Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1896-03-20

A time when labor was employed at
remunerative wages and when there
was no excnse or room for tramps. A!
time when the metallic chink of mon
ey aroused energy, industry and en-
terprise among the people and caused
even the desert to blossom as the rose.
Thus honest, intelligent, patriotic and
true the pioneers of the Western
Slope .subdued the wilderness. made
the waste places habitable and added
prosperous States to the Union. And
when, subsequently, there was the
storm and horror of civil war in the
land, this patriotic people hesitated
not to pour out their treasure like
water to preserve the integrity of the
government, the faith of the found
ers and the Union of the States. They
were prosperous then. That was be-
fore silver was demonetiZed. That
was when there was the free and un-
limited coinage of golL and silver
without discrimination against either
metal at the mints. That was when
the money metals renamed at a rar-
lty OF Lotto l. That was when we had
honest dollars and sound money. Our
people were prosperous then, but they
are poor now, and why? | see to. day
the great freight depot buildings of
the railroads almost empty and the
platforms bare | see the wreck of
great wagons and coaches strcwn
here and there. | see desOIate min
ing camps and millions of dollars
worth Of milling and mining machin-
cry abandoned and lett TO wreck and
rust beside the silent mines. | see
homes deserted, farms idle and hum
dreds ofgood men tramping the
try In search of employment. Why?
AL this decadence has come about
since cunning John Sherman and his
dupes and followers joined hands
with certain shrewd'iinanciers of a
rival government to demonetiZe silver
and enhance gold, TO ~impoyerish the
people and enslave labor in the inter
est Of the few at the expense of the
many, and right royalty have they
succeeded. Since it seems to be the
unfortunate disposition of frail hui
manity to kick d man when he is
down, pelt the under dog in the fight
and hate the individual or the com.
murity we have Intentionally injured,
1t should be no matter Of surprise to
have the non-produc.ng gold-bugs,
the sharks AID Shylocks who have
robbed the people of their birth-right
and are growing fat On the necessities
OF the masses, sneeIingly and taunt-
ingly elude to the advocates of the
rights OF the people, the money of the
constitution, as the disreputable silver
barons Of the West. Even Mr.. Grover
Cleveland, or Mr.. President if you
will, but a short time since thrust his
plutocratic horn above the altar of q
church and golemnly warned the PEG
pie of the East, SO to speak, against
the ignorant and vicious PEG.
pie Of the West, to which
the Rev. De Wit Talmage
who has had some gilt edged things
to say for the Car of Russia, respond
ed in a long ministerial amen. Great
10 the Goddess Diana of the Ephesians.
Great also a Jezebele in the days
OF her power and i'll gotten wealth.
but she fell headIong to her death in
the street, where her remains were
stunned by wen the furnishing dogs
Of a great city.
Sound money, indeed! The two
hundred cent gold dollar, to main.
tain which two hundred and sixty.
two millions OF bonds have been is.
sued, taxing the people for genera
tons to support the rich and add mil
lions nor Of money TO tue idle, un-
taxed. nOn-prOiuc'ng classes; is not
that the% financial stress under which
we have been sailing since yicjous