Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-12-03
THE POPULAR Discomfort.
ExhortatiOns which no Not Disturb
Wealth Has Too Many Privileges.

Exhortatfons which no Not Dasturb-
Wealth Has Too Many Privileges.
Postmaster-General Wilson, CARL
Schurz and Henry Watterson (now OF
Paris), all have come forward to tell
the republican party that behind the
demand for free silver coinage is $50
cial discomfort" q widely-spread feel
ing that wealth has too many privi-
leges, too much power, and that the
ordinary citizen isn't getting fair deal.
They do not put it as strongly as this,
of course, for since they address them
selves to the class which enjoys the
privileges and possesses the power,
Messrs. Wilson, 5churz and Watterson
sink their tone 10 respectful COO. The
causes of tbs discomfort, Mr.. Schurz
politely suggests to the self-aggrandiz-
ing rich, should be examined with can
dor, carr and courage" Mr.. Wilson
muTnars that il the popular sense of
grievance rests on any real basis in
oIs1 laws, or in the present working
.f our Industrial organization, those
laws and that organization should be
brought into harmony with democratic
government" Mr.. Watterson remarks
genially to the multi-millionaires of
the trusts. whom Mr.. Stead has CLASH
fed as ''the fatted swine of civiIiza-
tion," that they need politics which
will bring them friends and alliances
policies wide and broad, justifying in
some measure the unlimited accumula-
tons they have been able to pile up in
such relatively short compass of
time"
Nobody needs to be told that the
walls of the plutocratic Jericho will
Lever be shaken by such gentle blasts
as these, yet they are better than no
blasts at all. At least they serve to
increase the respect in which real men
are held who blow the rams horn with
full breath. But the privileged few
who are besought to do something out
OF their free grace and pleasure for the
pinched many are not apt to be dis
turbed greatly by blasts, rude or mild.
They are, as rule, intelligent men, well
acquainted with the actual world, and
they know that as yet their privileges
are in no peril. It is true that down
among the workingmen and farmers,
and up among the educated. thought
full and unselfsh, they are not beloved
or respected. But they also know that
the great mass of middle-class Ameri-
cans, who neither work with their
heads nor yet have large bank accounts,
arc intensely conservative, instructive
" hostile to all changes, the outcome
of which they cannot be certain about.
So long as this class of American citi-
zens, who hold the balance of power.
believe it to be for their interest, to be
safer and more respectable, to side with
the Carnegies, Pullmans and Hunting
tons than with those who give way to
social discomfort" the keen and for
tunate gentlemen lectured deferential-
ly by Messrs. Wilson, Schurz and Wat
terson will have no motive for with
holding the shears from the uttermost
ounce of wool that the back of the pub
lie sheep can be made to yield.
It is not by appeals to the few that
the woes of the many are to be relieved.
AS MIR. Bryan told his audiences during
the campaign, no abuse was ever yet
abolished by those who derived advan-
tage from its existence. Till the many
are wise enough and brave enough to
help themselves they will stay where
they are, sure the while of the approx
ing smile of those who carry the shears.
Nevertheless there is some pleasure to
be taken by the reflective in the dulcet
piping of Messrs. Wilson and Schurz
and Mr.. Watterson's fine performance
on the French horn. The truth, how
ever diluted is ALWAYS IN he Welcomed
IN. Y. Journal.