The Irish standard., 1896-10-24
OWEN SPEAKS.
He Tells The Truth Concerning the
Living Issues.

! S m. Owen has the following article in
been sent to every farmer in Hennepin
county:
AT the coming election the American
people must decide the most nomentous
and vital questions that ever confronted
them. For the first time in the history OF
the country the colossal corporations and
monopolies are taking an undisguised,
purely partisan part in a great political
controversy. Hitherto the two political
parties, one of which was sure to be in
possession of the government, occupied
the same position towards these monopo-
lies-one of non-interferance if not warm
friendship. But now the situation is rad
ically changed The Republican party
stands as the acknowledged friend and
guardian of trusts and combines, and it's
candidate for. president in his long letter
of acceptance had not one word to say
against them or their extortlons, ana no
amount Of persuas sion has brought word
from him as to his intention towards them
if elected, which must be accepted as an
admission that they will be allowed 70
override law and plunder indiscriminally
in the future as in the past; must be SO ac-
cepted. because they are giving mlll1ons OF
dollars to the campaign fund OF this party,
and they are not likely to make invest
ments of that kind without assurances OF
satisfactory returns.
/; On the other hand, Mr. Bryan publicly
and emphatical!y declares that If elected
he will do everything ne can under the
law to drive all trusts out of existence;
snd il existing laws will not allow II 10 De
done, he will recommend and urge tne en-
actnlent of laws that will. This attitude
texcites the deadly enmity of those despot-
ic, extortionate aggregations Of enormous
wealth, and inspires them with demonlac
determination to preserve themselves, to
perpetuate their despoiing reign regard
less of cost: for no matter what the cost,
the people can be made to foot the bill.
An advance of Is cents ton on hard coal
alone will realize campaign fund OF $lo,-
:O00. .O00~ possibly enough to secure the over
riding of the will Of hundreds of thousands
of American citizens.
This makes clearly defined issue that
lis both new and vital, and it compels vot-
ers to take sides for OF against the polltlcal
power now being exercised by the great
and greedy monopolies of the day; it COM
pels voters to declare whether they want
this to be government of, by and for the
people, or of, by and for monopoly, and
there is no possible way to avoid the issue,
nor is there any room for doubt as to how
to votesfo. give expression to conviction re-
garding this greatest of all questions.
Ever since its birth this journal has
been Industrious an persistent in it's de-
nunciation of and warfare upon monopoly;
first, because Of it's inevitable tendency to
rob wealth producers Of their share Of the
fruits of their toll; and, second, because
ofits manifest intention to take possession
Of the government and, without changing
its form or name, change the republic into
q. pIutocraey, the vilest conceivable form
of government. And now that the supreme
moment has arrived when the American
people are to Lecide, consciously or uncon-
sciously, whether this is to remain re-
public, whether the man or the dollar is
70 rule.it, we cannot, no matter what may
CRY. from waving the danger signal! No
man in hts senses can believe that monop-
oily is making its desperate fight and pour
ling out its millions Of treasure in the inter
Iest. .of the people, OF liberty, or OF popular
Egoyeri1ment. It's object is not to en1anct-
pats but to enslave;; It is not that ~ may
Ebe allowed TO create wealth, but to absorb
E1f from its creators |, @ Jnder the reign of
Eefgantic# monopoly the fna sses& ofi the peo-
lplec 4 III 4 ls