Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-08-06
EVILS OF MONOPOLY.
JERRY SIMPSONS FOURTH or
JULY SERMON.
dc Describes the Dangers That Threaten
the Republic and Calls Upon the
People to Rally Around the Free
Silver Banner.

L
In Washington held Fourth of July
celebration which deserved more than
the passing mention 1t received from
the daily newspapers. The principal
speakers were Jerry Simpson and Sen
ator Allen.
Mr.. Simpson was the first speaker.
He said
Il suppose am here to speak to you
about the Fourth of July and things
associated Herewith. 1t is one Of the
days OF the year when we should go
over the glorious achievements OF our
ancestors In giving the world one Of the
grandest governments ever seen, Up to
the time Of the Declaration OF lndepen-
dence there never had been an attempt
to give the world freedom. 1t was an
unheard Of declaration. The idea OF
governing by the people was an I'M
heard of thing. Heretofore the idea
prevailed that the right to govern come
from on high, and that it belonged to
the few. We all concede to Jefferson
alone the authorship of that great pa
per. 1t was Jefferson's greatest dec
laration that Just government can only
exist by the consent of the governed
It was launched upon an unknown sea.
Has 1t been success? What are the
achievements of that declaration?
Have people realized its full import?
| Il doubt il half a dozen men at the
time who took an interest in the affair
really understood the full import of
the Declaration Of Independence. JEFF
ferson understood 1t and laid 1t down
as a cardinal principle. What little
success we have achieved lies in the
fact that Jefferson realized and ineor-
porated therein equality Of opportunity.
Equality of opportunity for all is JET
fersonian Democracy. The progress Of
the new government has been marvel
Gus. We look back! We see the COL
| onists fight seven years war Of de-
vastation and devotion to their cause
to successful conclusion. We see a
few settlements on the bays and inlets
OF the seacoast develop into the grand
est nation of the world. We see them
during this time conquer continent
We see commerce and trade spring up
everywhere. That increase of growth
was because the declaration of equality
OF opportunity had been made. Under
the benign influence of the same the
great storehouses of wealth were
opened. 1t Is easy to account for.
The same old story over again.
Every government that has risen is
one where the masses are given equal
opportunity.
1--WE sometimes think that when we
establish public schools and Libraries
that all is done. India and Spain have
had public schools, libraries and NUM-
cipalities, but they did not save India
or Spain. In France, before the great
revolution, there were all the oppor-
tunities Of education and reading, but
they did not save France. Fifty years
before the great French revolution 49,
900 persons owned all the land. No
wonder the people revolted.
II want to point out, II possible, some
of the evils confronting us. We have
seen the progress made and the build
ing of the institutions. I want to ask
some questions. Has this given the
people equality Of opportunity? Have
the masses shared the blessings, or
have only the few been benefited? II
this Is not the case We have but to
make a new resolve that we will try
to secure the advantages that should
result 1t is hard to speak on these
topics without stepping on some ones
prejudices. But 1t is the duty of every
public speaker to tell the truth as he
sees 1t.
II hold that today the struggle for
existence and the conditions of life are
harder than in the days of Jefferson.
and that we do not receive the full
benefit of our government. What are
the causes? We see the land taken I'D
and controlled by syndicates. We ought
to devote more attention to pleading
the cause Of the miners of the state of
Illinois, and should manifest an in
terest in the conditions under which
they struggle. What is true of them is
true of every laboring man in the Unit
I'd States. We say that ought not to
be in so grand a land, with all its re-
sources, and the inventive genius of
labor to create machinery. Yet these
are the conditions confronting us to-
day. We are on the verge OF a reyo-
lution-a political one. perhaps-a
peaceful one, perhaps. do not believe
that people who listen to annual Fourth
of July orations will sit down quietly
and submit to those conditions. It is
the duty of every statesman to pro-
claim and point out, when he gets an
opportunity, the evil he sees, however
much he may, by so doing, hurt the
prejudices Of these fine haired states
men.
Zone OF the great evils Is the power of
accumulated wealth. II you would use
your common sense and mother wit
for just moment you would know that
many Of the men in congress are only
developed in the faculties of gaining
wealth. II you point to the United
States senate you will find a body of