The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-06-02
THE COUNTRY AT PRESENT.
Industrial Depression Resulting From Legis
Iation Hostile to Labor Interests.

| n calm ana Careful review OF the
progress of the various influences at
work molding the destiny of this repu-
bile leads toward optimistic conclu-
sions. When all things are consider
ed, there is nothing that should be
discouraging in the obstinate stupidity
of considerable portion OF the mass
es whose political bribe is a subsidized
gold standard organ, or who at every
election think they drive shrewd bar.
gains in exchanging their birthright
for messes of pottage. Not totally i'm.
penetrable is the present gloom on
account of industrial depressions,
caused by corrupt legislation, hostile
to labor interests, although 1t will con-
tinue to hover around, with varying
density, as long as the people choose
public servants who treacherously be.
come subject to the control of the
class that is striving to thoroughly
establish, for all time to come. a
plutocracy to be supported in luxury
by the interest on bonds always to be
refunded and never to ne paid at
maturity. l think | can show why,
writes A. A. Renshaw, in the Mis-
sissippi Valley Democrat The plain
truth, which was temporarily obscured
in 1896 by the subsidized press and
politicians and the muzzled preachers
and professors, is bound by natural
laws to rise again triumphant 1t is
not strange that in that year a colossal
campaign fund was able to success
fully darken counsel with words of
deceit. Although the lines were
sharply drawn between the people
and their plunderers as never before
since Andrew Jackson's day, yet the
confusion incident to hurried, and,
for many voters, novel agitation, pre-,
vented cohesion of reform forces
However, there was a signal disin:e-
grafton of the cement of party pre-
judice and separation of right and
wrong, SO that now, in the calm in,
terim between quadrennial election
there is steadily taking place, a re-
crystallization, in which afIinities arc
inevitably drawn together-the honest
unselfsh and patriotic on one side,
and the corrupt, greedy and plto-
cratic on the other side. 1t is not :
division between TIE rich and poor
for some Of the former ale true blue
patriots, while many of the latter pro-
fess admiration for corrupt practices,
claiming it is tn" smartest man who
can sell for the highest price. Surely
there can be no doubt as to the result
Of a test at the polls between two such
opposing forces unless the people are
woefully ignorant of the issue. In
spite of the deeplaid schemes of the
dealers in unearned increments, the
course of the present administration
has unmasked the hypocritical pre-
tensions of the st. Louis platform
makers, AMI muflled tones of un-
muzzled truth are even now and then
heard amid the din of the Republican
scramble for spoils. Up to the time
when the Cuban question overshadow-
ed everything else, there has been at
Washington so conspicuous an exhibi-
tion of corrupt greed that he who runs
may read the handwriting on the wall.
The presidents cabinet with Hanna
on the side) is largely made up of
repulsive types of fin de steele pluto
Gratis, which, the Creator be praised,
will fade away with the century, and
it compromises representatives of
various forces that threaten the stabili-
ty of the republic. The attorney
general is the undisguised champion
of corporate tyranny; the secretary
of the treasury represents the respec.
table church, unconscious of the in
sidious encroachments of Mammon,
the name of the secretary of state is
the synonym of cold, calculating
treachery, and our own assistant secre-
tary of the interior represents that
numerous class of Republicans who
stifle their honest convictions for pie.
l cannot conceive the possibility of an
aggregation of evil, such as the Repu-
blicar party has developed into, being
indorsed this year or in 1900 by the
people, unless Ahitophels dominate in
the counsels of the three opposing
parties. Since the plutocrats are de-
termined to establish a public indebt-
edness, the principal of which is to be
handed down through all future
generations, the people ought to have
enough Anglo-Saxon spirit to say
"If necessary, SO be it. But in that
case we will take care that we will be
the creditors, and will take the debt
in denominations of from one dollar
to fifty dollars and charge no interest.
We see the absurdity of paying idle
ness for the privilege OF drawing upon
IL. r 4