Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-08-18
POLITICAL THINKERS
THEY WERE ON EARTH FIFTY
YEARS AGO.
PennsyivAnia Democracy Hal. . Century
Ago Would Pass for ropulism To-day
An Address Issued by the Philadel-
phia Young Democracy.

PnAo 4Vunk DotnOCThCys
About fifty years ago the Young
Democracy held a convention and is
sued an address to the public, which
contains fundamental truths not found
in the political platforms now issued
by such city Democrats as are con-
trolled by Croker, Harrison and the
present Philadelphia boss, whoever he
may be.
1 This old address OF the Young De-
mocracy is very good Populism or Bry-
anism. Read it:
THE time is coming when a man
will no longer be regarded with abject
and cringing subserviency, simply be-
cause he possesses millions more than
he wants, or can use, while millions
are pining in poverty, hunger, and
nakedness.
"The time will come when those who
build houses shall own houses;
When those who create all the
wealth, shall own at least portion OF
the wealth they produce.
when those who work shall eat;
And when the great law of Chris
tianity In relation to the accumulation
OF wealth shall at least be limited at
once In an age by those who are its
protested teachers and disciples.
"Well has it been said that where
! the poor are robbed there is fearful
reaction upon the rich. The effect OF
their crime and restitution falls upon
the opulent in the shape of taxes. etc.
"The criminal, made so by our anti
Christian social system, lives at other
peoples expenses; If he is prosecuted,
1t is at other peoples charges; If he is
in prison, it is at other peoples cost;
II he is at large, he lives upon other
peoples property; if he is in confne-
ment with crowd of others, he is sent
to school of crime,a nursery of abom-
ination.
True economy as we'll as expedi-
ency, if not religious duty, will one day
teach us that it is far easier, and far
cheaper, to prevent than to punish
crime. We shall some day or other
seek means to reform rather than de-
stroy. Some day or other We shall
provide shelter for the myriads of
children who are born to a necessary
inheritance of crime, under our pres
ent system-for those who can be no
other than vicious by the very condi-.
tions of their present lot. ~
1.-THE nations wealth depends upon
those who toll.
How then does 1t happen that the
wealth creators are the poor, the
wretched, the destitute, constantly
creating wealth, yet continuing to be
poor?
"Affording to the world the strange
anomaly of the poverty of the creators
of riches!
"All honor to those who labor-all
gratitude and respect to the men who
toll, whether at the loom, the Kissing
engine, or on the heaving wave; wheth-
er in battling with the angry elements,
or breaking the stubborn sward
whether welding the hammer, the
ak, the shuttle or the spade; all that
blesses man on sea or shore, we owe
to the men who toll.
"They are entitled to the first rank
Of society, and will occupy that posi-
ton to which they are justly entitled, |
when society shall be organized upon
the basis of Christianity and brother
hood.
"They will then be no longer repre-
scented, or rather misrepresented, in
our legislative halls; they will repre-
sent themselves.
"They should have done this long
age. they can tell their own story, re-
form their grievances, represent their
twn wants and wishes, far better thar
any one can do it for them.
"They are as an hundred to one-it
is their own fault if they do not make
laws to suit themselves.
lEifVCE wa j.
eve maintain that every man has
right to live, and to live In comfort.
Heaven never made the rich alone
to smile, while the whole earth is ring
ing with laughter-never made scanty
few to feast in idleness, while the toll
ing many are weeping in their rags
and wretchedness, want and woe, wear
ing out their lives in long death
dream of hopeless misery; the God
like soul blasted with penury and ig
norance; fever filling heart and brain
with horror, from the cradle to the
grave.
This is a land of liberty; but what
is political liberty without social lib
erty, equality and fraternity?
Talk not about the blessings Of lib
erty to the pauper mass who sell them
selves day by day for paltry sum
Just sufficient to keep them from the
grave