The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-11-25
POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS

are vi COnSluerhDle variety III our COuB-
try and much more 80 than formerly.
Eight tickets on our ballot sheet indi'
cate this, and all show the unrest
among the people.
This unrest is not to be wondered at
when we consider the changed and mar.
rowed conditions compared to what
these we're formerly A people cannot
carry the loads that have been piled on
this country without those who bear
the burdens in business and toll realz.
ing them.
A yearly draft of over five hundred mil
lions of dollars to carry on the general
government alone is assuredly heavy
load of itself; but we must also consider
our local taxes and awards given to
trusts, combines and syndicates, through
tariff arranged purposely Tor their
benefit. Under these circumstances, is it
any wonder that we are having hard
times and suffering2
Remember, too, that silver was de-
monetized, knocked out as standard or
redemption money, thus contracting the
volume and so lowering prices, disturb.
ing values and actually doubling the
Indebtedness and burdens Of the people.
All these iniquities make some prosper
Gus, but not the mass of the people.
They do not come in, for these schemes
take from the mouth of labor the bread
earned. Again, is it any wonder under
such state of things that our politics is
corrupt, and that money magnates
should be so powerful in every way even
to carrying elections2 Necessity, it is
said, knows no law, and hence some
strange and unexpected political varia-
tions that we see. Doubtless there are
many more that we do not see, for these
latter are not roaring in the index and
proclaiming their devotion to former
principles and assuming virtue. Bad
as the world is respect is ever paid to in
tegrity and consistency. Even the fel.
low who yields to the potency puts up
the claim of righteous intent. But "hell''
said Doctor Johnson, sis paved with
| good intentions"
Our great dramatist says: And of
tits seen the wicked prize itself buys
out the law" Have we not seen this
potency Of late years? An income tax
pronounced unconstitutional; and meI
with million incomes escaping tax bur
dens, and this thrown on other citizens
less able to pay. Again, what is gov
ernment by injunction, but the courts
crouching and yielding to the venal god
The corruption of our politics and thC
use of money in campaigns are the
necessary result of the policy that legis
lates to make a plutocracy by robbins
the rest of the people. The hard time
the country has been going through hal
not prevented some people from pros
perlng, some legitimately. But the de
probation of prices and values generally
property especially, are too well know
to need more than reference.
We hear of "sound money" and al
"honest dollar" The honest dollar il
that which will neither cheat the credi
tor nor the debtor. Hence is it tina
stability Of the dollar in purchasing
power, not fluctuation, is what we want
Fluctuation in values discourages indus
try, as things are thereby uncertain anC
gambling speculation enters. When tht
farmer must sell double the wheat
corn and other things to pay deb
than would have been required when thC
debt was incurred, his debt has doubled
on him. This may show the danger o
putting our money wholly in the hands
of the banks. A monopoly of the money
circulation is the most dangerous o
monopolies.
Honest legislation will not foster grail
and greed, but aim to establish justice
and secure the rights of honest labor
The true spirit is to help one another
not to despoil and rob. Nothing but
evil results come of unrighteous laws
laws that favor some at others expense
''Life, liberty and the pursuit of happi
ness, "are unalienable rights, that is rights
belonging to every human being These
never should be lost sight OF in legisla
ton. The rights of industry, he God
given rights oft the people, demand atten
ton and consideration; and no natior
can prosper and progress without usefu
industry which engages and employs the
people generally and constantly.
We hear much of Christian civilization
Would that the spirit thereof were more
in actual practice, especially individual
ly, Samaritan like. When we see multi
millionaires taken away suddenly, anG
before reaching old age, it is manifest
that wealth does not always prolong life
How freely money would be given if i
would prolong or restore AS an ole
tomb inscription says: "If life were {
thing that money could buy, thu
poor could not live and the rich woult
not die". But the poor mans cottage il
not without happiness, and the palace
oftentimes wretched with misery. Nature
is great leveler, and men might prof
by careful observation.