The herald., 1896-10-26
BRYAN VS.. RUIN,

Editor Herald: In a former letter "a
Logical Conversion, Los Angeles Heraio,
October II, 1886 1 stated some OF the
reasons why intend to vote for free
| coinage. Today I propose to show why
every lover of humanity ought 10 Ioi-
low my example. I have proven IN the
former letter that proportionate oe-
preston in prices Is the necessary con-
sequence of every contraction OF the
currency; that the demonstration or
silver was the most widespread, tre-
| mendous contraction of the currency
ever inflicted upon the world. Less than
| fifty years ago the producers, the me-
chanics and working classes. so-calleo,
were in pre-eminently prosperous con-
ditiOn. Employment was STEADY anu
remunerative, and the average charac-
ter of the working people was mani!
and self-reliant. They needed no watch
ing, but did their work conscientiously,
and were too honorable to take JoD
away from another worker. Their per-
sons and homes were neat. TramplnS
idleness and pauperism were unknown
among them-in fact, mechanical crafts
were thought so absolutely secure
basis for an honorable and Independent
support that it became customary in
families of wealth and noble lineage to
have their sons taught trade.
They looked the whole world in the face,
For they owed not any man.
Today fully one-third of the would
be workers tramp in enforced idleness,
and SO long has work been intermittent
and uncertain, SO short and far apart
the intervals of labor, that in many
cases the muscles are softened and skill
Is forgotten. The great mass of the re-
manning two-thirds maintain precari-
Gus existence among conditions of debt
and anxiety while only few fortunate
ones, thanks to the influence of labor
unions, maintain self-respect among
the decencies of existence.
What would this earth be without the
workers? Suppose capitalistic bankers
were the only inhabitants of the world
and all the workers dead, how long
would it take before every one would
die of starvation on desoiata earth?
Is not all the beauty of existence, all its
comfort. all it's nobility, absolutely de-
pendent on the workers? Not that I
would belittle the influence of the d.
rectors, organizers, systematizers, in
ventors, economizers. They are like
the lever in mechanics-they multiply
the effects of the units of labor, and
while humanity with labor might live
without them, it lives better with them,
and they are fairly entitled to liberal
share in the distribution Of the products
Of labor.
The process of centralizing the owner
ship of the earth and all the good there
is in it in the hands of a few wealthy
irresponsible non-producers has been
going on for many years, and an eco
nomic bondage, worse than chattel
slavery, demoralizes, degrades and
threatens irretrievably to enthrall the
masses Of mankind, its producers.
Worse than chattel slavery" I say
| advisedly, for slaves were very costly
| property, and it paid the owners to take
good care of their physical welfare, and
tf,sy tow n1rro TO ,ad tNr
| moral darky. The slaves never suffered
| for the necessaries, and the terrors Of
| debt, of poverty, of being without food
or shelter in a cold world, never troub-
led his mind. Recreation, fun, song and
dance were frequent and plenty dur
ing the intervals of labor, while sympa--
| thy between owners and slaves tended
| to grow from the permanency Of the do
mestic relations.
By contrast, the present system has
| developed deep-seated and intense ha-
| tired between employer and employe,
| and for valid reasons. For while the
owner appropriates nearly the whole of
| the wealth produced, he gives to the
| producer, for Just so long as he needs
| his services, and for no longer, a pittance
| barely sufficient to keep soul and body
| together, while the work lasts, and no
| longer, and then turns him adrift. After
this neither society nor his own con-
y,
whether the producer dies of quick sta r.
walton or slowly from the effects of un
! sanitary surroundings and depression,
aggravated by hopelessly desolatc
present and prospect.
This process is now operative with
continually more aggravating severity,
brutalizing the producing masses and
demoralizing the wealthy few-the for
mer through squalor and hopeless mis-
ery-the latter through indulgence, sur
felt and the intensif1cation of those vices
and passions, which grow up inevitably
| where and whenever unrestrained
power can shield its possessors from the
| natural consequences of immoral con-
duct.
II this process now under such tre-
| mendous headway, Is permitted to go or
in the United States, 1t not only forbodes
the utter degradation of the race, but
fierce. frenzied upheaval, by the side
Of which the horrors of the reign ol
terror" would seem insignificant, anG
mark well, that the detestable trio Of
political trickery, the darkening o.
counsel AMI bribery, as we'll as "im.
perialism with a large standing army,
even If 1t were possible, would be equal
accustomed to the ballot. Twice within
a century have the people of the United
States been called upon to fight the bat
ties of humanity for some great princi
Pile. Under Washington and his galaxy
it was the principle that government
must derive their powers from the con
sent of the governed" Under Lincoll
and his noble fellows it was tha
Slavery Is wrong and that governmen
by the people and for the people is no
a failure" From the knowledge that th
eyes of the oppressed of all nations wer
| upon us, and their hopes and fears will
US, we who fought in that struggle, de
rived the inspiration, which caused u
to exchange happy homes and splendid
business prospects for the privation
of the camp and the dangers of battle
without expectation Of pensions
Once more the people of the Unitet
States are called upon to fight the bat
ties of humanity. Once more the eye
of the oppressed millions of all lands
once more their hopes and fears ar
with us in our struggle, and philanthro
pists and statesmen send us their mes
!. sages of sympathy and encouragement
God grant that peaceful ballots will de
eide the contest.
Let me not be understood as claimin
that free coinage will cure all the evil
of our present system, but only that
is the first, and very important ste
in the turning of the current OF industr
and commerce towards more eQuita
BILE distribution Of the products of labol
by lessening the power OF and return
) on vested capital nd,increasing the re
. wards and influence of productive labo
as have shown in my former letter.
; may be but the first ray penetratin
our terrible economic darkness, but b