Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-05-19
STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
Industrial Depression Resulting from
Legislation Hostile to Labor
interests.

A calm and careful review of the prog
ress of the various influences at work
molding the destiny of this republic
leads toward optimistic conclusions.
When all things are considered, there is
nothing that should be discouraging in
the obstinate stupidity of a considera-
BILE portion of the masses whose polite
al bribe is subsidized gold standard
organ, or who at every election think
they drive shrewd bargains in exchang-
ing their birthright for messes of pot
tage. Not totally impenetrable is the
present gloom on account Of industrial
depressions, caused by corrupt legisla-
ton, hostile to labor interests, although
it will continue to hover around, with
varying density, as long as the people
choose public servants who PREACHER
ously become subject to the control of
the class that is striving to thoroughly
establish, for all time to come, a plu-
tocraey to be supported in luxury by
the interest on bonds always to be re-
funded and never to be paid at ma
turity. I think can show why, writes
A. A. Renshaw, in the Mississippi Val
ley 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 tri-
umphant. Is it not strange that in that
year colossal campaign fund was able
to successfully darken counsel with
words of deceit? Although the lines
were sharply drawn between the peo-
pie and their plunderers as never be-
fore 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 signal disintegra-
ton OF the cement of party prejudice
and separation of right and wrong, so
that now, in the calm interim between
quadrennial election there is steadily
taking place, a disqualification, in
which affinities are inevitably drawn to-
gethe-the honest, unselfish and pat
riotic on one side, and the corrupt,
greedy and plutocratic on the other
side. 1t is not division between the
rich and poor for some of the former
are true blue patriots, while many of the
latter profess admiration for corrupt
practices, claiming it is the smartest
man who can sell for the highest price.
Surely there can be no doubt as to the
result of test at the polls between two
such opposing forces unless the people
are woefully ignorant of the issue. In
spite of the deep-laid schemes of the
dealers in unearned increments, the
course of the present administration
has unmasked the hypocritical preten-
sions of the ST. Louis platform makers,
and muf1ed tones of unmuzzled truth
are even now and then heard amid the
din of the republican scramble for
spoils. Up to the time when the Cuban
question overshadowed everything
else, there has been at Washington so
conspicuous an exhibition of corrupt
greed that he who runs may read the
handwriting on the wall. The presi-
dents cabinet with Hanna on the side)
is largely made up of repulsive types of
fin de steele plutocrats, which, the
Creator be praised, will fade away with
the century, and it compromises repre-
sentatives of various forces that threat
IN the stability of the republic. The
attoEn is the undisguised
champion of corporate tyranny; the
secretary of the treasury represents the
respectable church, unconscious of the
insiduous encroachments of Mammon,
the name of the secretary of state is the
synonym of cold, calculating treach-
cry, and our own assistant secretary
Of the interior represents that numerous
class of republicans who stife their
honest convictions for pie. I cannot
conceive the possibility of an aggrega-
ton of evil, such as the republican party
has developed into, being Endorsed this
year or in 1900 by the people, unless
Ahitophe1s dominate in the counsels of
The three opposing parties. Since the
plutocrats are determined to establish
a public Indebtedness, 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 idlers
for the privilege of drawing upon the
products of our own labor"