Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-09-18
THE NEW ERA.

The NEW EhA.
This is the evening of revelation and the
morning of demonstration and it is only a rea-
sonable service that one proves what he declares
to be true.
We are living in practical age, and the
race has progressed to degree of intelligence
where it demands proof.
The past decade has served we'll as an edu-
Gator. 1t has taught the men of our time to
think and investigate for themselves, and the
laboring classes are beginning to wonder why
it is, with all their toling and wise economy,
they are getting poorer, while few of our
countrymen are, to-day, burdened with riches.
Perhaps there is not question of to-day
more dominant in the minds of the people than
the money question. On the street-corners, in
the banking houses and i'll legislative halls
alike, men are grouped together, talking over
the money question, and some are just as san
gune in telling you that gold, and gold money
only will save the nation from bankruptcy as
others are in declaring for the free coinage of
silver.
Now, let Inc ask you one question-you gold
twenty-three years of gold-standard policy, that
the condition of this country is better, and that
are more prosperous than before? Has it
bettered the condition of the farmer or work
ingnan? Let them answer for themselves.
You, yourselves, admit there is crisis at hand.
What is coming? Can you tell?
Perhaps you gold men are all of one opinion.
l am going to tell you the opinion of one gold
standard man twenty years ago. He was a
man we had watched with pride as the years
rolled by, and all the people said "our Dan"
would make his mark in the world some day.
state legislature, and sent him up to Lansing
Michigan, in grand style. O, so fond of him!
Two or three years later, there was going to be
one of the biggest G. o. p. rallies in our town
that we had ever witnessed. On all the post
ers you could run and read: "Our Dan will be
and took their mothers, wives and sweethearts
He told us many things, and finally told us
what, in his opinion, was wrong with the poor
people of America. He said the poor tried too
hard to be on an equality with the rich. He
said poor mans wife had no business with
carpet OH her floor; had no right to wear silk
dresses; and poor mans baby had no right to
be pushed around in perambulatof. He said:
"We will never see good times in America un-
til the poor are forced to work for "a sleeps
head and pluck day. as they are in old
England.'
England, a gold-standard country, and we
aping her! Well, we have nearly come to that
and how do you like it? This is the proof,
you see, of these statements.
The money power of this and the old coun-
tries reminds one of the great maelstrom into
which the old whaling ships were drawn-and
many ship went down until they found way
by which they could tell they were being drawn
into its circles in time to avoid its deadly en-
brace So it has been with the money ring.
You have been drawn into its deadly circle
almost unawares, and you are just beginning
to awaken to the situation. Is it too late to
turn back? Mo- AS true Americans, it is not
too late for us to throw off the shackles that
bind you.
Why is it that England opposes the free
coinage of silver in America? Because she
knows coinage act would not produce cheap
Concluded on editorial page.