The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-28

by the interest Of the silver Kings. And
We cannot overlook the fact tnat the
majority OF citizens IN the West are small
ireeholding farmers, one-tnird OF theh
mortagrd, whose incomes have been near
ly cut IN TWO by the fall IN Agricultural
prices, who pay three sets OF taxes. those
OF the districts. of the state. and OF the
nation. who have Tor years attributed
| thclr difficulties 10 insufficient coinage,
ana who are penetrated beyond any popu-
lation IA the world with the view that
| they have as citizens OF the American
republic right to material ease and
exemption from anxiety. We are unable
therefore. to feel confident that such
population, conscious OF irresistible weight
In the Union. may not under pressure OF
economic cares. rise the French peas
antry did against what they conceive 10
he unjust eXactions and insist that their
rulers shall at least try TO equalize more
clearly the material position OF all classes.
The mass, sheltered by the ballot. may
vote that way. and II they do there h
no power In the Eastern States TO itsist
them. and no means of avorting a panic
among property holders which would have
all the disastrous effects of a redistrihu-
ti0n Of property As we have repeatedly
said. VS. do not think the movement will
belief in the binding force OF the Eighth
Commandment. but We never remember
the external signs OF possible econ )mic
CONFUSION TO have been 50 menacing.
What an amazing occurrence a Demo
crat victory on the lines of this conven-
tion would he. and what "A rebuke TO the
wisdom OF the wise. The revolt against
property, 80 long predicted In Europe.
would have broken out first of all IN a
country without a monarchy, without
privileged class. and amid q population
every man OF whom is a voter. and can
possess himself without payment of suf-
hcient land All the ideas of all the older
Liberals OF Europe have been realized
in America. and If the Chicago delegates
represent a majority they have all, as
regards the safety of property. been
realized i'm vain. Property. except in the
form Of freehold farms. Is more seriously
threatened than in France. or Ger
many. or Austria, and II Is
threatened by persons who are all edu-
Gated in free schools, possessed OF the
suffrage sufficiently fed, and living IN
houses which are their own rent free.
All the conditions tending 10 social quiet
are present In the West. yet the social
disqulet Is as intense as in the Oldest
country of effete Europe, and displays
itself I'm efforts which are at all events
more likely 10 be successful than those
OF European Socialists. Hatred TO the
rich. as bitter as any felt in the world
has spread itself In a country where,
outside a limited and usually allen resi-
dunn in the great cities. no one Is alb
iectly poor, and poverty Is at ali events
supposed 10 convey no stigma Even To-
day the wise are saying that wealth
rat
the millionaire across the Atlantic Is
rather admired than hated that only In
America can wealth Haunt itself without.
risk OF stirring up anti-social passions.
Yet i'm Chicago we have six hundred dele
gates. representing. II Is believed, a ma
fOrity OF Western men, and their whole
tone. their one animating enthusiasm, IS
defiance 10 the rich. and they accept as
leader Mr.. Altgeld who would apply the
sponge 10 all national debts. ana who
pardoned Anarchists because he thought
The social conditions almost OF necessity
produced anarchlsm We suppose the cN-
planatiou is that wealth IS matter OF
comparison. that whore none are hungry
AN desire exemption from care as acutely
as the hungry desire food, that wishes
SPUR on men 10 envy as strongly as heceS-
stiles. II must be so, or that convention
could never nave htru 'Ir'e'"' az" 80
q lesson r. f. 20 the dreamers wbs thlnK
that If certain forms OF suffering, most
Of them pecuniary. are extinguished IN
the world. universal society VIII ENJOY
millennium of rest. There IS no rest, ana
An this world none IS coming. The truth
is. as IL always was. that man does not
live bv bread alone. that his imagination
U.s. al least as strong as his reason ana
,bat vVhuo he has an aspiration when
a. rratiied only for his neighbor he will
be- capabe OF letting the poison OF
envy affect his heart and brain.
Imagine the freehoders OF Illinois
banding themselves together TO scale
down debts 10y law, because they
scale down debts 10y aw. because they
think their creditors too rich, Jack Cade'
one remembers with a start. was not a
.o,vrsrnan.-T.ondon Spectator