The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-03-18

ported to the interior IN exchange,
have had to pay freights far in excess
of what is reasonable in order to
Weld a fair divided on the capital
originally invested. This in spite OF
the Interstate Commerce law which
was passed by Congress essentially
with view to the control of the ex-
tortions Of railroads in handling
freight and to prevent determinations
and rebates.
The United States Treasury is run
as though it were private corpora
ton. The Secretary of the Treas
ury goes to New York when called
upon his masters to receive instruc-
tions. His deputies are constant
visitors at the offices of the men who
control the Treasury from this city.
It is notorious-at least it was
generally reported in the newspa-
pers-that Mr.. Cleveland, in the
early part of 1893, said that Wall
| street had the country by the throat.
We would have naturally looked to
man who appreciated that fact: and
who sought to loosen Wall streets
grip on the country's throat, to have
selected other advisors than men who
are leaders and directors in Wall
street.
But he cody and deliberately open
ed the doors Of the Treasury and bid
those leaders in Wall street enter
and work their own sweet will.
There have already been issued
S262,0OO,O00 of bonds to add to the
burdens of the already desperate tax
payers, and the end is not yet. Still,
we are told that. the financial question
will not be an issue in the next cam
paign.
The best illustration of the exist
ing conditions, and one which will
appeal directly to every farmer in
the United States, is a picture which
I will draw. The idea, however, is
not original me.
Spread the map of the United
States before you. Let US consider
for purpose of illustration that there
is an enormous mich COW, so large
that she can reach half way across
the continent. Suppose her mouth
to be in the Mississippi Valley and
set the myriad wagons and freight
train of that granary of the world
in motion to transport into her capa-
cious nav all the surplus products
of the South and West.
It is a never ending stream, and
the sturdy toilers in the field, with
brawny arms and sunbrowned, toll
stained faces, push forward with the
products of their labor to satisfy
her omniverous appetite.
So much food should produce some
milk. But where is her udder?
Stretch one of her legs back in the
attitude for milking so that it will
rest in New England. The other
hind leg will rest in New Jersey.
The bag hangs over Manhattan Is
land. See the streams of rich, golden
milk drawn from the udder of that
great COW. The farmers feed and
over feed. The milk streams into
the receptacles of the capitalists
the bankers, brokers and spectators
of Wall street.
How much longer, O benighted
sons of toll, will you feed that COW?
You are getting no pailk. How much
longer will you vote like dumb, driven
cattle without considering why vote
or for whom you vote!
Let US reverse this picture. The
last Congress, after a bitter struggle,
passed an income tax measure. The
idea was to have wealth bear some
proportiorate share of the expenses
of the government. From those
who had much it was intended to
take just little.
Congress turned the great milk cow
around and placed her head in New
York and her udder in Washington.
What happened? The Supreme Court
of The United States took the COW by
the throat, checked it to death, and
the poor farmers standing at the
grave have not yet recovered from
their amazement.
No milk!
How much longer will the farmers
submit to have the Supreme Court,
which has become the tool and in
strument of the oppressors, make
the few more wealthy, and the mil
lions poorer?
On this very island of Manhattan
an Astor own II, 900 houses, I have
been told. We are asked to foltify
NJ, Vo,1- l,o,l,o, 4o ,o,oto,t 49,,