Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-09-08
Free Government a Farce.

is also a beautiful idea to regale ou
! European friends with. especially those
i who are slaves there, the peasantry an(
hod-carrying women of Austria, Ger
many and other monarchies. The,
dream of it as they sleep in the shaving
OR amongst the debris of the houses
| they carry the brick and morter t.
build, and here, where the phrase orig
mated, in the cradle of the though
many dream of it. The dream is pure
sweet and elevating, it is such dream
if it had no end, as would lead to eterna
joy. But this being an earthly pleas
ure must like earthly pleasures have al
end. The end is very near, we arr
about to see it with our own eyes
though we have not lived to the age O
| three-score years and ten.
There are some who believe the people
are free to do as they please, that they
control the country, and that their voic'
is as the voice of God. Vox Populi
Vox Del, said the Latins How deluu
ed. How far from the truth. How bllnt
ale they who will not see.
What have the people to do with the
affairs of the nation ? How much voice
do they have in controlling its destiny
About as much as the steam in an en-
CINE. They furnish the power, they
are the passive agents which move the
machinery, they give impetus to the
wheels of government. but it Is only
subject to the will of the engineer al
the throttle, who applies the power, reg
ulates the quantity, directs its force
and causes the machine to move at his
pleasure, backward, forward, slow OIL
fast. The people are no more respected
at the seat of government and in the
ramifcations of government, than the
steam is in the engine. They are used
sparingly or wasted, as it pleases those
in power. They are bled with taxes,
they are sent to war, they are driven
like sheep in this direction OF that, and
what if they complain? They are
laughed to scorn. Not long since the
richest man in America in speaking of
the wishes of the people in a contemp-
t uous manner said: damn the peo-
p,e." This is the millionaires
verdict, so say you all gentle
men. Who has ever known
complaint of the people to be heard
in the National Capitol? Petitions
reach there fifty miles long, signed by
millions Of people, carted in on heavy
trucks. What becomes of them ? Their
arrival is noted on the minutes of the
day, they are then carted out, and as
soon as convenient burned as rubbish
Who ever heard of one complaint con-
tanned in them being considered or one
prayer answered? When did any one
ever reach the ear of his Senator OF
Congressman with grievances which
they had any power to correct The
people today have absolutely no voice
in the affairs of this nation. They vote,
that is they put ballot in the box.
But in doing SO they have fulfilled in
most cases a contract. They have been
paid or promised reward for that ser
vice, and their vote only voices the
wishes of the money power which con-
trolls and directs our whole govern
mental fabric. There was no necessity
for bonds to carry on this war but the
money power wanted bonds and the
bonds came. There was necessity for
an increase in The volume of currency
but the money power did not want this,
and the volume was not increased.
There was no necessity for such oppres-
sive taxation, but the money power had
fixed the protective system and the
Dingley bill OIL the country, and differ
ent, and onerous taxation was necessa-
ry to help that lame measure to cripple
along. so the necessary taxes were laid.
There was no Zeal necessity for a war,
but without war, taxation could not
be Increased nor bonds issued, nor Jobs
found in sufficient abundance, so war
came. The wheat of the farmer rose
only to fall flatter than ever, as he was
patted on the back and made believe
war was good thing. A few mules
ind horses were sold by him and he was
given a discourse on the beauties of
government as it is" whilst the money
vas being paid him.
But the ships of great corporations
we're bought at enormous prices and
many of them the merest junk. Favor
ID contracts were let here and there to |
arge firmslof strong political influence,
nd large campaign subscribers, and the
copies money was poured out by the
nllllon. A bogus popular loan" was
dvertised professedly for his benefit,
ut not one farmer out of the millions
the country got bond OF had a
nance to get one. So in brief goes the
overnment, and as the farmer plods
long between the handles of his ploW.
thriving speculator sits upon the fence,
tanning how much of the crop that is
grow can be put into his pocket, and
ow few grains will be left to appeasv
ie poor "old hayseeder." as he is affec-
onately called by his monied brother,
no does his banking, and looks after
is finances.
The people What are the people
'ho are the people? They are the
rey OF the politicians and the usurer,
be Corporations and the Trusts, their
ones are picked by the vultures which
warm in our political skies as they
warmed over the battlefield at Santiago
nd the shores of Cuba when the sea
i've up her dead. l.
Elections are no longer the result of J
)tes but of money. Government of j
lie people. by the people and for the
eople" is as dead as Julias Caesar, and t
i'll remain buried until the people
T.