The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-21
CLASSES AND MASSES.
Bryanite Who Objects to CIeve-
lands Criticism of Trusts.

To the Editor of the Globe
d efore the election great deal was said
IN the papers and on the rostrum about
up from the gold standard press. platform
and pulpit in opposition to the so-called
appear TO class prejudice which was being
mace by the free silver people. The b e.
II remember CORRECTLY, took active part
IN this opposition. 1t quoted very largely
from Washington's farewell address to show
the Dangers OF the American people dividing
classes that they called for It's republica-
ton, which was granted. We were often
reminded by the gold standard press that
there were no classes in this country I be-
lteve the G 4 o b g iterated this statement
Now 1T occurred to me that If there were
ana are no classes in this country, there
was no =. reason for this loud, prolonged howl
ABOUT appealing to class prejudice" True,
the s1Iverites in that case had no reason
for making the appeal but If they did. no
narm could come to any but themselves.
makes 'em squirm?'' Now we regret the
existence Of classes in this country as much
as Washington did. We deprecate their po-
htical activity even as he did, but. while
we see the dangers that he forewarned us
OF, we see no way to alter the facts. But,
\! Mr. q 0 e, they are here, and we can't help
IT, we confront the danger, and we sought
IN the late campaign to arraign them be-
fore the American people. They naturally
objected They do not like to be '.herded
by themselves They are not handsome
tried to lose them7elves in the great mass
Ihat there Is an aggregation of classes
selhshly interested against the masses cannot
pc denied even by the G e. The G 0 b @
has too often referred to trusts and COM
pines and special interests" and "bene-
nciaries as living off the toiling masses
through legislative favors, etc., to be misun-
derstood. Must We, then, ignore this condi-
ton Of things in the campaigns and at the
ballot box while we toot our little horns
at them between campaigns only?
Take the great railroad a
great manufacturing corporations, the great
wheat buying corporations, the milling cor
porauons, the sugar corporations, the iron
corporations, the oil corporations, the coal
corporations and the hundred and one other
semi-political corporations and note their
cancellations into mammoth trusts and COM
binat1ons and 1t is enough to startle the
very dummies in your streets. This mighty
aggregation Of class interests understood
right well how to vote and labor and spend
money In its own behalf.
1t understood how to distribute its dishon-
est dollars. where they would do the most
good, and not one Of them found it's way
into the Golfers Of the committee that sup
ported Bryan
The great Republican party, and prior to
last July, the great Democratic party, were
both honeycombed with these diabolic infiu-
ences. But when the split occurred at Chi
cago these gigantic interests, represented by
such men as Hon. d. w. Lawler, Judge Elan
drau, Calvin E. Brice, w. G. Whitney and
others, broke away from the great majority
and joined the remnant which the o b e
says was SO overwhelmingly Endorsed by the
voice of the people,. The voice of the peo-
pie In this case Endorsed every trust, COM
bine and oppressive monopoly in the land
The G o voted with them and for them
So did nine-tenths Of the daily press of the
country, and 1t Ill becomes the G l o b e or
Mr.. Cleveland, or even Matt Quay, to con-
denim them now. The only people whose
skirts are clean are those who voted against
the gold standard. The Classes have won
the victory. Let them have the fruits there
of. Don't make faces at them now. They
are hideous to every right-thinking American,
to be sure, but it is hardly In good form for
those who placed them in the saddle to try
to unhorse them now. Don't make them too
conspicuous, dear G b e.. They will object.
You will soon be an anarchist trying to ar
ray "class against Glass; and even the pulpit
will jump onto you then. ] have no doubt
that when these mighty combines come up
before the Judge of all the earth and find
themselves on the left with the goats they
will wear look OF injured innocence, and
accuse the Mighty Judge Of ''arraying class
against Glass; and, they will take their
sentence DEPART" as case of most fragrant
and unjustifable 'class legislation
Meantime, when Bryan is elected, in 1900,
they will get their just deserts in short order
and the ghost of Washington will dance for
joy.
There is still hope for the 0 BE.
Thomas G. Hodgson.