The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-03-18
Vesta, MINI
SEES DANGER AHEAD.

SEES DANGER AHEAD.
The Question of Human Rights Discussed.
Editor Representative:
have been denounced Tor years because
l was a radical, and fought for every
plank i'm the Omaha platform; but reflec-
tion and study have led me to believe that
we should not try to accomplish too much,
if thereby we lose everything. In our
last campaign IN this state we left out the
subtreasury plank and gained votes by
doing so. AS a delegate to our annual
convention in January, when our commit
tee on platform reported I was in favor
CT endorsing them; so was DR.. Johnson
and Brother l.. G. Long and many others
and very short time had elapsed when
we were endorsed by the great silver con-
vent.on, with a platform identical with
what we offered, with the exception CT
the Initiative and Referendum, which we
endorsed. l am sure we all endorse the
Omaha platform in its entirety; and I for
one am in favor of making our platform
short and confine it to the main issue
the money question. And therefore
contend that if there is any way whereby
we can once more put the control of gov
eminent into the hands of the people it is
our duty to do so, even # we are obliged
to let go some of our cherished principles
for the present.
l am only common farmer, but have
learned a few things by experience and
study. 1t is nearly two years since the
repeal of the Sherman act. We were told
then the purchase of silver was the cause
9 ry,I A~II
duction IS the cause. When will all the
fools get tired believing such trash?
History repeats itself; but nations re-
fuse to learn the lessons and take warm
ing. We as a nation would do we'll to
learn the lesson. For more than a CEN
fury we have had the opportunity to solve
the questions of human liberty and ma
tional righteousness. But we have not
made the best use of our opportunities
All over this land the working people are
being robbed and plundered of the fruit
of their toll by corporations and organized
greed, with the sanction of the govern
ment. Now it is the Standard Oil Trust
that robs us of fifty millions of dollars;
and then the Beef Trust plumbers us of
fifty millions more; then the president of
this great republic sells us and our chill
dren into bondage to the Rothschilds of
England and rObs us of our freedom.
Workingmen are denied the right to live
in comfort and are robbed of the fruit of
their toll by class who do little or no
work, and this under the form of law.
They are compelled to work for less than
they can support their families in comfort
and live honestly and respectfully. Their
wages are reduced from time to time to the
lowest possible 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 drudgery without any tine for recrea-
tion or self improvement. To strike for
their rights is crime against the law and
treason to the government and punished
with death by the bullet or arrest and I'M
prisonment and the deadly black list To
be known as labor leader is to expose
one to prosecution and persecution, per-
haps Imprisonment, but to plumber the
people brings it's sure reward To tramp
the country IN search of work is a crime
against society. man can find no work
and he must not steal or beg. The gov
eminent gives him the glorious privilege
of starving or committing suicide. Would
it not be more humane to shoot all men
out of work? This would furnish our ma
tional and state soldiers with job, so
that they could earn their pay. Sudden
death is better than slow starvation hence
more respectable. Let congress hurry up
and pass law to that effect
Unjust legislation is the rule. The in
come tax has been declared unconstitu-
tional by the supreme court Any law
passed by congress in favor Of the poor
and to compel the rich to bear full share
of the expense of the government is un-
stitut.Onal; but any law passed BY con-
gress against the poor and in favor of the
rich is constitutional. The silver ustars
rich is constitutional. The poor have no
rights which the rich are bound to respect.
This is no longer republic except in
name. Our forefathers fought, bled and
died IN vain. 1t is now a government
of bondholders by bondholders and for
bOndholders only. What England failed
to do by the sword she has acomplishced
at last by bribery and gold. England
may rejoice as she sees the poor fools of
America starving and all ON account of
party allegiance.
1t makes me sick to see the condition of
our country. We are a nation of slaves,
owned and controlled by few masters.
The republic exists only in name. The
increased army and state militia has done
the work for which it was organized
VIII not God take vengeance on such q
nation as this? I affirm that a govern
ment which thus enters into a conspir-
acy with the wealthy classes against the