Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-04
they Are sowing the Wind.
nrunswick Gazette)


That the railroads Of the State are
using every means within their power 10
coerce their employees into suppottlhs
Mckinley and the single gold stahdaru,
no one who has watched tho progress OF
the campaign can for a moment douDt
Their efforts in that direction are SO
thInly yelled that no one who is DOT
natural-born fool viii fail TO interpret
Alright the meaning OF blr. ingalis A.
tivify and that OF other railroad mag
mates I'm the present contest. Ine TORN
that this activity has now assumed IS
something new to the people OF tlAS o'.t.c,
imported from the North. wheIe LOT Years
ths waee-earners have been held IN po-
litical serfdom by their plutocratic EN-
ployers There for years the practice mas
been for the employer to make known 10
the employees how be inlendeo 10 Nole
In an election, and that they were eN-
pected 10 shape their political cohFlclions
according TO mis- own, or else give place
TO others who would. The employee az
the North has come - understand mat
when he accepts employment no does 50
upOn the implied condition that ne mus
have no political convictions or ms OWL
but must share his political course 10
promote the interest OF his employer re-
eardless OF his own. This IS tyranny or
the most despicable and degrading klhl,
that until now has never been placueeu
lieve the wage-earners OF virginia VIII
ever tamely submit. All that the ral-
roads have a right TO demand and 10 ex-
pect of their employees is a faithiul anu
honest days work in consideration OF the
wages they have stipulated to pay. When
the employees have complied with tneir
contract in this respect they have done
all that the employer has right 10 De-
mand of them. and they should DO leIt
free, like other men, 10 form ana give
l4nt.a al
without the fear OF losing their positions
and being compelled TO join the great army
of the unemployed that has been recruit
ed by the very policy that the raliIoaus
are endeavoring 70 compel them 10 per-
petuate by their votes.
The Constitution and the laws guaran-
tee TO every citizen who Is not disiran-
chsed for crime the right 10 cast MS
ballot free from comprehension OF re-
straint, that he may thus take part IN
shaping the policy of the government
az he may deem best for his own and the
general welfare. This Is the highest
right and the most sacred privilege &C
corded the citizen. without II un9er
our system OF government all else Is out
as sounding brass and a. tinkllns Gym
bal" 1t is the one and the only means
by which grievances can be redressed anu
the weak can protect themselves from the
aggresslons OF the strong. 1t IS a remedy
provided by the wisdom OF our lore,
fathers for the correction or evils ana
abuses that in monarchical governments
can only be corrected by revolution anu
bIoodshed. II has been aptly and truly
described as the fright preventative OF
all rights" Ii is one that no American
citizen who loves his country ana "ould
perpetuate her institutions snculd ever
weld OF sacrifice. 1t is one that he SHOULD
rather guaed and defend at any cost ana
every sacrifice. The individual or the
corporation that IN any way attempts 10
abridge or impair the right OF the citizen
TO cast a free and untrammelled vote IS
an enemy 10 our republican institutions,
aud deserves TO be recognized ana treated
as such. Those who, under the lead OF
Mark Hanna, are attempting by coercion
ia s,ide the voice OF the American peo-
pie in the present contest are Laying up
wrath against the day of wrath. The
day Of reckoning will come. ana then woe
10 those who have laid unholy hanns on
the tenpia Of cur liberties.