The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-12-09

70 1-SA Va kChAlHK UP ELOEk-
,polng schemes TO defraud the
widows and orphans, are the most
dangerous members of society.
GOV. PIsGREE's CONCLUSIONS.
L have learned few things while
have been in public life, and / have
come to certain conclusions. These
are some of them:
That good municipal government
is an impossibility while valuable
franchises are to be had and can be
OBTAINED by corrupt use of money in
bribing the people 8 servants. Even
now the citizens of Detroit hardly
dare go to sleep nights for fear that
some old gang will bribe the alder
men to extend their franchises thir-
ty years. The people must be kept
awake constantly awake-or the
thief slips in.
1t Is certainly travesty upon civ
llization and Christianity when real
ly nice people are always spending
money at elections to help seat some
rascal.
l again say that | believe the
time has come for municipal owner
ship Of street railway lines, water,
gas, electric lighting, telephone and
other necessary public conveniences
which, by their nature, are monopo-
lies.
In taxation it is hard to see where
the wage-earner or the poor man
comes in. His little belongings are
all in sight. His cause seems to have
of late years but few advocates in
Congress or elsewhere. His benefits
are supposed to come in by increased
wages, due to high tariffs. Last
winter in the Michigan legislature l
tried to have some legislation passed
which would tax railroads as other
property is taxed, and to have uni
form fares established for rich and
poor alike. failed. The roads we're
too much for me. The lobbyist was
there with ''boodle" and others with
promise of Federal office to kill the
bills. But l am going to try again
If the railroads of Michigan paid
proportionately to mileage and re-
celpts what is paid in Indiana they
would pay nearly So 100000. They
now pay less than $500. 900, and ev-
cry one in Michigan has to help pay
the difference. And so it is with tel
egraph and express companies.
Men say: "Let US give to HIM that
hath and take away from him that
hath not even the little that he hath"
but l do not believe that is good
Christianity. In Michigan the rich
er you are the less it costs you to
travel or ship goods. The very rich
and the legislature and the judges
ride on passes. The lower lot buy
1000 mile mileage books for 2 cents
mile, and put up $50, $40 Of which
is placed at interest for one year by
the railroad company, and then you
get it back but not the interest. The
poor pay cents. and so it is IN tax
alton everywhere in the nation, the
State and the city. The: mora you
have the less per cent. proportional
to your wealth do you pay. Every
one pjoying special privileges looks
out for those of his kind and divides
the spoil quite fairly.
FEARS FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
How long can a government last
which pursues such method, and
increases constantly the burdens OF
the industrial class and gives it to
those who prey upon the bone and
sinew Of this nation7 The power o1
indirect taxation permitted to mo
nopolies exceeds the direct taxation
for government.
Speaking here in New York, | feal
that my remarks UPON the subjec
may not be we'll received, but yor
have asked me to come, and l mus
speak as I see and believe, and l dt
not shrink from pointing out on thi
occasion the great perils to which
our country is exposed in this effor
of ours at self government. l am on
of those who hope and believe tha
self government by the people, an.
for the people, has not been half
tried, nor reached that stage whicl
all men who love liberty hope it will
eventually reach. We may in tn
near future pass through troublou
times, for as constant vigilance i
the price of liberty" SO must libert.
be regained at times.
Greed IN the United States mus
be curbed, for greed is the root o
all evil, national and political
Wrong cannot stand before righ
and truth, except for awhile. Wha
is right will prevail in IT, end.
OF late there are those who Tea
the people, and in your clubs a mon
archy like England is advocated.
you analyzs the case you will fin
that only those fear the people, VIII
are exploiting the people. The pee
ple, so called, the class have men
toned, are the mainstay of this r.
,, public of ours, they are always right
There must be one law for rich an
; poor alike. There must be one meas
ure of justice. Our legislators mus
,, legislate not for class but for tn
whole people. Our courts must fol
, get the influence which placed thel
on the bench when they judge b'
tween man and man. 1t is the dut
of government to protect the wea
against the strong, the poor agaln'
the selfshness of wealth.
l say right here, that unless til
Republican party comes out as
champion of the average man an
' his welfare, and unless it ceases
, cater to syndicates, trusts, monop
1 lies and other exploiting agencies,
Will be buried in oblivion, and yo1
- money will not help yeu.
81 We must begin by advocating m
nicipal ownership of natural monop
4, lies and take away from them Il
item of profit and relieve the wag
Garner to that extent.
u RURAL FREE DEllvE RY.
e County Folks VIII Aid the Mail Carrie
It by Placing up Boxes by tho Roadside.
n WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. IA
(Iarnwo1