The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-10-14
An Appeal.

"No one can contemplate the present
condition of affairs in this county, the
rich man rolling in his untold wealth,
secured by governmental privileges, and
the prayers of dependent families for
employment OF some kind, at any price,
that the cry of hunger may be silenced,
without feeling not only profound pity
and sadness, but anxiety and fear for
the future OF his country.
When we contemplate the inconsisten-
cies of the law making power, who
maintain at vast expenditure of public
money, schools so that the dangers of
ignorance may be counteracted, main
tain peace officers to protect our lives
and property, build prisons that our
criminals may be kept from preying upon
society, build poorhouses ior our paupers,
yet say to the six or seven million idle
workers who are asking for labor that
they might live, "go seek it where it is
to be found, the government is under
no obligation to furnish employment or
to supply the want in your unhappy
condition" If government owes moth.
ing to the idle legion of labor, it certain.
ly owes something to itself, for from the
homes of want and destitution and the
unemployed hands of the masses, spring
Anarchy and crime, and with these,
society has some concern.
mo one conversant with the condition
OF affairs in the great commercial GEN.
ters, and even in the more populous ru.
raj districts, but what is aware of the
deep and sullen tone of discomfort
among the laboring classes, which here
tcfore has expended itself in simple
speech and resolution unattended by acts
of violence, but unless relief come soon
by hearty and practical methods, cannot
be longer restrained, but will culminate
in riot and bloodshed. Idleness must
be counteracted by some means, or the
destitute must become public charge,
to prevent outrage and crime. Would
it not be much cheaper to give days
labor to an anxious worker, than to i'm
prison him for theft, or hang him for
murder? When we contemplate the
fact the United States claims to be a
Christian nation, boasts of her schools
and her churches, where we hear every
Sunday from the pulpits of the country,
from the lips of men who are 80 called
followers Of the meek and lowly Christ,
at from two to six thousand dollars a
year, that "broader dissemination of
the spirit OF Christ would be a cure for
all our ills," an yet find that in a gov.
eminent of culture and morality, of lib
erty and religion, panic will last for
years and Gods poor be compelled to
struggle amidst untold hardships for
their scanty crust without encourage
ment and without hope; under such
circumstances, it is time to call a halt
and demand that those in power should
give the reason why.
We do not make the charge that the
present condition of affairs is due to the
election Of William Mckinley and the
triumph Of the Republican party, nor
that in any sense would times have been
bettered, had Mr.. Bryan been elected,
we simply claim that the whole system
of American politics as represented by
the two great parties, is defective and
wrong. The only hope of the American
people is in the success of the Peoples
party, whose principals are practical,
whose notions are patriotic.
"Populists of Highland county, stand
by your ticket and your party organiza
ton. Do not be misled by the calls and
claims of any party, stick to your princi
pies, they will certainly win in the end
Be not carried away because of your
zeal for the free coinage of silver, that
alone would not meet the country's need
nor smooth the wrinkles from the brow
of care, nor lift the burdens from the toll
worn shoulders of the oppressed. Be
not deferred by the gibes and sneers of
the autocrat or their sycophant followers
The spirits of Washington, Jackson,
Lincoln. Garfield, Blaine, and the sleep
ing patriots Of rs are about you, the
breath of freedom in the air, stand to
your colors until the storm of battle is
ended and the light and glory OF victory
cometh Perry MoGLAuGnLIN.
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