The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-02-09
Danger ALI adj
The Pluiocrats Can See the Fat, d
Handwriting.

says the Toledo News:
The unthinking lich who have
glutted their greed on the fruits OF
unrequited toll are discussing M d
exhibit some evidence of thinking.
DR.. w. ID. Rainsford, Of New
York, has been protesting against
the lavish display Of extravaganza
by the vulgar rich while those who
produced the wealth are starving.
Speaking on the subject, the
Philadelphia Times, tme Of the
high.t0ned organs Of the favored
classes, makes a few remarks
which, coming fr, m an ordinary
paper, would be "anarchial." The
Times is wise enough to see that
the complete determination of the
producers would not be profitable
even TO monopoly. It, ven seems
To suspect that perhaps monopoly
has not reached II point where an
attempt at complete slavery foi
the masses would be prudent. So
in this emergency it sounds the
following note of warning to its
plutocratic giltcdgcd readers:
"The present conditions of the
country also force the general at
tention Of the people to the uses
and abuses of wealth. The 0sten-
tatious display of fortune by many
who have acquired it in question:
able ways and often by the aid of
unjust laws, have created profound
unrest throughout the industrial
classes Of the nation, anil the time
has come when those who look to
the common welfare of the rich
and poor alike must give pointed
adinontion to those who flaunt their
wealth iu the face Of penury and
want.
"The theory of our go vernment
Is to give equal opportunities to all
classes and conditions in the race
for distinction and fortune; but the
conviction has become very general
in recent years that this theory
has been largely departed from,
and that the concentration Of
wealth has been aided by Oppress.
ing those who do most to create it.
1t Is equally the theory of this
government that those who possess
property have the right to use ii in
their own way. They may use it
generously in social entertainments
or otherwise, and may thereby
largely benefit industrial classes
and diffuse il freely among those
who most need ii, but those who
are believed to have acquired
wealth dishonesty, or by laws
protecting them at the cost Of the
great mass of the people, create
profound distrust and resentment
when they faunt IL in vulgar dis
play before the multitude.
"The republic Is now confronted
with the gravrst problem Of It's
history, not even excepting that Of
secession and civil war. 1t is the
problem Of restoring TO proper re-
lntions, on AN Q ltireIy just basi-,
the now widely and deeply antag-
onized interests OF capital and la
Dor. Platitudes will not accom-
plish it; political professions have
lost their weight with the great
mass OF the po' pie, and there must
he some remedial measure that will
command the confidence of the
considerate judge ment Of the whole
people. There must be entire
equality OF rights, and that means
the diffusion of political power
among the people rather than with
in circles of concentrated wealth.
1t is a question so grave at this
time that the government and the
statesmen that fail to realize It's
imperi0us demands must disap.
point the country and invite poli'-
ical failure.
"Ever since the war the tendency
OF legislation has been to aid the
concentration of wealth. 1t means
the enrichment of the few and the
impoverishment OF the many and
we have reached point when this
policy must not only be halted, but
II must be reversed. 1t must be
done to assure the fidelity of all
classes and conditions Of the Amer
lean people to their free institu-
tions, and political leaders who
close their eyes to this issue are