Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-08-24


prosperity he had ruined.
Let US follow this argument little.
LET rs see what he means to do. ac-
cording to his own lights. We see
that he can't enrich one man without
impoverishing another. Government
never can be generous, because if it
be generous to one it must be op-
pressive to another. Bryan does not
pretend that by any power given him
from Heaven he can find anything on
the surface of this earth that has not
got an owner, and therefore, he can't
honestly bestow it upon favorite.
But his financial scheme contem-
plates an increase in the price of GER
tain commodities. Mr.. Bryan pro-
poses to increase the price of COM
modities. II he means anything he
means that, and I am not quite sure
that he means anything.
Therefore, it is fair to assume that
is not the lame and impotent conclu-
sion which this Populist revolution
contemplates. What then is it? 1t is
an increase of in the price of COM
modities and allowing labor to shift
for itself. IF the price of commodi-
ties be increased and and the price of
labor be left stationary, why that
means cutting down of the rate of
wages.
But as matter of fact, diminution
in the rate of wages does not not in
crease the scope of employment. You
cannot have high wages unless there
is an extensive production in every
department of industry and that is
why I claim that the wages is the one
sole test Of a country's condition;
that high wages mean abundant Pro-
lection, and abundance necessarily
means prosperity.
This proposal of the Populists is an
attempt to enlist the farmer in con-
spiracy to reduce the wages paid this
labor, that he may have a larger pro-
portion of his own products, and they
are willing to cut down the wages of
every man who works in cities, who
tolls at the bench, who digs in the
mines, who manages the train, in the
hope that they can ride into power on
wave of cupidity and greed awaken
ed in the breast of the voter.
Men of New York, toilers of Ameri-
ca, guardians of your own homes will
you allow your rate of wages to be
affected (cries of "Never! Never!")
by any man who never paid wages at
all if he could get out of it? Will you
submit to this conspiracy between the
professional farmers, the farmers who
cultivate the quarrels of their neigh
bors, farmers who labor with their
jaws, Populist agitators of the West
and the unreconciled slave holders of
the South?
Now, the underlying trouble with
all Populisto is that they have fun
damental misconception of the prin-
ciples on which civilized society is
constructed
I merely desire to call the attention |
o fIthis gatheringTto the character of |
that speech, to the underlying spirit |
that pervades it, and then to ask the
of this country, to ask the |
of this nation if the Gov
eminent sho uld be trusted to the
hands of men whose conception of
civilized society is one of warfare and
Of strife.
I am glad this issue has arisen. The
time has come when the people of
this country will show their capacity
for selfgovernment. They will prove
that the men who have led the world
in the pathway of progress will be
the jealous guardians of liberty and of
order. They are not to be seduced
oy appeals to their cupidity or moved
oy threats Of injury. They will for
aver jealousy guard and trim the
amp of enlightenment, of progress
They will ever relentlessly press and
crush under their heels the flaming
5orch of Populist discomfort, Popu-
list agitation and Populist destruction.
When this tide of agitation shall
have receded-this tide of Populist
agitation, this assault upon common
honesty and upon industry shall have
been abated forever, the foundations
IF this Republic will rem ain undis-
jurbed. This Government will still
shelter a people indissolubly welded
70 liberty and order, jealousy forbid
ling any distinction of burden or of
conserving property, main
aiming morality, resting forever up
On the broad basis of American patri-
otism and American intelligence. CAP