The Louisiana populist., 1897-09-10


the house, which, | should say, has
gone into the hands of receiver. 1t
is so that we don't even
get report from the re-
ceiver as to the assets. Oh, how
far the Ship of State has drifted from
its moorings! See how the represen-
tatlves OF the nation have surrendered
the rights Of the people to one Thomas
Erackett Reed, of Maine. l venture to
say when truth gets a hearing it will
be put down as the most shameful sur
render of the rights of the American
people ever known.
The leaders are shrewd-the
shrewdest of the land. They put a
man like Reed ahead after every elec-
tlon, or place in the white house man
ike Mckinley, who can be nodded at
Will. am not pessimist, although
my ramblings may lead you to think so.
We have for 100 years studied to ac-
qulfe wealth. Now we enter upon the
new struggle-that of it's distribution.
lhere was time, only thirty years
ago, when there was thirst for wealth.
Cotton was king and slavery ruled.
A1ser riots it was actually discovered
one day that there were twenty-five
good men. 1t was a Sodom and Co.
moran. John Brown, with twenty
good men, went to Harper's Ferry, and
Defore the end was in view the Stars
and Stripes meant something A million
men were sacrificed for a principle that
gave the black slave his liberty. May
the time come for us when twenty-five
good men will 60 to Harper's Ferry or
| some other place and fight for the
liberty OF the white slave.
Let us demonstrate that the Declar-
alton Of Independence Gid mean some
thing-that it meant reward for toll of
labor, and not that the results of min
ers' hard work should go into the pock-
cts OF Mark Hama or any other pluto
crat. ] refer you to the last campaign
when they wanted to set aside Flag
day, and Mark Hanna, the patriot citi-
zen. was to be made the banner bearer
OF the occasion. The sole purpose of
the agitation was to bolster up the
Republican policy. The purpose of
Mark Hanna's flag is to cover up the
dirt g. ths Republican party.
II hope the day will come when that
flag will mean something-equality of
opportunity. believe in the American
people. have another hope born of the
fact that 6,500,000 people put up in Chi
cago as a standard bearer young and
a poor man. Everywhere he went
spontaneous enthusiasm sprang up,
born Of desire to obtain liberty of the
masses. That was the grandest thing
seen in thirty years.
The people in the great cities ask
why they pay such enormous sums to
live In garrets, while some men own
vast lots OF unimproved land. Why
90 not the people own the land them
selves? These are the questions that
agitate the peoples minds. We have
seen only the border of the promised
land, without having had even a taste
of the fruit.
hope the day will come when we
can tell the glories of our land with
out lying about them.
Now my remedies for these evils I
don't believe high tariff will employ
more labor. l don't believe that gold
monometallism will right things I
don't believe that there is combine
not protected by law l don't believe
that people will receive full fruition of
the principles of Jefferson's declaration
until the people own the land We
can't live without land If you deprive
man OF it and it's results you make him
an abject slave To remedy the evils
you must destroy land monompoly.
Let the United States senate not forget
to attack land monopoly. If you love
Jefferson you must hate it. Some peo-
pie tell me to practice what / preach,
but must travel in the line that offers
the least resistance. Such a resolution,
II introduced by me in the house,
would not be given chance.
II believe in free silver and Bryan.
and believe that in rallying around
the banner we should instill the idea
that land monopoly must go. (Ap-
plause.)
ITO sum up we have r1ade wonder
full progress and along with it there
has been very rapid concentration Of
wealth. We see that half our homes
are in need. We see now a quarter OF
a million men going on a strike be-
cause they can't live on starvation
wages. So I thought this good day
to point out the evils that surround us.
I believe that some time in the fu-
ture there will be a sweet bye and bye
when we will reap the benefit of our
forefathers' sowing; that we will have
a government where life will not be a
mere struggling for animal existence
"a government Of equal opportunity"
Is Liar Thief?