Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-26
secondary to the size of the pocket-book.

l
Our government instead Of being ruled
by democracy is ruled by dollaracy. Wall
street has more influence upon the exc
| sutive department of our government
than 100000 laboring-men. The legisla-
| tive department of government is con-
| trolled by moneyed interests almost en-
tirely. There is nothing which has more
influence upon Congress than million
| dollars. except one-that is two millions
more. Even the judicial department Of
this republic, Incorporated to protect the
! interest of all the people by equity and
| justice, Is polluted by this same spirit OF
| gold-getting. Monopoly has consumed the
competition which gives TO trade an ele-
ment of regulation that enables the peo-
| pie to take advantage of an honest mar
ket. Trusts are formed to regulate the
production, as well as TO fix prices and rob
the people in defiance Of law.
Statistics show that in ITO, ammo
| dcmini the commerce OF the world reach
ed 800 900, 600. but in 1890 it had increased
to s17,00o. 10000" The total value of the
gold and silver of the world in 1900 was
| S. 900, 000 900, but in 1900 1t had increased TO
sic, 900 10000" The most dangerous ele-
ment, however, in this rapid accumula-
ton is the fact that this great wealth is
congested. Money, like blood, Is only good
while in circulation; therefore, the ten
as to awaken alarm.
There are two hundred companies In this
country whose total capitalization exceeds
So, 600, 000 900, and every man feels the
power of this wealth thus associated. The
establishment of these monopolies Is
deviation from republican simplicity and
a menace TO our liberties as American
citizens. Their continuance simply means
an aristocratical combination of power
IfAko Ian
il now defiantly breaks them. Every citi-
zen OF this land Is paying tribute already
to this moneyed power When labor
ing-man awakes in the morning he looks
out upon earth through window glass, the
price of which has been fixed by the
glass trust. II he rises before light, as
many toilers must, the match he strikes
comes from the match trust. and the oil
that gives him light IS dealt out to him
by the most gigantic trust that the world
ever knew-a trust with 500 100000 capital.
When he dresses again he feels the power
OF the trust; even his shoes came from
the leather trust. All through life he
must pay tribute to this power and even
IL he dies, he is not free, for the casket
trusts will. again tax him before burial.
In 1925 we are told there were but tve
millionaires In the United States. At the
present hour there are 400 Of them ana
one man at least whose income exceeds
one million a month. John ID. Rockefeller
is worth $2o0OOo.OOo. and this enormous
sum OF money we cannot realize. Why,
sir, II Adam had gone to work at creation
for IS per week salary, and worked every
week since, he would still be On his Job,
not having secured the wealth OF one man
here to-day who is less than so years OF
age. The total valuation OF the State OF
Florida is only sS1 III, so that this one
man could buy and own all the property, |
real and personal, In two States the size |
OF Florida.
Nor is this man alone. There are TWEEN |
ty families in this country who own one
sixth OF the wealth Of the United States. |
With our government aiding in this race
for wealth and monopoly. we are. sir, but |
at the first quarter OF this exciting con-
test for the possession Of the earth. Con-
gress has already, at different times.
voted 49,, 442, 1856 acres of land to railroad |
enough territory TO make
nation twice the size of Japan or five
times the size Of the New England States.
Suppose this land had been given TO the
laboring classes for cultivation. Then
Q 600 men with their families would be
in possession Of that number of farms
eighty acres each.
The mightiest question, Mr. Editor, ever
before any nation confronts our own peo-
pie. Home rule is no: TO be compared
with It. 1t is a question whether we shall
have any homes TO rule very long. While
politicians are discussing rs the tariff
a taxi" the people are wondering how
long they will have anything to tax.
know we are told that our statesmen are
sound men, and / think they are-more
sound than anything else or course,
they are good men, for all men are good;
some are good for something and others
are good for nothing. While patriotism
seemed TO swell the hearts OF the last
Congress- the toiling masses, which are,
after all. the true manhood of our coun-
try, are singing:
. Shall the land OF the free and the home
of the brave
Become the land of the rich and the
home Of the SLAYER"
No ordinary remedy will heal the pres
INT social and financial disease that is
Eating away the very vitals of this re-
public. We have too many quacks trying
% cure this patient. DR.. Dingley gave
lis protection" pills awhile since, but
pills will never cure selfish
dyspepsia In this world. He says I'VE
lave not had them down long enough 10
,et the effect" But. in my judgment.
he longer they remain down the siclSer
We get. Protection is right, but what
We want TO protect Is manhood. instead
4 pig-iron and pine boards. We must
this king, or he Will enslave our
ace. His throne. sir. is the money mar
.et; his palace. the Stock Exchange. and
lis sceptre a golden standard His foun-
aims are the oil wells, his gardens the
Wheat fields. and his work is 10 control
lections, buy Legislatures. bride govern
lents, blind judges, gag statesmen, die
ate 10 ministers, and carry on syste-
natic robbery OF the people. And unless
re pause In this wild march and strike
own the hydra-headed monster. We shall
II forget that old hymn. MY country.
lis OF thee. sweet land OF liberty" and
Til Join with the capitalists In singing
he hymn dedicated to the gresdy trusts:
Let US corner up the sunbeams
wing ali around our path.
let trust on wheat and roses,
i've the poor the thorns and chan:
ct us find our chiefest pleasure
Ioardins treasure OF to-day. II