The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-01

arrairned against the rich. Ten years
ago a contest on these lines would have
been impossible, ana its coming shows
that the sense OF national solidarity mas
weakened. and that the bonds of coher-
ence have relaxed. We see the farmer
arrayed against the manufactures, the
employee against the employer. the pro-
ducer against the consumer.
1.-The fact Of this antagonism seems 20
have dawned upon the South ana the
West as a new discovery and the result
is that a great skepticism attacks those
fundamental points where the identity
Of interests IS perfect. In a republic
above oil. there IS an absolute identity OF
interest between all classes. Three
points have been attacked. The people
have become skeptical of the mainten-
ance OF law and order, OF the mainten-
ance of the impartiality Of the judiciary
and OF the maintenance Of the stability
OF the standard OF value.
THE first is a common interest 10 ALL
above all in "A republic. Law Is the viii
of the people. Sometimes Il seems not
TO be so. but IN such cases the people
do not clearly know their own minds,
for II they did, every obstacle would melt
Ike wax. TO say I'm a republic that law
should not prevail or should not be ox-
ccuted, that the will of the people should
not be obeyed. for the people themselves
10 say and do this is 20 commit moral
suicide The maintenance OF law Is OF
equal interest 10 rich and poor.
1.-The judiciary IS an interest common
20 rich and poor. Judges may err the
tribunal OF last appeal may make mis-
takes, but the realization OF this and the
fact that the judiciary changes its own
decisions means 10 more than that the
public sentiment Of Justice is progressing.
and that Judges I'm time. absorb this sem
timent. The deliberate proposal to pack
n court for a party-no matter how good
for a cause-no matter how glorious, IS
to impair the essential character Of the
court, and 10 cut at the root Of our re-
spect for IL. So far as men can, the
judiciary intorprets the law according 10
the light of reason. without party or
prejudice. and Il IS the proud distinction
of the American people that they have
protected the courts against themselves.
The stability OF value IS common
interest 10 the consumer and producer,
the employer and cmplayee, the farmer
and the merchant. IL IS those who car-
~ the heavy burden of life that the
appeal 70 change II has been made. /
DO not see how this appeal can be made
success fully when the results VIII DE
olnmetIlcdllN olpOSeu TO ilvHc oN'il rt'
instability of the standard OF value brings
with IL a contraction. and thousands Will
be turned out on the streets for want OF
work. If there comes a period Of in
nation. the result IS even more dlsas-
trous 10 the wage-earners. Nothing IS
more important to wage-earners than
steadiness of work. 1t Will never be
10 their interest to have production go
forward by leaps and starts. II Is 10
their interest 10 keep 1t steady. II IS
freely admitted that the wages OF labor
do not rise with the prices OF commodi-
ties. and so when the prices go up, the
purchasing power OF money is decreased.
Not then, by receiving more money, the
token of wealth. but by citing greater
share Of the actual wealth VIII the work
neman better himself2 The endeayor
10 knock the bottom out OF the standard
OF value Is Ike the parable Of the steer
age passengers. They were confined in
the close quarters OF the Storage, with
bad air ard bad food, and when they
thought Of the passengers IN the first
cabin enjoying all the luXuIies ana COM
forts of life. they rohelled. Finally they
decided on action and they stove hole
i'm the bottom of the ship-not In tho
steerage. but under the first cabin You
may imagine the rest. The intention 10
ruin a class brings ruin for all, for, Ike
the storage and first-cabin passengers.
we Gre all in one boat. and if part perish
SO must the remainder.