Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-10-13
EAGLES AND HAWKS.

Once there were some eagles dwelt
in snug nests high up in the cliffs OF
the mountains Of affluence, which had
been upheaved from the sea of indus
try by the power of law. Countless
myriads of fishhawks eagerly scanned
the surface of this sea of opportunity
to secure the necessities Of existence
for themselves and the means of rear
ing their young. The eagles, seeing
this. called a meeting and held council
tossther, and adopted plan, and all
worked in harmony to carry 1t out,
ana they soon persuaded the fishhawki
thsx those who owned the highest nests
should have dominion over the others,
and should receive tribute from an
common birds. So the fishhawks paid
the eagles rent on the nests which they
themselves had built, and the eagles
prospered.
And the fishhawks paid poll tax
on their heads for the privilege Of liv.
ing, and rent on the perches on which
they rested, and profit on their own
beaks, and interest on their claws with
which they caught and held the fish,
and fares on their own wings by which
they travelled, and profits on the
feathers which they wore-and the
eagles prospered. 1t is true the eaglei
did not build the fishhawks' nests, but
they allowed the fishhawks to do so.
And that was something. And they
allowed the fishhawks to have place
to build the nests-and that was some.
thing. 1t is true that the eagles did
not build the perches, or make the fish.
hawks wings, and claws, and beaks
and feathers, but they gave the fish.
hawks the opportunity to make them
and allowed them to use them-and
that was something. And it came ia
pass that as the stomachs of the eagles
grew larger and more greedy, and theh
eyes more covetous, by effect of un.
earned feed, that they keenly watched
the fishhawks as they worked.
And whenever a fishhawk paid his
rent, and profits, and interest, and had
fed his family and himself, and had
yet strength enough left to work, and
had secured an extra fish to salt down
for a rainy day, the eagle who discov.
cred him thus heavy laden would dar
from his cliff with a scream Of rage
and wrest the fish away and greedily
devour it. This was called competi'
ton. 1t was said to be the life oil
business and trade. 1t led to the sur.
vival Of the fittest, which in eagle Ian
guage meant the greediest. And II
came to pass that one day bony fish
hawk, whose feathers were thin, and
whose wings were frayed, and whos'
beak and claws were dull with much
toll sat upon a high perch and
screamed And the other fishhawki
knew him for an anarchist, and gath.
cred around him and listened to his
questions. And he asked, IF there
were no eagles, to whom would we pay
our rent?"
And a silly young fishhawk an.
syrered: ITO no one." And the bony
one asked: "Then would we not ba
fatter?" And the others were aston.
ished And one said: kill the eagles"
But the bony one said: "Not so. Do
not harm the eagles whom we have fed
A new brood is growing, anyway. Stop
their feed. They live on rent, interest
taxes and profit. Without these, they
will have to produce work or starve,
Stop their feed" And the fishhawks
knew then that the bony one was a
repudiator. And they were enraged,
and with fierce screams they fell upon
him, and with their votes they tore of
his feathers, and strewed his bones on
the sand, and gave his flesh to the
eagles, and flew away to raise theii
rent, taxes, profit and interest-and
the eagles prospered, and prosperity
came at last.-Dr. E. Rullison.