The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-08-12
BRIGHTER, IF

OUTSIDE Oh pOllUlcdi cOnSluor dtlOuS,
or, rather, in spite of untoward
political conditions, there is promise
of Improvement in business this Fall.
This brighter prospect is due large
ly to the Indications that we will be
blessed with abundant crops. The
effect of these will stimulate trade
unless the grasping trusts shall sue
coed in controlling the markets and
in driving the price of staple produc-
tions below the profit line until the
bulk of them 1aye passed out of the
hands of the producers. Here is a
danger. 1t is the usual policy of the
combines to do this and then to push
prices up to the highest notch posi-
BILE. The advance proves of no bene-
fit to the country as a prosperity
bringer. The profit that should go
into the pockets of the farmers goes
into the pockets of the trusts and
adds strength to their purpose and
their power to grind the people.
On account of the short crops in
Europe there should be a strong
demand for the products of our
farms at fair prices. An abundant
yield will be a double blessing in
coming at a time when the markets
of the world are ready for it and at
time when our own people stand SO
much in need of the money that these
crops will bring unless the natural
order of things is thwarted and re-
versed by infamous combines against
the interests OF the producing classes.
The arm of the law should be all
powerful in restraining the cruel and
avaricious designs of the combines.
The people should be able to feel
that they can appeal with confidence
to the law of the land for protection
against their enemies. Unfortunate
ly these assuring conditions do not
exist and cannot exist under an ad-
ministration that owes its own exist
ence to the trusts and which is, there
fore, an administration of trusts, by
trusts and for trusts, instead of an
administration of the people, by the
people and for the people.
However, let us hope that the
Power which has caused the earth to
respond generously to the toll of the
farmer, will, in some way, avert the
disaster which would ensue from the
product of this toll falling under the
control of those who would unmer-
cifully rob the producer.
As we have intimsted, there is no
hope that the reign of trusts will be
broken by the Republican party,
which has always fostered these
unholy alliances of money against
manhood. If further evidence was
needed of the friendship of that party
to these parasites upon the honest
toll of the country it could be found,
and abundantly found, in the new
| tariff bill, which was built for the
trusts and not for the people, and
which tightens the grasp OF the com
bines upon the products of the
American people,
Long-suffering and forbearing have
been the American people, but, unless
the fires of liberty have been entirely
qnenched, the day is not far distant
when the trusts will hear the edict
that forbearance has ceased to be a
virtue and that their iniquitous
reign must cease-that no longer
shall they hold the power to apply
the slavish lash to the backs of
American freemen and reduce to
servitude for swelling dishonest gain
the toll and sweat of American labor.
Horrible and disgraceful is the fact
that now, in a land teeming with
plenty, the question as to whether or
not we shall have a measure of pros
perity depends upon whether or not
the avaricious hand of legalized
robbery can be kept out of the
pockets of the farmers OF this coun-
try. Let US pray that such a calan-
ity may be averted and that the
sunshine may break through the
clouds.