The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-01-19
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
A MILLroSAInEs PROPORTION.

MILLIONAIkB's PROPOSITION.
On Friday Of last week Andrew Car
negie called upon President Mckinley
and made n proposition to the Presi-
dent to the effect that he, Garage,
would out Of his own pocket pay TWEEN
ty million dollars to Spain for the free
dom OF the Fillipinos IL President Nc
Kinley would agree to use his efforts
to establish a free government on
those islands, Of, for and by the peo-
pie, similar to the American Republic.
Every one knew that Andrew Car
negie was very rich man, but this
proposition OF a single individual to
draw his check for twenty million dol
lars to guarantee the freedom OF
people Of a different race, living on an
island in the Pacific ten thousand
miles from our shores, struck the pub
lie with astOnishment. Senators and |
Congressman have already stood in
the national halls OF Congress and
gravely discussed the magnitude Of
the sum Of twenty million dollars that
IL Is proposed for this government 10
pay to Spain for the doubtful sover-
eighty of Spain over those islands. 1t
has been considered large amount
for even a great country like this 10
pay. Now here comes along one indi-
vidual out of 7O,09O,OOO who make
up this government and proposes TO
pay that amount out of his own pocket
~ matter of little concern. But when
we stop to reflect, why should not Mr..
Carnegie spend twenty million dollars
in this way il it pleases passing fam
cy Of his or if it promotes n great in
terest in which he believes, for he is
worth between one hundred and two
hundred million dollars. and after
spending twenty million dollars for
the liberty of the PHILIPPINES he will
still have left such an immense fort
une that 1t will be impossible for him
to spend it or give il away unless he
gives il away in large enstalments.
This proposition of a single individual
to pay an amount which would seem
large for the greatest and richest gov
eminent in the world to pay also
brings home pointedly the great eco
nomic fact that while we have q great
and rich country nearly all of the rich
es are owned by few individuals
while the great mass Of the tOilers and
wealth producers of this nation are in
very meagre circumstances.
Mr.. Carnegie deserves great credit
for his generosity and spirit of philan-
thropy, but this does not make it best
for the country that few individuals
even IL they are all like Mr.. Carnegie
shold own such immense wealth. II
every millionaire in America was the
highest type of patriot and Of q
Christian it would not justify the ru.
nous industrial system that makes il
possible for few thousand men to con.
centrate among themselves more thar
half of the wealth OF this whole nation
Mr.. Carnegie has made no small par
' of his immense millions out of rail-
roads he owns, besides the Carnegi,
Steel Plant at Homestead which ha,
been furnishing armor plate to tn,
government for number of years al
an enormous price in spite of the proc
that the government was paying twice
as much for the armor plate as it wa,
worth, year after year, Congress hal
refused to reduce the price. In spit.
Of the fact that railroads are making
immense profits on two or three times
rs much stock (watered) as their rea
capital invested, yet Congress refuse
to take any action.
After all, does Congress represent
the people or does it represent the few
who own majority of the wealth ant
are fast reaching out for the remain.
der. The people should elect a Con
gress that represents the interests o
the majority and that will have the
nerve, the courage, and the sense ant
the honesty to make snch radica
change in our industrial system a.
will give to every one an equal OppOr
tunity in the struggle of life aud tina
will guarantee to HIM the fruits of hi
own labor.
The remedy to accomplish this il
found in the Peoples party platform
Only partial or temporary remedie
are found in other platforms.
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