The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-08-27

river pore 80 siasie rt,rng rnlng except the
Indian in his canoe pursuing a pathway Of
destruction. There was no Industrial CO.
operation. because the Indian was a savage
and did not understand the principles by
which men aid each other in taking from
the bosom of the earth the wealth which
makes life bearable and develops the intel
ligercc which makes civilization. Anything
that attacks that basis of human conf
dence is
A Crime Against Civilization,
and a blow against the foundations OF
social Crder. " herevrr YOU find populis.s
assembled you will lind discussions proceed
hs upon the theory chat men are hostile
TO each other in their interests; that the
condition of life is one of contest. At
Chicago Mr.. Bryan declared:
when you come before us and tell US
that we shall disturb your business inter-
ests we reply that You have disturbed our
business interests "a voice: He was
right').
He was, my friend. When a man loses
all sense, he has a right TO defy those
that possess any. daughter. In a con-
yention of extremists the most excited will
always be selected for a leader. Your pros.
poets are not bad. | merely desire TO call
the attention Of this gathering 10 the
character OF that speech, to the underlying
spirit that pervades it, and then to ssk
the workinsmen Of this country, to ask
the tlllLtus u his HdilUU, IL tue HONpTn-
ment should be trusted to the hands If
men whose conception of civilized society
Is one of warfare and strife.
We believe that the very essence of
civilization Is mutual interest, mutual for
bearance, mutual cooperation. We believe
the world has got past the time when
mems hands are at each others threats.
We believe to-day that men stand shoulder
to shoulder, working together for 4 COM
mon purpose, beneficial TO all, and we be-
Heve that this attempt to assail wages,
which means an attempt to attack the
prosperity of all, will be resisted, not by
q class, but by the whole nation. What
labor has gained that shall 1t keep. The
rate of wages paid TO it to-day Is the lowest
rate we will ever willingly accept. We
look forward to a farther and farther In
crease In the prosperity OF workingmen,
not merely by an increase in the daily
wage, but by a further increase In the
purchasing power of wages. Men who tell
us that the price Of farm products have
fallen and that the farmer for that reason
is a sufferer forget that while the price
of wages has risen off the farm the eff
ficiency of labor has increased so that the
cost of production has been reduced through
the aid of machinery, while the wages
of the Individual laborer may have risen.
While wages remain at their present rate
| hope there viii be a further and further
| continuance of decrease in the cost of liv-
ing. There is no way in which / can be
admitted TO a share in Gods bounty eH-
cept through a fall in the prices OF the
necessaries OF life. While we have in ex-
~istence
A system of Mutual Cooperation,
which is but another name for civilized So
ciety. all are admitted to a share In every
bounty which providence showers upon the
earth. The dweller in the tenement, stoop-
ing over bis bench, who never sees a helu
| of waving corn who has never 1nnalpu the
perfume of grasses and of flowers. is yet
made the participator in all the bouGties or
providence, in the purifying influences OF
the atmosphere. in the ripening rays or
the sun when the product or the SOIL Is
made cheaper to. him every day by the
abundance of the harvest. (Applause) 1t
Is from his share in this bounty that the
Populist wants to exclude the American
workingman. To him we say In the name
Of humanity, In the name OF progress, you
shall neither press a crown OF thorns upon
the brow Of labor nor press c scourge upon
his back. (Applause.) You shall not ROD
him Of study, of progress in the skill OK
his craft, and you shall not obscure the
golden prospects Of a further Improvement
in his condition by a further cheapening OF
the cost of living as well as by q furtner
dissertation of the dollar which Is paid 10
him. (Applause.)
The man who raises his hand against the
progress Of the workingman raises his hand
against prosperity. He seeks to restrict the
volume Of production, he seeks to degrade
the condition of the man who Is steaoiiy
improving himself and in his own improve
ment Is accomplishing the Improvement OF
all mankind, but this attempt Will fail.
l do not regret this campaign. The time
has come when the people OF this country
will show their capacity for self-govern-
ment. They will prove that the men VINO
have led the world in the pathway or
progress will be jealous guardians or I'D
erty and Of order, They are not to be Sc
duced by appeals to their cupidity or
moved by threats Of inquiry. They Will
forever guard and jealousy guard and trim
the lamp Of enlightenment and progress.
They will ever relentlessly press and crush
under their heels the flaming torch or Popu-
list dissent, Populist agitation and Populist
destruction. When this tide OF agitation
shall have receded this assault upon com
mon honesty and upon industry shall have
been abated forever. the foundations OF
this republic will remain undisturbed. This
government will still shelter a people In
dissolubly welded to liberty and order, 5eal-
ously fOrbidding any distinction OF burden
or of privilege. conserving property. main
tanning morality, resting forever upon the
broad basis of American patriotism and
American Intelligence. y