repudiators,
without even the poor excuse of poverty?
God forbid.
l cannot do better in closing my article
than by quoting the following paragraphs
taken from a speech delivered in the
United States Senate July IL, 1886, upon
the question of the resumption of specie
payments, by the Hon. Charles Sumner of
Massachusetts, than whom no purer or
better statesman ever sat in the Halls of
Congress.
Do not say, as an apology, that all should
have the same currency. True as this may
be, it is a cheat when used to cover dishonor.
n A inst equality is sought by level
ing up instead of leveling down. In this way
the national credit will be maintained so
that if will he a source of wealth. OrOs perjty